ADRIAN — Voters in the Adrian school district will consider whether or not to approve a bond proposal at a May 5 special election that would fund construction of a community recreational facility at Adrian High School and updates at the school’s Julianne and George Argyros Performing Arts Center.

If approved, the proposal authorizes the district to borrow $27.5 million for the two projects for a maximum of 21 years. The resulting 0.65-mill levy would cost the owner of a $200,000 home, with a taxable value of $100,000, $65 per year beginning in December 2026.

That levy is less than what was originally proposed but actually increases the available funding. Previously, the proposal was for a 0.75-mill levy which would generate $27 million for the recreational facility only.

The increased funding is because of the type of bonds involved. The district would receive only a small portion of the total funding in the first year to get the work going, with the rest of the funds coming the second year. “So the interest you’re saving the first year gives you more bang for the buck,” Adrian Public Schools superintendent Nate Parker said.

If voters approve the proposal, construction could begin as early as 2027.

Several sites around the high school were considered for the approximately 80,000-square-foot building. Community input narrowed the choices down to one: what is currently a parking area off of Stockford Drive. That parking would be replaced with a new lot nearby.

The facility would give both students and community members access to a range of amenities. As currently envisioned, the building would have 50 to 60 yards of turf; multi-use courts for sports such as basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and tennis; an indoor track; fitness facilities; batting cages; and locker rooms.

Currently, several of the high school’s sports teams and the marching band either do not have adequate practice space on campus or have trouble scheduling practice times around other needs for the existing space. Additionally, having an indoor facility would eliminate weather as an issue.

The building would be available to the community when not needed for school use. Proposed community hours are noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 2 to 8 p.m. Saturdays.

The facility would be free for APS students, while community members would pay an annual fee based on whether they live inside or outside the district. 

The proposed annual fee for district residents is:

• One person: $50 ($25 for veterans and senior citizens).
• Two people: $75
• Family: $150
• APS employees: $50

The proposed annual fee for non-residents is:

• One person: $516
• Two people: $720
• Family: $800 to $900

In addition to providing sports and fitness opportunities for both APS students and the wider community, the facility could house a wide variety of events including tournaments, band camps, robotics competitions, and community functions.

When the city of Adrian announced the closure of Bohn Pool, the district explored the idea of adding a pool to the bond proposal. But after community feedback, including public polling by the EPIC/MRA firm, and consideration of the costs involved, that idea was shelved.

Performing Arts Center improvements would include new seating and carpeting and upgraded, energy-efficient lighting.

“That probably is the most used space in the district,” Parker said of the center, which opened in 2007. “So over 20 years it’s had a lot of use. It’s a huge asset and it’s a great space.”

By being able to include the PAC updates in this proposal, funding that would otherwise be spent on the work can be freed up for other purposes, Parker said.

The idea for a recreational facility came out of a comprehensive facilities assessment undertaken by APS in 2024. At the time, community members told the district that there was a need for more athletic and recreational opportunities.

The Adrian Board of Education first began considering this specific proposal more than a year ago. A number of community forums followed and residents of the area immediately adjacent to the site were specifically contacted to give them the opportunity to share their concerns and questions.

Originally, the plan was to put the proposal on the November 2025 ballot, but the announcement of Siena Heights University’s closing at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year put that on hold.

“As soon as the closure was announced, people started asking if [the university’s field house] could be used” for the district’s envisioned facility, Parker said.

He and the school board decided to pause things in order to examine that possibility. But it soon became clear, he said, that such a facility needed to be on the AHS campus for a number of reasons, including transportation issues and the difficulties of maintaining and staffing a building so far away from the high school.

Additionally, the field house is smaller than the proposed facility and does not have the turf option that the new building would.

“For this facility to meet our goals, it had to be here on our campus,” Parker said.

On the whole, the response to the bond proposal has been very positive, both from the community and from APS students and staff, Parker said. “Obviously, our coaches are excited, and some of the high school kids are asking, ‘why did you wait so long?’ ”

He said the facility will reap positive benefits for both APS students and the wider community. In addition to providing a better experience for students who are involved in sports, “65 percent of our students get free or reduced lunch,” he said. “So this gives them an opportunity” for recreational activities.

And for the community, the center would not only provide an affordable option for recreation but would also bring an economic benefit to the area by hosting events, such as tournaments, that bring visitors in, Parker said.

“It’s for the school and it’s for the kids, but everyone will be able to use it. … An active community is a healthy and thriving community,” he said.

“It’s that placemaking effect. These are the sorts of things that make people come here to live and makes them want to stay.”

Residents who live within the Adrian Public Schools district boundaries are eligible to vote in the May 5 election. Those boundaries include most of the city of Adrian and some portions of Adrian, Dover, Franklin, Madison, Palmyra, Raisin and Rome townships. People in those areas who are unsure if their address falls within the district’s boundaries can click here.

More information about the proposal is available here.