CLK Schools Propose $21.85M Tax-Neutral Bond Renewal
Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw Schools officials are requesting voter approval for a $21.85 million bond renewal on Aug. 4 to finance critical infrastructure upgrades across the district.
Key Highlights
- The $21.85 million proposal represents a zero mill net increase, ensuring property taxes will not exceed the 2025 rate.
- Funded projects will target aging building systems, including heating, ventilation, plumbing, and instructional technology.
- Upgrades are planned across multiple facilities, including CLK Elementary, Calumet High School, Washington Middle School, and Horizons Alternative High School.
- District administrators will host public informational meetings on June 23 and June 30 to discuss the ballot measure.
District administrators have identified critical deficiencies in heating, ventilation, plumbing, windows, masonry, lockers, public address systems, and digital learning tools as the primary drivers behind the ballot measure. The initiative is structured to maintain a zero mill net increase over the previous year’s assessment, preventing any tax hikes beyond the 2025 threshold.
Specific facility plans differ by campus but largely concentrate on updating antiquated climate control infrastructure throughout the district. CLK Elementary School is scheduled for heating infrastructure modernization alongside comprehensive restroom renovations.
Proposed upgrades at Calumet High School encompass ventilation and heating system overhauls, locker room modernizations, an updated public address network, and asphalt resurfacing for campus parking areas. Washington Middle School will similarly address localized climate control infrastructure, facility restrooms, and structural masonry repairs.
Horizons Alternative High School is slated to receive updated individual classroom heating units. Furthermore, the district-wide scope allows for substantial instructional technology modernizations, including new computer hardware, interactive classroom monitors, and upgraded network infrastructure.
District officials have scheduled two public informational sessions, beginning at Horizons Alternative High School on June 23 at 5:30 p.m., followed by a second forum in the CLK Schools commons area on June 30 at 5:30 p.m.
Comprehensive data and project breakdowns remain accessible on the dedicated portal at CLKBond.org.
Future Outlook
If approved by voters in August, the bond extension will allow Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw Schools to systematically deploy capital over the coming years, preventing compounding emergency repair costs. The stabilization of the local tax rate at the 2025 baseline ensures consistent district funding through the next decade while modernizing learning environments to keep pace with modern technological standards.
FAQs
What is the total value of the CLK Schools bond proposal?
The school district is seeking voter authorization for a $21.85 million bond renewal to fund comprehensive facility and technology improvements.
Will the Aug. 4 bond measure increase local property taxes?
No, the proposal is structured as a zero mill net increase, meaning it extends the existing rate and will not raise property taxes above the established 2025 rate.
Which schools will receive infrastructure upgrades under this plan?
The bond funds targeted improvements across the entire district, including CLK Elementary, Calumet High School, Washington Middle School, and Horizons Alternative High School.
When can residents attend informational meetings about the bond?
The district is hosting two community forums: the first at Horizons Alternative High School on June 23 at 5:30 p.m., and the second in the CLK Schools commons area on June 30 at 5:30 p.m.
