HOUGHTON – Houghton-Portage Township Schools held an informational session on an $8.69 million bond referendum for facility upgrades at the Houghton High School library Wednesday.

The referendum, which will be voted on in a special election May 3, includes work on security and technology updates, energy conservation improvements, facility upgrades and the renovation of the physical education-athletic complex.

At the middle and high school, the athletic field would be resurfaced, while new bleachers, press box, track, score board and lighting will be installed.

Artificial turf would be installed on the football field, as well as a rubberized track.

With the current condition of the track, Houghton no longer holds track meets at the facility.

“Even if this doesn’t pass, we’re not planning on holding any more track meets from now on,” said Superintendent Doreen Klingbeil.

The field grass there now has potholes and inadequate drainage, Klingbeil said.

The bond will also cover new instructional technology across the district, such as an enhanced wireless network, network cabling and a new network switch grid.

“They aren’t things you see, but they’re things that need to be maintained, and we need more of them,” Klingbeil said.

At the middle and high school building, the building’s surveillance system will be enhanced. Building improvements include reconstructing the parking lot at the back of the school and buying a new emergency backup generator and new classroom furniture. Restrooms will be renovated, as will lockers and benches in the gym and all student lockers in the halls. The ceilings in the hall, which date back to the building’s construction in 1989, will also be replaced.

Energy conservation measures include replacing the original 1989 roof of the middle and high school building, installing high-efficiency windows at the middle school, and heating and ventilation upgrades at the elementary school. Both buildings will receive exterior LED lighting and building management system upgrades.

Between savings and rebate, the district is expected to save more than $790,000 over the life of the bond, said Ron Stimac of Johnson Controls.

A voter whose home has a market value of $123,500 and a taxable value of $61,700 would pay an extra $85.22 per year – $7.50 a month – if the bond is approved. A tax calculator is available at pfmtaxcalc.com/houghtonportage.

About a half-dozen district residents attended the meeting. Questions included whether school of choice parents are included in the bond (no) and whether more of the upgrades could have been included in the regular maintenance budget.

Klingbeil said the district had made a variety of upgrades out of regular operating expenses, such as replacing carpets in the middle and high school building. The district also keeps a reserve of about $1.6 million, or 15 percent of its operating budget, as recommended by the state.

“If we started doing a lot of the things we’ve been talking about tonight, we wouldn’t be at 15 percent,” she said.

If the referendum is approved, the plan is for technology upgrades, energy conservation improvements, security upgrades and building enhancements to be completed over the summer. A groundbreaking ceremony would be held in the fall for the physical education and athletic complex. Work on that would be completed the next summer.