Grand Haven School Board approves $98.6M bond proposal for upcoming November ballot

GRAND HAVEN — The Grand Haven Area Public Schools Board of Education has officially cleared the path for voters to decide the future of the district's infrastructure.

In a unanimous 7-0 vote on Monday evening, the board approved placing a bond proposal on the Nov. 3 ballot. The decision follows a detailed presentation from district administration outlining Phase 1 of GHAPS's long-term Facilities Master Plan.

The vote culminates nearly two years of intensive planning, research, and community outreach. District officials noted that the initiative was shaped by roughly 200 community engagement touchpoints — ranging from public surveys and town halls to key communicator sessions — alongside the formulation of a comprehensive Strategic Plan and Facilities Master Plan.

If successful at the polls, the bond will finance extensive modernizations at three elementary schools:

• Ferry Elementary: Full interior renovations, building system upgrades, air conditioning, gym and kitchen enhancements, and new classroom additions.
• Peach Plains Elementary: Comprehensive upgrades to air conditioning, building systems, and learning spaces.
• Rosy Mound Elementary: Complete interior updates, mechanical system modernization, climate control installation, and classroom additions.

Beyond these school-specific overhauls, the proposal earmarks district-wide investments for safety and security enhancements, technology upgrades, playground replacements, new school buses, and musical instruments.

The measure calls for a 1.95-mill increase to kickstart the multi-phase master plan. District officials announced that additional details regarding the project scope, financial impact, and a comprehensive FAQ will be rolled out to the community in the coming weeks.

The last time GHAPS put capital bond proposals on the ballot was in 2023.

In May 2023, GHAPS put a single, unified $155.7 million bond proposal on the ballot. After that was voted down, the district tried again in November that year with two separate bond proposals:

• Proposal 1: Focused on major infrastructure needs, including building a new middle school, district-wide security and safety measures, technology upgrades, and buses.
• Proposal 2: Covered secondary updates, including a new multi-purpose facility, playground replacements, performing arts enhancements, and bus garage updates.

Both measures were defeated.

Following those failed votes, the district launched nearly two years of community engagement, surveys and planning sessions to redesign a phased approach — which ultimately resulted in the upcoming Phase 1 proposal for elementary school renovations and district upgrades.

Other school districts in the county addressed their operating millages and sinking fund renewals earlier this year during the May election, where voters in West Ottawa, Zeeland, Spring Lake, Coopersville, Holland and Grand Haven all approved their respective district measures.

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