St. Joseph Public Schools is launching a series of community “coffee chats” this fall to provide residents with information about its $59.9 million bond proposal, which will appear on the November 2025 ballot.
Superintendent Kristen Bawks said the informal gatherings are designed to answer questions and explain the district’s priorities for the bond, which carries no increase to the current 3.7 mill tax rate. Schedules for the sessions are available at sjpsfuture.org and will also be posted on the district’s main website.
The proposal follows a failed $98.5 million measure in May 2024. After that vote, the district gathered extensive public feedback and used it to reshape the plan. Community members urged the district to scale back the scope, remove an early childhood center, and focus on the most urgent needs across the district’s six schools and transportation department.
According to Bawks, the new plan prioritizes infrastructure improvements, updated technology for students and teachers, and enhanced safety measures based on recommendations from a recent security audit. Projects include mechanical, electrical, HVAC, roofing, and other behind-the-scenes facility upgrades that aren’t always visible from the outside.
“We’re proud of how well our facilities are maintained, but there’s a lot the public doesn’t see,” Bawks said.
“These projects are about making sure our learning environments are safe, functional, and ready for the next decade—while remaining financially responsible to taxpayers.”
The district’s January 2025 bond refunding helped make the proposal possible without raising the millage rate. If approved, the measure would generate nearly $60 million for facility and technology improvements.
More information, including coffee chat dates and project details, is available at sjpsfuture.org.
