MESICK — Mesick Consolidated Schools will place a renovation bond on the August ballot for middle school improvements following months of deliberation. The project is estimated to cost between $14 million and $22 million.
The district decided to move forward with the middle school renovation instead of building an addition to the high school. If approved by voters, the bond would result in a tax impact ranging from 2.8 to 4.4 mills.
The decision to renovate was driven largely by the presence of an existing gymnasium in the current elementary building.
“The current elementary building has what was formerly the high school gym,” Ledford said. “It was estimated that to put a gym onto a wing here at the junior-senior high school building would cost between $7 million to $10 million, maybe $12 million to construct. And so that gym being there made it much easier to renovate that building.”
The planned renovations are designed to create an elementary space that is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The project also includes the installation of upgraded heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
Voters will decide on the bond proposal during the August election. If the plan is not approved, Ledford said the district has a backup plan that involves adjusting the proposal based on the information received from the election results.