GLADSTONE — Election day is Tuesday, May 6. In the tri-county area of Menominee, Delta and Schoolcraft, only voters within the Gladstone Area Public Schools district — Gladstone City, Brampton Township and Escanaba Township — are posed with a ballot.

Two questions are presented, both asking for bonds for the schools. If both pass, the current tax rate of 5.75 mills from the schools will continue for about five years and then is expected to slowly decline. If only one proposal passes, 5.75 should remain the rate for just one more year and then decline. Whether one or both pass, the debt is scheduled to be paid off in 13 years 7 months.

If both proposals fail, the existing school bond — the tax rate for which has dropped from the 7.53 mills when it first began in 1997 to erect the new high school — would be fully paid off in November 2026. Homestead taxpayers would likely pay a lower rate next year and then 0 mills to the schools after November 2026.

If citizens are wondering when the return on investment will be seen and which classes of students will benefit if one or both of the proposals go through — work must be completed within four years.

Here are the projects sought through each of the bonds.

PROPOSAL I

Interior and exterior improvements at W. C. Cameron Elementary, James T. Jones Elementary, Gladstone Middle School and Gladstone High School would include the modernization of safety, security and fire suppression systems at all schools; roof repair; upgrades to lighting, plumbing, heating and cooling; the replacement of worn furnishings and lockers; new ADA-compliant playground equipment; new sidewalks; and improvements to parking lots with an emphasis on safe traffic flow.

Four new classrooms would be added onto Cameron Elementary for the addition of early childhood education classes for four-year-olds. The state provides funding to conduct the program, but not create the space. Currently, the four-year-old class — the Great Start ­Readiness Program — is not offered in the Gladstone School district. Other schools in the area that do provide the program are Bark River-Harris, Big Bay de Noc, Manistique and Mid Peninsula Schools.

Proponents hope that by attracting young families to Gladstone with the GSRP, more students will stay in the district throughout their educational career, and their parents may choose to live and work and possibly even open new businesses in Gladstone. Higher numbers of enrolled students means more money coming to the school system from state funding.

Also to be erected at Cameron is a multi-purpose room so that there would no longer be just one space serving as both cafeteria and gymnasium in addition to hosting Reading Buddies and other school activities.

If only Proposal I passes, taxpayers will pay 5.75 mills for one additional year and then a bit less for 13 years and seven months. The total amount sought with this proposal is $16.9 million.

PROPOSAL II

This request is for $4.8 million for one construction project that would have effects on two schools, the highschool and middle school.

A multi-purpose room would be built onto the high school, adding space for athletics and extracurricular activities that currently vie for room. At present, the robotics team uses the cafeteria, and the high school wrestling team is bussed to practices at the middle school.

If Proposal II passes, skilled trade education would be offered to middle school students. The middle school used to provide Industrial Arts, but those classes have not been offered for some time. With the construction of a new multi-purpose facility at the high school, the wrestling team would vacate the space in the middle school previously used for trade education, and shop and woodworking equipment would return.

If only Proposal II passes, taxpayers will pay 5.75 mills for one additional year and then a declining amount for the next 13 years and seven months.

If residents are left with any lingering questions, they may attend the final community forum held by Brighter Braves Future on Monday, May 5 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.