Overview

The Lansing USD 469 Board of Education is reviewing facility needs and considering a potential March 3, 2026 bond election following the Special Board Workshop held on November 17, 2025. Superintendent Marty Kobza, architects from Incite Design Studio, and our financial advisor from Raymond James Public Finance presented information on district facility conditions, student needs, and financial impacts.

The Board will consider formal bond resolutions at its December 8, 2025 meeting.
If approved, the resolutions will place the bond questions on the ballot for the March 2026 election.

Why a Bond?

A bond allows school districts to fund major, long-term facility improvements that cannot be covered through regular annual budgets. Lansing USD 469 has reached a point where many building systems and safety components need significant upgrades that exceed operational funding capacity.

Key factors contributing to the need:

• Aging roofs, HVAC systems, and electrical infrastructure

• Safety and security upgrades

• Growing needs for Career & Technical Education (CTE) space

• Early childhood and specialized program needs

• Districtwide asphalt and parking lot deterioration

• Failing athletic surfaces at the middle school track and high school tennis courts

Guided by Community Input

In December 2024, the district conducted a scientific phone survey of 300 registered voters within district boundaries. Survey results showed:

• Strong community support for: CTE expansion, behavioral support programs, early childhood investment, and safety improvements

• Lower support for large-scale athletic additions

• Higher approval for no mill levy increase or low-impact tax scenarios

These findings directly informed the recommended scope of the bond proposal.

Proposed Bond Structure

Based on the facility study, survey results, and Board direction, the proposed bond would include two questions:

Question 1 — Base Facilities Package (Approximately $30 million)

Focus areas include:

• Early Childhood Center safety and system improvements

• Roof and HVAC replacements

• Electrical and plumbing upgrades

• Security upgrades and secure entries

• Parking lot and asphalt repairs

• Middle school track replacement

• High school tennis court reconstruction

• Career & Technical Education (CTE) and alternative learning program space

Question 2 — Athletic Field Enhancements (Approximately $5 million)

This question would be separate and contingent upon Question 1 passing.

Tax Impact

Financial projections from Raymond James Public Finance show that:

Base Package – $30 Million

• Can be structured to maintain the current mill levy (approx. 14.94 mills)

• Individual tax bills may still fluctuate based on property valuation

If Both Questions are Approved – Total $35 Million

• Estimated at approximately 0.75 mills higher

• Less than $1 per month per $100,000 of home value

The district will publish calculated examples for homeowners at $100,000 intervals to help community members understand possible tax effects.

Facility Needs at a Glance

Early Childhood Center

• Lowest-rated building in the district (“D” rating)

• Roof, HVAC, restroom access, code compliance, and security needs

• Proposed solution: targeted upgrades to improve safety and functionality without full reconstruction

Districtwide Improvements

• Roof maintenance and replacement

• HVAC modernization and preventative maintenance

• Technology and security system replacement cycles

• Parking lot/asphalt repair plan

Athletic Safety Needs

• Middle School Track: severe base failure and surfacing loss; safety risk

• High School Tennis Courts: heaving, cracking, water intrusion; liability concern

Long-Term Planning and Preventative Maintenance

The district is implementing several long-term maintenance strategies:

• Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) for preventative maintenance

• 12-year technology replacement plan

• Roofing maintenance plan with professional consultants

• Districtwide asphalt and parking lot rotation plan

• Improved custodial and maintenance staffing to meet national standards

These efforts improve building longevity and reduce emergency repair costs.

Next Steps

• December 8, 2025: The Board of Education will vote on the draft bond resolutions.

• If approved:

  • The resolutions will be filed with the county and state

  • Election preparations will begin

  • The district will publish detailed project descriptions, tax examples, and FAQs

• March 3, 2026: Proposed election date (walk-in voting)

Transparency Commitment

If the Board approves moving forward, Lansing USD 469 will provide ongoing updates, including:

• Full project lists and cost estimates

• Tax impact charts

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Informational videos

• Community presentation materials

• Meeting summaries and follow-up documents

Our goal is to ensure every Lansing resident has clear, factual information to make an informed decision.

Our district has partnered with Incite Design Studio to evaluate our facilities and engage with our community as we shape a long-term vision for Lansing USD469. Through this collaboration, we aim to gather valuable feedback to identify and prioritize projects that will best support our students and ensure that our facilities meet the needs of our community. To keep everyone updated and informed throughout this process, we have included documents and videos below for the Lansing community to review.

Feedback from our Community Engagement Meetings held on August 27 and September 4, 2024

• Facilities Assessments and Prioritization Documents

• Long Range Planning Process Update (Presentation)

• Click here to watch presentation on YouTube