Among the local elections and issues that Grosse Pointe residents will vote for on the Nov. 4 ballot are whether or not to pass the Grosse Pointe Public School System’s (GPPSS) bond proposal. This $120 million effort is a continuation of the 2018 bond, meaning tax rates will not be increased again, but will continue the existing millage rate. While the Board of Education (BOE) insists the bond is essential to fulfill and enhance the needs of the district, it fails to put forth a clear plan for issues addressed in the bond. Until the BOE gives the community a full plan about where and how the budget will be used, specifically regarding Trombly Elementary School, the bond should not be passed.
The issue dividing the community in this bond is the $6 million going towards Trombly. Over $5 million were allocated towards Trombly from the 2018 bond, such as window replacements, yet not all of those funds and projects have been spent or even started. Now, the district is asking for an additional $6 million for the school which has been closed for five years and adds no educational value to the community. Furthermore, the BOE has given very few answers about the future of Trombly. With declining enrollment continuing throughout the district, there is less and less reason to reopen the school. The school is a depreciating asset and becoming increasingly more expensive to maintain. Yet, we can not use it for other purposes due to Grosse Pointe Park’s zoning of the building, and its Historical building status; it is unlikely to be demolished like Pourpard Elementary School, which was closed in 2020. So, if the school will not reopen and it has very few other potential purposes, we can’t really get rid of it either. From the time of Trombly’s closing to now, the community is left with the same confusion about its future, yet is being asked for more money to fund it. If you want money for Trombly, tell us what you’re going to do with Trombly — we’ve been waiting for answers for over five years.
Other initiatives on the bond seem to address non-pressing issues. Among the things the bond will fund for South is relocating the office for safety. This is the second time in recent years that the office will be moved, having previously been located where the counseling center currently is. Why was the first move not effective? Were all possibilities and problems not evaluated previous to the first move, and if so, why were these “safety issues” neglected? Problems like these should have been resolved the first time we funded them, and now the BOE is working in circles on certain projects.
More than anything, transparency about plans and progress is what I am asking for before voting for a proposal like this. The district claims that the 2018 bond funded media center renovations for South, but no proof of this can be found. Now they say even more media center renovations will come as a result of the 2025 bond. What renovations? I am asking for details because voting for something unknown at the price of $120 million is outlandish and irresponsible. I do not dispute that the bond would be beneficial for many programs and projects for our schools. However, I need to see clear plans on fundamental issues and a board willing to solve these problems before endorsing such a proposal.
