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EWSPAPERS OF
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March 7, 2013
N
ORTHVILLE
- R
OMULUS
District sells first issue of technology bonds
New program offers college degree at high school
Polar Bear Expedition is topic
Northville Public Schools sold
the 2013 technology bonds in the
amount of $16.27million last week.
Approved by voters in the
November 2012 election, the bond
funds will be used to purchase and
install instructional technology
improvements, communications
and building security systems and
related equipment, infrastructure
and remodeling, as well as pay the
cost of issuing the bonds. In addi-
tion, about $2 million will be used
to purchase replacement buses for
the aging district fleet.
The bondswere sold as a private
placement to the low bidder, PNC
Bank, at an interest rate of 1.76 per-
cent with a final maturity of 2020, a
repayment term of about eight
years.
“The positive financial rating of
the district's bond issue contributed
to the opportunity to sell the bonds
at a favorable rate, maximizing the
bond dollars targeted directly
toward the much-need technology
improvements the Northville com-
munity so generously supported in
the November 2012 bond election,”
said Northville Superintendent
MaryKay Gallagher. “Technology is
a powerful part of our daily lives,
whether at school, work or home.
The ability to provide technology
equipped classrooms across the
district that offer digital online
access to mobile technology, dis-
tance learning and virtual proximi-
ty are essential tools as we prepare
students for the ever-changing glob-
al society in which they will live
andwork.”
The technology bond funds will
support the district's technology
plan for at least the next 12 years by
issuing bonds in two separate
series. The next series of bonds in
the amount of $4.6 million will be
issued in four to five years to
“refresh” the initial technology
investment bonds and extend the
viability of district computing
devices as technology continues to
evolve at an increasingly fast pace.
With the series one bond sale
process completed, work is well
under way on a number of projects
across the district. At the Feb. 12
meeting, the board of education
members awarded the contract for
the replacement and upgrade of
the district server and storage area
network. At the Feb. 26, meeting,
they awarded the contract for the
installation of new voice communi-
cation systems (phones) and
approved the purchase of six new
school buses to be delivered
between April and September
2013. Other technology bond proj-
ects due for consideration during
the next month or so include class-
room audiovisual systems and
structured cabling.
Romulus students who take
advantage of a new program may be
receiving two degrees when they
graduate in 2015.
The school district will be offering
an "early college" program beginning
this fall in cooperation with the
Wayne County Community College
District. Students who are successful
in the program can earn an
Associates Degree along with their
high school diploma, while saving
about $10,000 in college tuition costs,
a spokespersonnoted.
To qualify for the program, stu-
dents and their parents or guardians
must attend a mandatory meeting at
6 p.m. next Wednesday, March 13 in
the high school auditorium.
The meeting is open to the public
and will provide information for stu-
dents entering the programthis fall.
The program provides a 5-year
high school term, as compared to reg-
ular 4- years of classes, and partici-
pants will take classes at Romulus
High School and at the campus of
Wayne County Community College.
The program is tuition free for stu-
dents, saving families more than
$10,000 in college costs. TheRomulus
School District Board of Education
members said they are excited about
the educational opportunities that
this landmark program will provide
for students and their families.
Board members recently
approved adding Romulus High
School to the district limited schools
of choice program, providing oppor-
tunities for this, and other programs.
The Early College program is open to
students entering the 11th grade in
September, 2013. Students will have
the opportunity to apply for entrance
into this program in mid-March,
through the high school guidance
office.
The high school is located at 9650
WayneRoad inRomulus.
For more information about the
program or the meeting, call
Romulus High School Guidance
Counselor Liza Mockeridge at (734)
532-1022.
Technology is a powerful
part of our daily lives,
whether at school,
work or home.
”
Roger Crownover will discuss the Polar
Bear Expedition during a talk at 7 p.m.
March 14 at the New School Church at Mill
RaceHistorical Village.
The American military intervention at
Archangel, Russia, during the final years of
WorldWar I, was nicknamed the "Polar Bear
Expedition" and remains a strange episode
in the annals of American history. Sadly,
most Americans know nothing of this event
and most of the men fighting were from
Michigan.
The village is located at 215 Griswold in
Northville. Admission is free although dona-
tions are appreciated.
For more information contact the
NorthvilleHistorical Society, (248) 348-1845
From 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday through
Friday or access www.millracenorthville.
org.
Market meeting set Saturday
A Farmers Market planning meeting is
scheduled for 12:30 p.m. onSaturday, March
9, at the Romulus Senior Center, 36525
Bibbins St. Any interested vendors and vol-
unteers are invited to attend the informa-
tional session which will include the 2013
schedule.
The 2013 Romulus Farmers Market sea-
son will open on Saturday, June 1. Market
days will be from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Saturdays, June throughOctober.
The market is specifically seeking com-
mitted vendors to sell produce, eggs, honey,
fresh bread and other craft and food items.
The market only accepts handmade and
locally produced items. For more informa-
tion or to become a vendor, email romulus-
farmersmarket@gmail.com.