KALAMAZOO -- Despite a survey that suggested that voters in the Kalamazoo School district would support a millage hike for school improvements, Trustees voted last night to seek a simple renewal in May. The request, which won’t increase tax bills, will raise 62-million dollars to fix furnaces, replace roofs and computers and maintain the plumbing.

Assistant Superintendent Gary Start says it will also allow for district expansion, adding classrooms to Hillside and Milwood Middle Schools and replacing Washington Writer’s Academy, the oldest building in the district. It will appear on the May 4th ballot, alongside a county request to renew their special law enforcement millage.

There will be at least one new face on the Kalamazoo School Board after the May 4th Election. Last night Board President Mollie Peterson announced she would not be running for reelection. Patty Scholler-Barber’s term also runs out this year, but she had already announced that she would be running for reelection.