Dear Friends,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many community members that gave so generously of their time to assist us in the creation of a vision for West Ottawa for the next three, five, and ten years. These collaborative efforts over the past several months have produced a ten-year plan that will support the prep-aration of our students to be college, career and life ready. This support result-ed in a $90 million bond proposal that will be on the May 6 ballot. This bond, when passed, will address the needs within the district in three specific areas: Safety and Security, Building Improvements, and 21st Century Learning.

Safety and Security includes secured entrances and better access control at all of our elementary and middle school buildings. It will improve traffic flow at several elementary and both middle schools. It will also provide for play-ground upgrades and new fencing at most elementary schools.

Building Improvements includes heat-ing upgrades, roof replacements, energy saving controls, paving improvements, high efficiency boiler replacements, new exterior windows and door replacements and many other improvements that will provide for more efficient use of energy, preserving dollars for the classroom.

21st Century Learning will provide for infrastructure improvements that will allow for maximizing the technology use across the district - new teaching stations for every classroom, student access to individual computing devices and up-

grades to exiting computer labs as well as several new computer labs to address the needs of the new online state assessments. Because this is a ten-year plan, it will provide for not only initial purchases but also for replacements within the ten years of the plan.

The plan calls for a two series bond proposal that will generate $42 million in 2014 and another $47.5 million in 2020, for a total of just under $90 million, while keeping the millage rate at the current rate of 7.75. This is accomplished by extending the bond payment schedule by nine years.

It has been 12 years since West Ottawa has last passed a bond. Up to that point, bonds were passed to build buildings to accommodate the rapid growth that the district had been facing. This bond is different in that it is de-signed to allow the district to improve and keep our current assets up-to-date.

You can find more information by going to our district website and clicking the Investing in Our Community icon or by visiting our Facebook page by searching West Ottawa Bond Proposal 2014.

Sincerely,

Tom

VOLUME 4 , ISSUE 3

APRIL 2014 West Ottawa News

“PREPARING STUDENTS TO BE COLLEGE, CAREER AND LIFE READY”

The $90-million bond

proposal that will go before West Ottawa School District voters on May 6 will not increase the district’s current debt millage rate. It will, how-ever, extend the lifetime of the district’s current 7.75 mills by an addi-tional nine years.

The proposal was

devised by a strategic planning committee of about 60 district parents, residents and business leaders after it studied the district’s needs for several months and posed questions to district administrators.

The proposal will

improve security entrances, renovate some classrooms, revamp transportation facilities and improve traffic flow at district schools, enhance opera-tional efficiency, and improve technology.

Although a new athletic

stadium and new per-forming arts center were considered, the strategic planning committee decided not to include either in the bond pro-posal because they were not supported by a majority of those surveyed.

Bond facts

Supt. Tom Martin

V OLUME 4 , ISSUE 3 P AGE 2

Something that’s as unavoidable as aging is making the lifestyle ad-justments that aging prompts. We don’t have to be “old” for this to be necessary.

A friend of mine went from always washing his car by hand in his 20s to always driving it through a car wash in his 30s. I went from tackling a real Christmas tree every year to buying an artificial one in my late 40s. These are minor conces-sions to busy schedules or other external variables and aren’t usually viewed as overly meaningful.

Eventually, however, what we’re compelled to give up matters more. I know a couple for whom it was a significant decision to stop trudging through all sorts of weather condi-tions to feed the birds in their back-yard. They were concerned about a physical mishap, and rightly so. When the issues are cognitive, adjustments can feel even more unwelcome. Plus, sometimes there’s a combination of physical and cognitive decline pressing for changes to be made.

Whether a change strikes us as minor or major has a lot to do with how forced and irreversible it feels. Conditions such as arthritis or dementia can behave like a bully, demanding that we permanently relinquish valued, lifelong activities. It’s only natural to resent any com-

promising of our independence, privacy, or dignity. And, we’re cer-tainly inclined to resist anything that appears to impose on us the initial stages of our final days.

Since such experiences may be unavoidable, how are they to be navigated?

If we’re observing a loved one facing concessions, a good starting point is to recognize that even small things can be painful to forfeit because they represent the journey into additional losses that lie ahead. It’s as much the symbolic being pro-cessed and grieved as the actual, even when this is denied. After iden-tifying which activities mean the very most to someone, we might be able to relieve the sting of a specific loss by increasing our own involvement, at least for a while. We could refill a bird feeder once a week, involve a youngster in helping to address Christmas cards, or make sure transportation to special church events is arranged.

If we’re the older adult who’s having to make concessions; hope-fully, we’ll accept any compromise associated with someone helping us. Something may not be done exactly as we would have done it, but it will be done with heartfelt de-votion. Perhaps certain adjustments could be eased by creative alterna-tives. For example, when our big-dinner-cooking days are over, may-be our invitation to relatives or friends could be as simple as heat-ing a slice of frozen pie. It would retain what’s most important--the time together.

In navigating the changes that aging brings, we’re definitely not alone. Agencies such as Care Ser-vices of Evergreen can help with a wide array of services and sugges-tions, any one of which is capable of delaying certain decisions and less-ening the pain of others.

(Judy Brown is Resource Coordinator for Care Services of Evergreen)

musical set by the faculty band Vinylicious, a variety of craft activi-ties (to be donated to children at the hospital), games, and other dances. More than 160 high school students not only paid to register as a dancer, but were expected to raise money by soliciting donations.

“I have never been prouder of my students,” said NHS adviser and West Ottawa teacher Brian Taylor. “The students faced, and surmount-ed, many obstacles – and snow days – but always remained positive, hopeful, and doggedly perseverant.”

West Ottawa High School students danced to the tune of $21,478.95 – far exceeding their goal -- at the 2nd annual West Ottawa Dance Marathon (WODM) held Feb. 28, with donations going to the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

West Ottawa National Honor Society (NHS) students worked in partnership with Hope College students to plan, organize, and run the entire event. The event featured ten speakers with first-hand experi-ence as patients at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, dance numbers by the high school’s dance team, a

West Ottawa's event is believed to be the largest high school mara-thon in the state, he said.

Many students were surprised to be so affected by their participation: 10th grader Hannah Moralez said the Dance Marathon experience touched her heart “every hour and minute,” and WODM committee member Lindsay Trameri, a senior, exclaimed that Dance Marathon was: “hands down, the best night of my life.”

(Continued on Page 4)

While aging, making concessions is unavoidable

Dance Marathon raises $21,479

Just for seniors By Judy Brown

WEST OTTAWA NEWS P AGE 3

The Macatawa Bay Middle School Math Counts team took fourth place overall and Derek Maas placed second individually in the Math Counts West Michigan Regional Competition at Grand Valley State University on Feb. 14.

In the team competition, about 150 students forming teams from 15 schools in Western Michigan were given 10 problems they had to complete in 40 minutes, with the Macatawa Bay team finishing behind Forest Hills Northern, Forest Hills Eastern and Forest Hills Central middle schools. Competing on the Macatawa Bay Middle School team were seventh graders Derek Maas and Andrew Smyk and eighth-graders Isaac Sierra, Abby LaDuke, Jenna Maas and C.J. Dixon.

In the individual competition, the sprint round included 30 math ques-tions that the individuals were given 40 minutes to solve without a calcu-lator. The target round featured 2 problems in each of the 4 rounds, and the individuals were given 6 minutes to solve the problems in each round.

Maas ended up being the top seed out of the ten individuals who went on to the buzzer rounds, where the students used buzzers to re-spond to questions. By ending up in second place, Maas went on to the state competition on March 8 at Western Michigan University.

“The Math Counts team from Mac Bay did awesome,” said parent

The Mac Bay team is always looking for more students to partici-pate in this outstanding opportunity. So, if you really like science and have thought about giving Science Olympiad a try, come see us next year!

This year’s participating Mac Bay students are: Dominic

Do you know why a Science Olympiad team must prepare for regionals?

Science Olympiad, like swimming or track, consists of a team of students competing in 23 different events. Students work with their coaches to learn more, sharp-en their skills, experiment, and build. Everyone practices a lot and then goes into competition with a partner against other schools - anywhere from 20-50 other schools!

This year’s Macatawa Bay Middle School team has participated in two invitational meets, and has been busy preparing for the regional contest on March 29. If they do well, they can qualify for the State com-petition, a feat they have accom-plished four times in their seven year history. They will have to defeat 35 schools to make it this year.

Science Olympiad team prepares for regionals

Mac Bay math team takes 4th in regionals

Aquino, Colin Brown, Ethan Cowelchuk, Morgan Davis, Brooke Drost, Erik Heindlmeyer, Michael Heindlmeyer, Devin Jones, Aaron Peaslee, Evan Pohl, Garret Truttman and Autumn Veldink.

Returning from 9th grade to assist the team were Lindsey Drost and Abby Shepard.

and team coach Ed Maas. “This was a lot of fun, with lots of smiles all around.”

Maas thanked Macatawa Bay Principal Michael Fine for supporting the team and parents for allowing and encouraging their children to compete.

The Macatawa Bay Middle School Math Counts team celebrates a fourth

place finish at the West Michigan Regional Competition.

Michael Heindlmeyer and Brooke Drost are all smiles after taking fourth place at the Allendale

Science Olympiad.

V OLUME 4 , ISSUE 3 P AGE 4

150 colleges and high schools, all raising money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. It began in 1991

at Indiana University in memory of Ryan White.

(Continued from Page 2)

The Dance Marathon is a nation-wide movement involving more than

Brian Mark Baker, C.J. Van Wieren, Jim Caserta and Deb (Koning) Kiekover were inducted into the West Ottawa Athletic Hall of Fame at its 17th annual banquet and ceremony held Sept. 25 at the Commons of Evergreen.

More than 120 attended the event, which included past induc-tees; patrons of the West Ottawa Athletic Hall of Fame; and friends and guests of the new inductees, the Class of 2013.

Brian Mark Baker (2004) was presented by his uncle Ron Achterhof. Brian participated in football, basketball, and baseball and his records are still listed in the Michigan High School Athletic Association record book.

C.J. Van Wieren (2003) was introduced by his former football coach Jim Caserta. C.J. participat-ed in football, basketball, and baseball and went on to earn eight varsity letters in football and basket-ball at Ferris State University.

Jim Caserta (coach) was presented by his good friend Paul Chapman, a West Ottawa High

School teacher. Caserta coached football 15 years at West Ottawa and baseball for 14 years, winning the state championship in 2003.

Deb (Koning) Kiekover (at large) was introduced by Ron Allen, former athletic director for West Ottawa. Deb served as head certified athletic trainer for West Ottawa for 21 years. She was a member of the first class of women certified as athletic train-ers by the National Athletic Trainers Association in 1976.

A total of 85 individuals have been inducted into the Hall of Fame:

57 athletes, 15 coaches, and 13 at large. The first class inducted was in the fall of 1997.

You may read about their accomplishments by going to the following West Ottawa website:

westottawa.net/athletics/PANTHER HQ/HALL OF FAME.

Anyone interested in nominating an athlete, coach, or an at large nominee may go to the above web-site and obtain information regard-ing criteria and the nominating procedure.

Dance Marathon raises $21,479 for DeVos Hospital

Four inducted into WO Athletic Hall of Fame

Baker Caserta Van Wieren Kiekover

Dancers had a long night at the West Ottawa Dance

Marathon.

WEST OTTAWA NEWS P AGE 5

North Holland Elementary students are having fun creating combinations of two animals through an after-school program with the Grand Rapids Arts Museum that helps them boost their visual and language arts abilities.

The Language Artist Program headed by art teacher Heidi Camp started with the students visiting the Grand Rapids Art Museum and then creating artwork that has a combina-tion of two animals. Then the students wrote a story about the creature they created.

Some of the creatures they created during the 6-8 week program included an owl/beaver, cat/fish and lion/tiger.

“It’s all designed to boost their writ-ing ability as well as their visual arts ability,” Camp said. “In the end, it should advance both their vocabulary and their art ability.”

At the end of the program, two pieces of artwork were chosen to be in a show at the Grand Rapids Arts Museum.

North Holland

program

expands art,

literary ability

Annaliese Prince, Jacqueline Mendoza Giron, Kamren Manikham, and Aaron Phetirath work on their art projects.

Among the students’ creations were a bird/pig (left) and a giraffe/elephant (right).

V OLUME 4 , ISSUE 3 P AGE 6

How is attending a soccer game or going on a canoe trip part of school? - when it teaches you learn-ing skills that are beneficial in school, careers and life.

That’s the theme of Harbor Lights Middle School’s Adventure School, an after-school program that teaches students communication skills, listening skills, teamwork, perseverance, problem-solving, and how to challenge themselves.

Approximately 30-40 students are chosen by the Harbor Lights staff to participate in the school, which includes such cooperative games as attending a Hope College soccer game, an overnight trip to Eagle Village (an experiential camp with a high ropes course), attending

(Continued on Page 7)

Learning doesn’t have to stop at school. Two websites parents and students might want to try at home include GregTang.com, where there are different types of games and

Building family and building math skills were achieved on March 4, when Sheldon Woods Elementary School held Family Math Night.

Upon arriving families were greeted and sent either into the gym, to the upper elementary, or lower elementary sections where game bags were given to each stu-dent attending. Each game bag con-tained 8-10 games, dice and cards. Families took them to different tables where teachers were ready to assist with game playing.

The games involved place value, addition, matching numbers, sub-traction, multiplication, division and more.

In addition to playing games, families were able to have a treat and parents were given a bookmark of questioning ideas to develop higher level thinking while students received a math night Spirit Stick.

activities including Kakooma; and ThinkingBlocks.com, which works on visualizing word problems.

Adventure School challenges Harbor Lights students

Sheldon Woods

solves Family

Math Night

Teacher Susan Douglas and student Lydia Curtis

Ashia Vaughn overcomes fears on the high ropes course at Eagle Village.

WEST OTTAWA NEWS P AGE 7

All first- through fifth-grade Lakeshore Elementary students are using technology to increase their math achievement after the Lakeshore PTO generously pur-chased a one-year subscription to ixl.com. At school, students use desktop computers and iPads to log in for motivating math practice.

The practice tasks are aligned with the Common Core Standards. Differentiating instruction is easy because students can move at their own pace in an engaging format, and teachers receive weekly reports on student practice via email.

Students can use IXL at home during the school year and through-out the summer, and one of the best parts of IXL is that it is fun for students to use.

“I love IXL because it’s fun and I earn rewards,” said one Lakeshore first-grader.

Lakeshore students and teach-ers continue to find fun and chal-lenging ways to raise their techno-logical awareness and aptitude. Both teachers and students are excited about this fun and effective way to learn math. Lakeshore em-braces new challenges and contin-ues to strive to make each student college, career and life ready!

The events for this year are: initiatives and problem-solving cooperatives at Harbor Lights, Hope College soccer game, lunch at Hope

(Continued from Page 6)

a middle school play, and a canoe trip.

Hundreds of students have benefited from Adventure School because of the commitment of the staff and community of West Ottawa Public Schools.

“One of our objectives is to bring together a variety of different stu-dents, and new friendships are formed as a result,” said teacher Dave Bekker, who helps facilitate the program. “Hopefully, they come out of it with new skills that will help them later in life.”

Lakeshore using computers to learn math

Adventure School

presents a challenge

College and meeting with a repre-sentative from Hope College, attending the middle school play, and a canoe trip.

Twinity Saeteurn, Isaac Kraker, Hayden Colvin, and Lucas Senogles work on their iPads to solve math problems. The Lakeshore PTO

purchased a one-year subscription to ixl.com so the students can use desktop computers and iPads to log in for motivating math practice.

Adventure School students learn rope work blindfolded at East Village, an experiential

camp.

V OLUME 4 , ISSUE 3 P AGE 8

Woodside Elementary has been awarded a chapter of the National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS), which recognizes students of excel-lence in academic achievement, work ethic, leadership, service, citizenship, and character.

Principal Nick Holtvluwer had previous experience working with the National Elementary Honor Society as a school administrator in Tampa, Florida.

“We are very proud to offer this exciting opportunity to our high-achieving students and recognize them for their hard work, dedication, and leadership abilities,” Holtvluwer said. “The NEHS is a program available to all students here at Woodside who strive to do their best in school and meet certain academic criteria.”

The National Elementary Honor Society begins for students in grades four and five. Those stu-dents were given applications into the NEHS based on an overall grade-point average of 3.5 for the current school year. From there, the applications are reviewed by Woodside’s NEHS National Advisory Committee consisting of Michelle Evink (chapter adviser), Holtvluwer (chapter principal), and Faculty Council: Lisa Doyle, Katie Zimmer, Nicole Romero and Lori Marco.

Since NEHS goes above and beyond an honor roll, students will be participating in service projects that enhance their leadership skills and that benefit all students and improve community life.

“The students in my class are very excited and proud to be a part of the National Elementary Honor Society. They are taking this honor seriously and it means a lot to them,” said fourth-grade teacher Marcy Engelsman.

An induction ceremony was held on Tuesday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. in the Woodside gymnasium and

hard work, dedication, and effort daily. They are presented with Common Core based mini lessons, have active turn and talks, and are given time to practice their new writing skills.

At the end of each unit, Heather Bannink invites parents into her classroom for a writing celebration.

Accountability - Life skills - Celebration - Parent involvement!

Writing celebrations provide a vehicle to help the 28 first-grade students at Glerum Elementary School become college, career, and life ready.

The first-grade students of Glerum elementary put in hours of

“Having the parents be a part of their child’s education is the best experience for the students,” Bannink explained. “They light up when they see their parents walk through the doors. It truly is their time to shine.”

The writing celebration is a great way to hold students accountable

(Continued on Page 9)

Woodside Elementary awarded NHS chapter

Glerum celebrates writing achievement

Woodside Elementary students and Principal Nick Holtvluwer show off their new National Elementary Honor Society plaque. From left to right are:

(first row) Jazmin Jimenez, Chloe Appledorn, Giselle Miramon, Reyna Lopez; (second row) William Allen, Sarah Moraw, Isabel Emery, Junior

Martinez, Carlos Marroquin; (third row) Molly Marroquin, Blake McLean, Colin DeWaard, Ivan Mata, Adrian Martinez Rodriguez and Breyden Calmes

included speakers such as Superin-tendent Tom Martin alongside for-mer Woodside students Jared and Caleb McNitt, both current WOHS National Honor Society members. At the ceremony, all NEHS inductees received an official NEHS certificate and NEHS Spirit Stick.

WEST OTTAWA NEWS P AGE 9

Students at Great Lakes Elementary kicked off March is Reading Month with a visit from author and illustrator Tom Watson.

Watson is the author of the Stick Dog series. He told students that Stick Dog began as stories he told his own children.

“They have a weird sense of humor,” he said.

Watson’s wife encouraged him to share the stories with the world and the students at Great Lakes are sure glad he did!

During his visit, Watson had the students roaring with laughter as he shared ideas for naming your new puppy.

“You could name it ‘I deserve another dessert,’” Mr. Watson said. “Then when you call it your parents might actually give you another dessert.”

Watson also taught the students and staff how to draw Stick Dog as well as all the main characters from his books. The students were

thrilled when Watson autographed their illustrations! They were also excited to learn that along with the two books already published, “Stick Dog” and “Stick Dog Wants a Hot Dog,” Watson plans on writing four more.

He has already decided on Stick Dog ice cream and pizza books, and he asked the students for sug-gestions of what they would like to see Stick Dog find. Great Lakes

are just one of the ways Glerum Elementary School is preparing

(Continued from Page 8)

for their work. They work hard dur-ing writing because they know they will share it with their parents and peers at the end of the unit. Parents are encouraged during the writing celebration to ask questions and give compliments as well as sug-gestions for improvement. The students learn how to incorporate this feedback to grow as writers.

Writing celebrations build academic confidence in these young writers. They also foster good presentation skills and promote a good work ethic. Giving the parents the opportunity to celebrate with their child creates a positive learning community that extends beyond the classroom. Writing celebrations

Stick Dog

author visits

Great Lakes

Glerum celebrates

students to become college, career, and life ready.

students were quite creative telling Mr. Watson Stick Dog could get a whole turkey, a burrito or maybe waffles.

“At Great Lakes we want for our students to see that authors are real people so that as we prepare them to be college, career and life ready they might aspire to write too,” said Mrs. Evans, second-grade teacher. “Mr. Watson sure did a fantastic job of inspiring them to do just that!”

Author Tom Watson has Great Lakes students’ rapt attention.

Children are able to share with their parents how hard they have worked during the Writing Celebration at Glerum Elementary

School.

V OLUME 4 , ISSUE 3 P AGE 10

Teachers and staff at Lakewood Elementary believe in the importance of reading all year long but the month of March provides a special time to celebrate reading with stu-dents in a fun and creative way.

Every year the staff at Lakewood selects a different theme to get stu-dents excited about reading. This year’s theme was “March Around Michigan.” Students had the oppor-tunity to “read” to different cities in Michigan and along the way learn some interesting facts about it. We selected ten cities from around the state of Michigan. In order for stu-dents to “read” to that city they need-ed to read an equivalent number of minutes as miles to that city from Holland. Each city had a different prize that was associated with that city for students to earn if they “read” to that city. For example, if a student read to Battle Creek, he or she received an individual serving bowl of cereal (Kellogg’s Cereal because the Kellogg’s Cereal Company is based in Battle Creek.)

Some of our Lakewood students wrote letters to the Chamber of Com-merce of several cities. The stu-dents requested information and other materials that promote that city. Lakewood received an over-whelming response from these cit-ies! They sent brochures, stickers, buttons, pens, pads of paper, bump-er stickers and other items. Lake-wood used some of these items as prizes, some as information students could use to learn more about a city, and some for its PTO reading night event.

It was difficult to miss the theme as you walked the halls of Lakewood

during March. Samples of the souvenirs from each city were on display in Lakewood’s display case in the front entryway. Lakewood had a beautiful display also in the front entryway with a map featuring its ten cities. In addition, each classroom decorated their door to represent a city in Michigan. Stu-dents, staff and visitors could walk the halls and guess the name of each city represented.

Lakewood’s PTO partnered with the school for this event as well and hosted a reading night on Friday, March 28. Parents decorated differ-ent rooms like different cities. Stu-dents were able to “visit” these cities and enjoyed a story featuring that city, ate a snack representing that city, and participated in an activity connected to that city.

A thank you went out to Lake-wood teachers, parents, and com-munity for their support in this event!

Lakewood

celebrates

reading

month in

creative way

Bus Drivers Needed!

• Do you enjoy working with a great group of adults who love kids?

• Are you looking for something to do for a few hours each day… that pays?

West Ottawa Public Schools Transportation

294 W Lakewood Blvd ▪ Holland, MI 49424

www.westottawa.net/transportation/

Apply online today…

applitrack.com/westottawa/onlineapp

Lacey Johnson and Collin Roelofs “March around Michigan” during March is Reading Month.

WEST OTTAWA NEWS P AGE 11

Waukazoo students participated in many March is Reading Month activities promoting “egg”cellent readers.

Each student created a weekly reading goal with the help of their teacher. When students made their goal each week, their names were put into a drawing to crack an egg over their teachers head! Each

Pine Creek Principal, Julia Maxwell, walked into the library and saw smiling high school seniors sitting at elementary-sized tables with their young PALs and thought, “this is a program that makes a difference in the lives of our students.”

PALs are West Ottawa High School seniors who have been nominat-ed by a staff member to be a role model for younger students in the dis-trict. They are trained for a semester on how to support younger students at West Ottawa.

At Pine Creek, the PALs are partnered with an elementary student and assist them both academically and socially. Their first goal is to build a relationship with their contact and they do this by helping with assign-ments, talking about how to be a successful student and, of course, play-ing games.

The impact of this program is best described by Archie, one of our second graders, who after meeting his PAL for the first time smiled and said, “I just want him for my best friend.”

Waukazoo had “egg”cellent time during reading month

Pine Creek PAL program

making a big difference

Isak Rios and Ella VanDyke try to reach their reading goal.

classroom winner had an “egg”stordinary time making a mess of Waukazoo staff!

Along with reading goals, stu-dents also participated in many weekly events to promote reading throughout the month of March: Read a Shirt Day; Dress like a Book Character Day; Read with a Stuffed Animal Day; and the students’ favor-

ite, Read in the Dark Day, where students bring in flashlights and lanterns to read with the lights out.

Parents and community mem-bers were invited in to be a guest reader and “crack” open a book! This was a great opportunity for our community to come in and share the love of reading with our students.

Guest reader Cyndy Schurman

reads to the students.

A high school PAL spends time with

some Pine Creek students.

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Last Day of School

Due to the number of snow days,

please watch your school

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last day of school.

www.westottawa.net

On the Election Ballot

May 6, 2014

You will vote on two ballot issues:

1. $89.95 million bond proposal with NO MILLAGE RATE INCREASE (accomplished by

extending the bond payment schedule by 9 years) for safety & security, building improvements,

and 21st Century Learning. Learn more by visiting our district website and clicking on the

Investing in Our Community icon or by visiting our Facebook page by searching West Ottawa

Bond Proposal 2014.

2. Annual Non-Homestead Property 18 mill RENEWAL. This renewal is NOT a tax increase

and does not apply to your primary home. It applies to industrial, commercial, and second

home properties. The renewal represents about 15% of the District’s annual operating budget.