It’s back to the proverbial drawing board as Oxford Schools superintendent Dr. William Skilling reflected on the failed school bond vote and what the future holds for the school district.
‘If I were going by just the feedback of the parents, I’d say I thought it would pass,? he said. ‘I talked to so many parents, but had no idea what the rest of the community felt about it.?
Oxford-area voters spoke on Feb. 24 as they rejected, by a 2,191-1,902 margin, a proposed $70.135 million school bond proposal that would’ve resulted in 10 more years of bond payments for local residents.
Had it passed, the bond would’ve resulted in expansions of Oxford School facilities along with upgrading technology, building mechanical systems and providing additions to the district’s athletics and fine arts facilities.
Going into last Tuesday, Skilling said he had no idea how the vote would turn out. The feedback he received from the parents of schoolchildren was positive.
Skilling said he can’t speculate why people chose not to vote for the bond since he can’t read their minds.
‘People have their reasons for voting ‘No? and voting ‘Yes,?? he said. ‘You tend to have parents who are very supportive since there’s an immediate return for their children…For some who voted no, it may just not have been the right time for them.?
While the results doubtlessly disappoint the superintendent, he does believe those who voted–whether Yes or No–made an informed choice.
‘I feel very strongly, since I’ve talked to a lot of ‘no? voters prior to the vote and after the vote as well as ‘Yes? voters, that both voters–regardless of how they voted–are very supportive of the schools and very supportive of the kids and community,? he said. ‘I thank people for taking the time to get informed and make a decision.?
He also is appreciative of the bond committee and how hard they worked on the bond campaign.
Those for and against the vote differed on semantics of the bond proposal. Yes voters argued there would be no millage increase while No voters countered that the millage’s 10-year extension alone meant an increase.
Another major issue, perhaps the trump card that resulted in the No vote, was the concern about extending the debt from 2031 to 2041 (from 22 to 32 years) and the financial uncertainty–especially with the current economic struggles.
Skilling said the economy always came up in discussions but pointed out that bond proposals often are for 30 years and that in the late 1970s, Oxford voters passed a bond during a recession.
‘Within a 30-year bond period, you’re always going to have downturns and recessions,? he said. ?[The 1970s recession] was worse than this current one. Back then, we had double-digit inflation, double-digit interest rates, double-digit mortgage rates and double-digit unemployment rate. But when they passed that bond issue, what that did was create an economic growth in this community since we were primarily a bedroom community rather than one based on business and industry.?
Skilling added that the late-1970s bond suddenly created new developments and new prosperity in Oxford. by projects being built at a much lower cost and resulting in a ‘tremendous return? on investments.
‘The same would’ve been true here, from an economic standpoint, if it had passed,? he said. ‘It would’ve provided a tremendous value.?
What’s next? A strategic planning meeting on March 5 to talk about the bond and discuss what people’s feelings were.
Skilling said he currently has no timetable to bring up the bond for another public vote. Instead, he’d like to talk to people in the community–both Yes and No voters–to find out why they voted the way they did.
‘There’s been absolutely no decision put together,? he said, referring to a future vote. ‘It would be presumptuous on our part to make a decision like that. As I said earlier, I think we need to talk with people.?
One of the questions he’d like to ask No voters is whether changes in smaller phases would change their minds.
Skilling expects Oxford Schools to grow and, with that, the need for more space. He noted that the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments projected growth for only one Oakland County school district ? Oxford Schools, which the council projects to grow by as much as 10 percent.
‘Our immediate, urgent need is space for elementary schools and how we address that,? he said. ‘It depends on what people in the community want.?
A failed bond doesn’t erase the what the superintendent described as the district’s need for more space. Skilling said they’ll lease another classroom at Christ the King Church, but will need more space. Another option is to put more music and art in the cart as another strategy, meaning moving from classroom to classroom.
For now, Oxford Schools will have to prioritize based on the most urgent needs.
Skilling also will rely on feedback from Superintendent Coffees, and advisory meetings.
He added: ‘We’ll need to organize ways…where everybody feels comfortable giving input regardless of where they were on the issue last time. We want to make sure it’s a very inclusive process to get that feedback.?