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The board of education authorized Superintendent Gary Richards to start gathering numbers and information on a sinking fund at its Jan. 28 meeting.

At press time, no numbers or amount of millage were determined. Also, the issue has not been finalized to appear on any ballot.

Funding from a sinking fund can only be used to finance school infrastructure repairs, to purchase real estate for school sites, to repair school buildings, to create additions to school buildings, and to install wiring for school technology.

"We hope to have focus groups," Richards said. "It's still premature. The number of mills and what needs to be fixed need to be determined by the board."

The district hopes to establish the amount of mills it could ask for from surveys.

Richards said focus groups will probably run smaller than the ones the district had last year.

Board President Beth Murawski said any sinking fund must be supported by parents of the district's students. "Most important is the parents of our kids," she said. "Getting their support is vital. We need to talk to the community. Why put the sinking fund on the ballot if the community's not going to support it?"

In December, district officials estimated they had $3.5 million in infrastructure improvements.

Deby Smith, the district's building and grounds supervisor, noted Imlay City Middle School's roof needs to be repaired the most and it's estimated the price tag would be $720,000, but the district could save $60,000 to 70,000 by repairing it as one job.

She gave some other estimates for repairs: Visitors' bleachers, $40,000; resurfacing of the track, $50,000; and repairing the grandstand, $75,000 to 80,000. She said the district's Little League dugouts are unable to be repaired.

Richards said funding $3.5 million worth of repairs will be difficult. He explained any amount of millage funding would require an affirmative vote of the voters.

Once the district finalizes more numbers and information, it will be announced to the public along with any focus groups, if they are scheduled.

Richards said the district had a focus group meeting with its PTA Monday night that was expected to set the tone for other similar meetings, Richards said.

Jennifer Decker can be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com