By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — Voters in Dearborn Heights District 7 approved a $6.4 million building and site bond May 4.
The unofficial special election results from the Wayne County Clerk’s office showed 578 votes in favor and 351 opposed with a 9.52 percent voter turnout.
Supt. Jennifer Mast thanked the residents of the district for their support in a Facebook video.
“With your help, the bond passed today,” she said. “So, the $6.4 million will be used to improve the buildings, grounds and facilities here in District 7 making it better for our students and community. We are so grateful for your votes today and can’t wait for you to see what we do.”
The bond will be issued at a net zero tax rate increase to the community, remaining at the current 2.70 mills.
According to a press release on the district’s website, the bond is going to benefit each of the district’s educational facilities.
Of the $6.4 million, site improvements will account for $1.7 million, facility enhancements at $3.4 millions, and electrical systems costing $1.3 million.
The 2021 bond will focus on making essential upgrades to school buildings, including ceiling and flooring replacements, HVAC and plumbing upgrades, and replacing exterior and interior doors, the press release said.
Also included in the bond plan is the expansion of school parking lots and upgrading school communications systems.
Site and athletic improvements include new football field turf at Chircop Field, new Annapolis High School baseball dugouts and parking lot improvements.
District wide facility improvements feature renovating the AHS auditorium, improvements to HVAC systems including rooftop unit replacements and upgraded air handling units and ventilators, additional water bottle filling stations, ceiling and flooring replacements, secure entrance at Madison and replacement of exterior and interior doors.
Electrical systems include upgrades to bells and clocks, installing new public address systems at Pardee, Polk, and Best middle schools and energy enhancements are all planned.
The last bond voters passed was in November for $4.5 million which allowed the district to upgrade, install new instructional technology systems and make school building improvements.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at zeinabnajm92@gmail.com.)