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3.3.26
Reimagine our Future: Together
Mark your calendars! Tuesday, March 24th, 5:30 PM, at the AHS Wildcat Den, we will hold our next community forum for the Reimagine Our Future: Together project. Join us for a proactive conversation about the future of Alpena Public Schools. While we are currently in a strong financial position, long-term projections indicate a continuing decline in enrollment. Because student enrollment is our primary source of revenue, we are planning now to ensure a sustainable, high-quality education for years to come.
Early Insights from the Community
With over 200 survey responses, several clear priorities have emerged:
Equity & Access: Strong support for maintaining rural schools and ensuring all students have access to high-quality facilities.
Facilities: A preference for renovating existing structures and repurposing underused buildings for community use.
Grade Configuration: Support for the K-6 and 6-8 models; opposition to large-scale reconfigurations (like 7-12 campuses or split-grade elementaries).
Logistics: A clear desire to avoid increasing bus ride times.
We invite you to help us build on these trends and brainstorm next steps. Your voice is essential to this process.
Enhancement Projects
At Alpena Public Schools, we believe transparency and accountable management are the cornerstones of a strong district. Since 2020, we have been hard at work using the voter-approved Safe, Warm, Dry Bond funds to ensure our students have a safe and functional environment.
We take our role as stewards of your tax dollars seriously. By strategically combining voter-approved funding with innovative energy solutions, we have maximized every dollar:
$33.9 Million (Safe, Warm, Dry Bond): Responsibly deployed for essential facility improvements.
$7.1 Million (Trane Energy Bond): Funded through energy rebates, allowing us to upgrade infrastructure without additional tax burden.
While we’ve made great strides, the reality of maintaining aging infrastructure is significant. With several buildings approaching 80 years old, our long-term maintenance plan identifies nearly $9 million in critical projects needed just to keep our essential systems running smoothly.
Beyond the "must-haves" of infrastructure, there are "nice-to-have" enhancements that—while not critical to basic operations—greatly impact the daily lives of our students. These include items like new playground equipment, updated flagpoles, a modernized weight room, and other projects.
We want these enhancements to reflect the values of our community. That is why we are asking for your feedback on which "enhancement" projects are a priority for you.
Targeted Feedback: We encourage you to fill out surveys for the specific buildings where you work or where your children attend.
Broad Input: You are also more than welcome to provide input on all building surveys if you wish.
Our goal is to learn what you value most, ensuring our students have the best possible experience at Alpena Public Schools. Thank you for your continued trust and partnership.
Please complete the surveys below: