_:n2b45698e8bb3463eb483c2294afc4a96xb0
<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"MANISTEE — While the future of the Jefferson Elementary School property is yet to be determined, one possibility could be crossed off the list Wednesday following a Manistee Area Public Schools board meeting. The district's facilities committee recommended during the meeting that the school board eliminate as an option turning the property over to the Manistee County Land Bank Authority for developing single-family housing. \"The facilities committee previously provided the board with a summary of Jefferson Elementary property options for consideration to meet our commitment to the building removal,\" said board treasurer Justine Slawinski, who serves as an alternate on the committee. \"At this time, the committee recommends this board does not pursue Option 3 in that summary, which involves the (Manistee) County Land Bank Authority.\" Slawinski said a final determination regarding the property has yet to be made. \"As part of the larger elementary consolidation project within the MAPS Vision Plan, students are expected to occupy that building for the next two school years,\" she said. \"The facilities committee will continue to discuss options for that property following demolition. While we're committed to listening to the community's input and encourage collaboration in determining the best future for that property, the board's focus remains on the educational needs of our students.\" Voters approved on May 4, 2021 a $30.855 million bond proposal to allow for the renovation of the Kennedy Elementary building for consolidation of all elementary grades, the construction of a middle school gym, demolition of the 1927 high school building and Jefferson Elementary, and other projects. When inflation caused the project to go over budget, the district began looking for ways to get it back on track. The Manistee County Land Bank Authority reached out to the district in November to express interest in meeting to discuss the role of the land bank in property acquisition and infrastructure preparation for potential development on the Jefferson property. Many area residents expressed concern over the district meeting with the land bank, with some voters saying they felt they were misled in the lead-up to the bond election to believe the property would be turned into a park. During the public comment portion of Wednesday's meeting, Dan Laskey, of Manistee, said a number of residents got together to begin working toward an outcome that benefits both the district and the community. \"We want to continue our discussions and come up with a method to make Jefferson Park — what was in the project and ... what was sold to us — and we'd like to continue that,\" Laskey said. \"What we did is we formed a nonprofit corporation, a 501(c)(3) called Jefferson Community Park Committee. We filed with the IRS for a 501(c)(3). What we'd like to do is entertain communications and talk about how we can purchase that property or take over that property.\" Also during the public comment portion of the meeting, Manistee resident John Helge said the purpose of the bond was not to create a park, but rather to give local students the best education possible. \"I voted 'yes' on the 2021 bond issue because I carefully reviewed and approved of the plan MAPS had in place to provide an educational environment and experience for all the children growing up in this area. I did not vote 'yes' to get a park,\" Helge said. \"Our public school system exists to provide our children with the highest quality education that will provide them the skills that they will need to succeed in life. \"I do not believe our public school system should be expected or required to provide recreational facilities for the public — that is why we currently have over 180 acres of park in the city of Manistee.\" Board member Paul Antal said he agreed with the recommendation not to consider turning the property over to the land bank. \"With respect to the options that we've heard about today, it's great to hear that there is a group that has formed a nonprofit that is interested in potentially taking over that property. Myself, I am torn,\" he said. \"... I love the outdoors — that's why I moved up here — but I'm torn between that and what's better for the community as a whole and bringing more people to the area and providing housing.\" Antal said he does not want the school district to continue to own the Jefferson property after the building is brought down. \"We've talked about the money. Yes, we have a fantastic fund balance right now, but part of that is because we've been very careful — especially with any costs that reoccur from year to year to year,\" he said. \"Trying to maintain a park or a property we are not setting foot in regularly could be very difficult for us.\""
<https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/MAPS-facilities-committee-recommends-board-does-17366758.php>