By Maria Allard
C & G Staff Writer

WARREN/CENTER LINE — Van Dyke Public Schools staff and students can look forward to updated facilities, thanks to the taxpayers who voted in favor of a bond initiative that passed during the general election May 6.

According to the unofficial results released from the Macomb County Clerk’s Office, 793 VDPS residents voted yes on the bond while 528 turned it down. Election results stated 60 percent voted yes with a reported 40 percent voting no.

The bond initiative will generate dollars for a number of building improvements throughout the district, including security upgrades, secured entrances, technology enhancements, new gyms at some schools, remodeled science labs at the secondary schools and more. The majority of the Van Dyke buildings were built in the 1950s.

A bond issue allows the district to sell bonds to make building improvements. A bond issue is a separate funding source designed for specific projects. It's exclusive for capital improvement or the purchase of certain equipment. A bond issue, for instance, cannot be used to pay for employee salaries.

The Van Dyke bond program will increase taxpayers’ current tax rate by 2.4 mills. The bond projects are expected to take six years to complete. The bond will be paid off in 30 years.

Center Line Public Schools and Fitzgerald Public Schools residents voted in school board elections Tuesday.

Challenger Karen Pietrzyk defeated incumbent Debra Ogden for a seat on the CLPS Board of Education. According to the unofficial results, Pietrzyk received 947 votes, with Ogden garnering 648 votes. The six-year term is July 1, 2008 though June 30, 2014.

In Fitzgerald, incumbents Judy Furgal and Donald Brewer were re-elected to the school board. Furgal received 515 votes while 486 taxpayers voted for Brewer, according to the unofficial results. The four-year term is July 1, 2008 though June 30, 2012

VDPS, Warren Woods Public Schools and East Detroit Public Schools did not hold school board elections at this time.

You can reach Staff Writer Maria Allard at allard@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1045.