Millage requests on ballot in 2 school districts

Voters in two St. Joseph County school districts will have the opportunity today to vote on ballot questions.

White Pigeon Community Schools will have a millage renewal request before voters, while Sturgis Public Schools is asking for an additional one and three-quarter mills.

White Pigeon Superintendent Jon Keyer said the district is seeking one mill for five years and is a renewal of the May 2014 bond.

At stake is $1.6 million to be dedicated to buses, equipment, security and technology, Keyer said. A few additional targeted purchases include upgraded and expanded video-surveillance systems, interactive classroom white boards and other educational devices, updating 50-year-old kitchen equipment at the high school and long-term sustainability of instructional technology, hardware and software.

Meanwhile, Sturgis Public Schools voters will decide whether to support a 1.75 mill, 10-year building and site sinking-fund request.

Superintendent Art Ebert said at current levels, the proposal would generate $722,500 annually.

The owner of a house with a market value of $100,000 would pay an additional $88 per year.

Projects planned for the building and site sinking fund include replacing 25-year old Eastwood School’s shingle roof with a long-lasting metal roof, replacing one of the boilers at Sturgis High School, and phasing out student iPads and introducing Chromebook computers at Sturgis High School.