Good Evening Vulcan Families just a reminder that school resumes Monday! Make sure your students get to bed early and are on time. We can't wait to welcome students and staff back!
Can any of the bond proposal funds be used for employee salaries or operating expenses?
No. Bond proposal funds cannot be used for employee salaries. They also cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs or other operating expenses. Bond proposal funds must be used only for purposes specified in the ballot language, and as required by state law, they must be independently audited.
Vassar Public Schools would like to congratulate Ms. Dorothy Blackwell on her retirement! While searching for a candidate to continue leading Vassar Public Schools, Erin Raymond, 6-12 Principal, will be placed as Interim Superintendent. Congratulations to Ms. Blackwell- thank you for everything you have done for the Vassar School District.
What can bond proposal revenue be used for?
• Bonds can be used for:
• Constructing additions to existing school buildings
• Remodeling existing school buildings
• Energy conservation improvements
• Site development and improvements
• Athletic and physical education facility development and improvements
• Playground development and improvements
• School bus purchases
• Purchasing loose furnishings and equipment (including administrative technology)
• Direct bond program costs, such as professional fees, election fees, issuance costs, qualification fees, insurance fees, and final audit costs
• Technology purchases are limited to hardware and communication devices that transmit, receive, or compute information for pupil instructional purposes only. The initial purchase of an operating system and customized application software is allowed if purchased with the initial hardware.
Attention 11th and 12th grade students and parents, join us January 17th, 6:30-7:30 at Vassar High School for a presentation from a financial aid specialist about Financial Aid with Q & A to follow! This is a great time to learn about all the opportunities out there and where to get started.
If you have questions, feel free to contact Jenna Fish, Academic Counselor at 989-823-8534 or jfish@vassar.k12.mi.us.
What is a bond?
A bond is a state-approved funding process for an identified list of projects. When voters approve a bond proposal, the school district sells bonds in the authorized amount and uses the bond sale proceeds to pay for the bond proposal projects. Bonds are typically paid back in 20-30 years.
In many ways, the bonding process is like a homeowner refinancing their home and making payments over a period of years. The Vassar Public Schools no-tax-rate increase bond proposal length is 22 years.
The second proposal on the February 27th ballot seeks voter approval to renew and restore the ten-year, 18-mill non-homestead millage proposal originally approved by voters after the passage of Proposal A in 1994. To restore the full 18 mills, the proposal calls for renewing the current 17.8212 mills and adding an additional .5 mills. The additional .3312 mills will only be levied if the 18 mills are reduced due to the Headlee Amendment and fall below the maximum amount allowable of 18 mills. All school districts in the State of Michigan are required to levy 18 mills on non-homestead property to receive their full foundation allowance.
Are you joining us tomorrow for soup with the Sup? This is a great chance to learn more about the No-Tax-Rate Increase Bond Proposal and the Non-Homestead Millage Proposal in the February 27, 2024 election. Learn more about the bond, tour the building, and ask questions about the proposals. We hope to see you soon Be sure to join us tomorrow, December 28, from 4 pm to 7 pm at Central Elementary!
The first proposal on the February 27th ballot is a $6.1 million no-tax-rate increase bond proposal designed to address Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) safety requirements, install vape detection sensors, update the learning environment, update instructional technology, replace parking lots and concrete, upgrade playgrounds, replace HVAC equipment and improve ventilation, purchase buses, improve athletic spaces and purchase athletic equipment, make interior/exterior infrastructure improvements, such as roofs, adding electronic signs, and replacing boilers.
When is the election?
The election will be held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Absentee ballots will be available after January 18, and can be cast through Election Day.
Vassar Public Schools has placed two proposals on the February 27, 2024 ballot. To see a list of frequently asked questions, visit the following link https://5il.co/2ax05
We are a week away from soup with the Sup! Be sure to join us on Thursday, December 28, from 4 pm to 7 pm at Central Elementary for your chance to learn more about the No-Tax-Rate Increase Bond Proposal and the Non-Homestead Millage Proposal in the February 27, 2024 election. Learn more about the bond, take a tour of the building, and ask us questions about the proposals. We hope to see you soon!
The students and staff at Vassar Public Schools wish everyone a safe and happy winter break. We look forward to seeing students when school resumes on Monday, January 8!
Congratulations to the following students for being chosen for December's Be A Star!
Bailey Smith (7th Grade)
Bailey is a wonderful VPS citizen. She is always ready to help with a task. She is conscientious when it comes to her work and responsibilities. Bailey is a good friend to her peers and teammates. She is always open to learning new tasks and skills.
Lucas Hunter (11th Grade)
Lucas stayed after a basketball game without being asked and helped clean up the gym. He put away the chairs, picked up trash, and aided in the overall cleanliness of the area.
Great job to Bailey and Lucas! Thank you to Vassar True Value for making this recognition possible for our students every month!
Hello Vulcan Families! The Rhino and Camel buses will both have a double run for the PM routes on Wednesday, December 20th. Students who ride the Rhino and Camel buses will be dropped off later than normal.
Thank you!
Hello Vulcan Families! The Rhino bus will have a double bus run for both the AM and PM routes on Wednesday, December 20th. Students who ride the Rhino bus will be picked up and dropped off later than normal.
Thank you!
Good Morning Rhino bus families!
We are sorry for the change, but there will not be a double bus run this morning, Tuesday, December 19. However, there will be a double bus run this evening. We are sorry for the mix-up and any inconvenience this may have caused.
Hello Vulcan Families! The Rhino bus will have a double run for the AM run on Tuesday, December 19th. Students who ride the Rhino bus will be picked up later than normal.
Thank you!
SADD lit luminaries at last Friday's basketball game to greet people as they came to the game to bring awareness to destructive decisions. Thank you to Officer Hamill and Emilee Dembowski for the leadership and work that made it possible.
ATTENTION SENIORS: Your senior picture for the yearbook is due NO LATER than April 19, 2024. The sooner you can get these in, the better. Please email a vertical (portrait) senior photo to spiazza@vassar.k12.mi.us for the yearbook.