2025 November Bond Proposal

Byron Center Public Schools’ student population growth is driving the demand for updates to our current school facilities. The 2025 bond would address capacity issues the district is experiencing in academic spaces, arts programs and athletic facilities, while also addressing infrastructure, technology and bussing.

Election day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Absentee ballots are available in Michigan starting on Thursday, September 25. Polls will be open on election day, Tuesday, November 4, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.    

For more voting information, please visit: michigan.gov/vote  

Byron Center Public Schools partnered with an outside organization to take a look at the district’s facilities environment which includes heating, cooling, HVAC and identifying if buildings are staying current on daily wear and tear. 

Then, the district did a long-term demographic study on where Byron Center’s growth is coming from, reviewing areas such as birth rate, current housing developments and future housing growth.

Next, BCPS engaged the leadership team and Board of Education to discuss the district’s identified needs and how those projects should be addressed. The district also brought in their architect team TowerPinkster and construction team Owen-Ames-Kimball to help with the process. 

The November bond proposal would impact every school in the district, addressing academics, arts and athletics from early childhood through high school. 

• Academics: Renovate classrooms at the Early Childhood Center, Marshall Elementary, Countryside Elementary, West Middle School and Byron Center High School, expand space for North Star Academy and special education programs and upgrade student technology across the district.

• Arts: Renovate the fine arts wing at West Middle School and Byron Center High School with added rehearsal, multipurpose and storage spaces and increase marching band access to a turf field.

• Athletics: Build a new athletic stadium and four new baseball/softball fields at the West Athletic Complex and keep Byron Center’s current stadium, Waddell Field, for track, marching band practice and multipurpose activities across the district.

• Infrastructure: Update worn out furniture, flooring, cabinetry and HVAC systems throughout the district, improve parking lots and site drainage and expand the district’s transportation center.

If approved by the voters, the 2025 bond would provide the school district with approximately $110 million to pay for the projects described in the bond proposal.

There is no projected increase to the current tax rate. The growth of the community allows the district to generate $110 million dollars with a yes vote and the current debt tax rate would be extended as a result. 

Voter-approved bond funds can be spent on constructing new buildings and facilities, constructing additions to buildings, remodeling, site improvements, athletic facilities, playgrounds, furnishings, equipment, school buses, instructional technology and other capital projects. 

Bond funds cannot be used for operational expenses such as employee salaries and benefits, school supplies and textbooks.

Byron Center Public Schools’ last bond was passed by the voters in 2020. That bond funded the construction of a new Nickels Intermediate building, now located at the West Middle School complex. The old Nickels Intermediate building was renovated into a fourth elementary school, now known as Heritage Elementary. The district services building, administration office, Van Singel Fine Arts Center and West Middle School’s media center were also renovated. In addition, student devices and food service equipment were upgraded.

Bond projects include classroom renovations at the Early Childhood Center, Marshall Elementary, Countryside Elementary, West Middle School and Byron Center High School and a North Star Academy expansion at the high school. New technology in the classroom would allow students to continue their collaborative learning with their teachers and with their individual devices.

At Byron Center High School, classrooms for the MOCI/MICI program would be renovated to build program specific spaces for student use and programs.

With the growth of fine arts programs in Byron Center, the district has proposed renovations to expand classroom spaces to support increasing student participation. Both West Middle School and Byron Center High School students are outgrowing the performing arts spaces at their respective buildings. 

The bond proposal would expand West Middle School’s fine arts wing to support student growth, creating rehearsal spaces, multipurpose rooms and instrument storage for band, choir and orchestra. In addition, a dedicated space in the band room would be created for percussion students to rehearse independently; currently, they practice in the cafeteria.

The bond would also renovate Byron Center High School’s fine arts wing to create a more efficient space for band, choir and orchestra students, add dedicated rehearsal spaces and multipurpose classrooms and design proper storage for all instruments and equipment. 

The BCHS marching band would get more opportunities to practice on a turf field ahead of competitions, which are typically hosted on turf fields.

Byron Center High School was renovated in 2017, but many parts of the building were not touched. This bond would renovate the fine arts wing, classrooms for the high school’s alternative program North Star, special education classrooms and the Code Red Robotics’ workspace.

As Byron Center athletic programs grow, there are concerns about whether the district has adequate space for student-athletes to practice and compete. Building a third turf field in the district would provide Byron Center athletic programs additional space to practice and host competitions. The new stadium would alleviate the competition over field use between sports teams.

The new athletic complex would host football, lacrosse and allow the marching band more opportunities to practice and perform. It would reduce overcrowding and cramped parking at Waddell Field during Friday night football games.

The district is unable to expand its current stadium, Waddell Field, due to an easement that runs through the field, making it unsuitable for development.

Yes, the current stadium, Waddell Field, is in good condition and would still be used for track, marching band practice and multipurpose activities across the district.

Byron Center Public Schools has looked into the possibility of an indoor athletic facility. Currently, the district’s focus is on competition spaces rather than practice spaces. An indoor facility will be considered in future planning. 

If the bond passes and Byron Center Public Schools is able to build an athletic complex at the West Athletic Complex, the current stadium would be available for community use, such as hosting South Christian athletic events. 

Byron Center Public Schools understands the need for a new swimming pool as the current one is approaching the end of its useful life. The district has plans for the future to move the pool to the West Athletic Complex and turn the current pool space into classrooms for students. If BCPS’ student population continues to grow, more classroom space will likely be needed at the high school, however, we are not at that point yet. A new pool will be considered in future planning. 

Byron Center Public Schools partners with Byron Township and the Kent County Road Commission to tackle sidewalk and crosswalk projects and the installation of traffic lights.

Byron Center Public Schools works with a company called Cooperative Strategies to review growth projections to make sure the district is planning for the future. This process entails looking at current, future and potential developments that are going in throughout the district. This data helps the district decide what facility upgrades should be prioritized to accommodate future BCPS students. 

Bond projects listed in this proposal would be completed in two series, with construction projects scheduled around ongoing district activities, beginning in 2026 through 2030.