NORTHERN MICHIGAN – The C.O.O.R. ISD Board of Education has approved placing a 10-year, one-mill tax proposal on the presidential primary ballot in February or March.
Voter approval of the ballot proposal would enhance Career and Technical Education (CTE) programming open to students in six area school districts (Crawford-AuSable Schools, Fairview Area Schools, Houghton Lake Community Schools, Mio AuSable Schools, Roscommon Area Public Schools, and West Branch-Rose City Area Schools) and two public school academies.
C.O.O.R. ISD Superintendent Shawn Petri said the one-mill proposal would allow the ISD to enhance and expand CTE programs it offers to students in the local school districts and public school academies.
According to Natalie Davis, C.O.O.R. ISD’s CTE director, the ballot proposal is a direct result of the ISD’s strategic planning process and the ISD’s commitment to continually supporting and enhancing CTE programming, which is in high demand as more students need training to prepare for high-skill, high-wage, high-demand jobs.
Davis said that employers are struggling to find well-trained workers in a variety of fields. That is true across Michigan and especially in Crawford, Oscoda, Ogemaw, and Roscommon Counties.
“Our proposal is on the ballot to help local schools prepare students for success in today’s changing job market and to help employers find the trained, skilled workers that they need.”
If approved by voters, the ballot proposal will:
- Eliminate tuition costs local districts now pay to the ISD for CTE programs
- Continue to pay transportation costs for students attending CTE programs offered by the ISD
- Enhance and expand CTE classrooms and instructional spaces
- Update CTE-related instructional equipment for C.O.O.R. ISD and local school district programs
- Accommodate the increasing demand for CTE classes and programs.
If voters approve the CTE proposal, taxes would increase by one mill. The average homeowner (living in a $150,000 home with a taxable value of $75,000) would pay 21¢ per day. While some homeowners would pay more, most homeowners would pay less than 21¢ per day, or $76.65 annually.
“All six local school districts are supportive of the millage proposal,” said Superintendent Petri. “Local school superintendents encouraged us to place this proposal on the ballot, and will be working with us to assure that voters are well informed about the proposal, that their questions are answered, and that they understand the proposed benefits to our students and our communities.”
More information about the proposal will be placed on school websites, sent to the news media, and mailed directly to area residents.
To start, voters are encouraged to visit C.O.O.R. ISD’s website (www.coorisd.net) to view a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document and to express their opinions about the ballot proposal in a brief survey.
