Centreville Schools to put millage on ballot

Centreville Public Schools this week made official its plan to seek a millage request this spring.

Board of Education members during a special meeting Thursday approved a resolution that will put the ballot question before voters May 2.

Superintendent Chad Brady said the board’s endorsement caps a 12-month process in which extensive research and community feedback were secured to determine whether the request is a viable option to offer at this time.

The district will ask voters for eight-tenths of a mill increase. If the measure is supported, Centreville Public Schools would then levy an even 7 mills, Brady said. The eight-tenths of a mill would remain in place for 14 years and over its life generate $17 million.

Projects covered in the proposed request include a designated cafeteria at the elementary school, an elementary music room, a multi-purpose building, safety and security improvements districtwide, a main entry to the high school, and energy and efficiency improvements districtwide.

Enrollment projections call for the district to exceed 900 students within five years. With 852 students, Centreville is the fourth-largest of St. Joseph County’s eight K-12 school districts.