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Only about a dozen people came to Lansing High School Tuesday to learn about the upcoming School Capital Project.  Despite mailings, newspaper articles, advertisements, radio appearances and other efforts by the school district to publicize the public hearing, the showing was disappointing to school officials and residents who did show up.  "I'm concerned about the number of empty seats this evening," said one resident, Sidney Cleveland.  "I would certainly hope that we could encourage more of the tax payers who will be paying for this project and past projects to come next week."


Two public hearings were scheduled to answer questions and encourage support of the $2.8 million dollar project that includes upgrades and repairs to four buildings, plus renovations and new construction on the high school.  The hearing included an expanded version of the presentation school officials have been making to public groups, and a questions/comments period.  "It is our goal this evening to make sure you leave here with any and all your questions answered," said Superintendent Mark Lewis.

Lewis, Business Administrator Larry Lawrence, High School Principal Michelle Stone, and architect Dave Green explained the process by which the project was developed, the needs that drove it, and how it will be funded.  Green outlined a list of renovations to building infrastructures including repairs to roofs and masonry, heating and ventilation, energy management, ADA compliance issues, and fire detection upgrades.  Stone used ground plans of the high school to explain what changes were being made and why.

Lawrence explained how the project will be payed for if passed by the voters.  State aid will pay for 60% of the project and taxpayers will be asked to pick up the remaining 40%.  Some residents expressed dismay that Lansing is eligible for 60% aid while other districts get as much as 80%, saying Lansing is being discriminated against by the State.  One asked whether, in an environment where residents are being forced out of their homes by high taxes, there was other funding available.

But Lawrence explained that because Lansing is considered a wealthy community the State, it only gets 60%, and said that there is very little private funding available, especially for wealthy districts.  "For many districts it's the best dollar you can spend because they get 85% aid or 75% aid," Lawrence said.  "But when you think about it from the district's perspective, even getting 60% aid is a pretty good bang for the taxpayer's dollar.  We know this school is open to the public all the time, and is used a lot.  It has probably been under-maintained over the course time.  It's still a good bang for the buck."

One resident asked Lawrence whether the annual $0.98 per $1,000 cost of paying for the project would be constant.  Lawrence said that he thinks it will be, but that it will depend on the final numbers including actual loan percentages.  He said that based on debt service payment projections the cost would not fluctuate much.  "It will be roughly level," he explained.  "But this will change as the property tax bill changes.  At the front end we have EXCEL aid, so there is less tax because we're using that up front.  As time goes on I would expect that it would be higher and then go lower."


A resident asked why the new district office is 3,000 square feet versus the current 1650 square foot office.  "I can tell you from my perspective it's desperately needed," Stone said.  "There are storage issues, people are on top of each other.  You can't have a confidential conversation about anything."  

"There is no area for conference, there is no area for confidential interaction between our business department and employees," Lewis expanded.  "The people in the business department right now are extremely close to each other.  There is no opportunity for people to have any type of confidential interaction unless I give up my office or Mr. Lawrence gives up his office, which we do on a regular basis."

Some fear was expressed that large businesses such as AES or Cargill might not contribute to the tax base at current levels, forcing homeowners to pick up the slack, paying more for the project.  Lawrence noted that it is impossible to see into the future, but that there are no current indications that this will happen.

School officials and residents alike expressed dismay at the low turnout.  Another public hearing is scheduled for next Monday at 7:30 in High School room 101.  "Hopefully we will have more people next Monday," said School Board President Bonita Lindberg.  "Please encourage your neighbors and others to attend."

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