Brandywine Community Schools

Bond Proposal 2024

Carmi Design Group supports Brandywine Community Schools as they have a vision to engage, educate, and empower tomorrow’s citizens.

Below is a list of established priorities that have been developed in Brandywine’s Bond Proposal in the May 2024 election, along with a brief description of each:

• Secured Entries – These vestibules would provide a delay mechanism to access persons entering a school campus during the instructional day, increasing the safety of students and staff.

   

• Performing Arts Center (PAC) Addition – Although the district has an outstanding performing arts department, including a concert band, jazz band, choir, and musical performances, there is currently not a dedicated space for performances and rehearsals, thus all performing arts activities take place in our gymnasiums. These spaces do not have the proper acoustics or setups to allow our students to display their talents to the fullest.

   

• Career Technical Education (CTE) Addition – The current CTE shop spaces include Machine Shop, Auto Shop, and Cabinet Making and Millwork. These spaces are not currently compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, nor do they allow growth in programs at a time when they are seeing more kids enter into industry and skilled trades after high school.

   

• Merritt Elementary Gymnasium Addition – The current gymnasium at Merritt Elementary is also used as the cafeteria, and due to increased enrollment in recent years, our K-2 students are having to use a regular classroom without any furniture as a second gym for physical education classes. This also reduces the usable space of the building for other educational opportunities.

   

• Repurpose Existing CTE Areas with an Athletics Focus – Should a new CTE Center be built, a repurposing of the existing spaces would occur. Brandywine currently has a need for an additional boys’ and girls’ locker room for competitions and a wrestling practice area.

   

• Running Track Repair – The Track is near the end of its usable life and is in need of repair. Efforts can be made to continue to patch existing cracks but they are growing larger and becoming more frequent, creating injury risks for students.

   

• New baseball Field Location – The Current baseball field is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, preventing some families from attending their children’s / grandchildren’s games. It also prevents the district from hosting any MHSAA tournament event.

   

• Parking Lot Improvements as Needed – A large portion of parking surfaces need to be redone/resurfaced. This may include some additional parking.

   

• Building Envelope Improvements as Needed – Includes items such as doors, windows, roofs, and exterior walls.

All additional information can be found on Brandywine Community Schools official website

MERRITT ELEMENTARY
Improvements to be made:

• Safety / Security Entrance Improvements

   

• Gymnasium Addition

Who can vote in this bond proposal election?

All residents of Brandywine Community Schools who will be 18 years old or older on Election Day (May 7) and are registered to vote, may vote in this election. Per Michigan Law, you can register to vote on election day at your local clerk’s office.

Where can I get information about voting in Michigan?

A great resource is the Michigan Secretary of State’s website, or you can contact your local clerk’s office.

I will be out of town, can I vote absentee?

Yes, under Michigan law, you can vote by absentee ballot for any reason. You can request an absentee ballot from your local clerk’s office or by visiting the Michigan Secretary of State’s website and clicking on “Absentee Voting”. Absentee ballots will be available by March 28th and you can mail it or drop it off at your clerk’s office. You can even drop it off in person on election day!