Gwinn Area Community Schools will ask voters to approve a bond proposal on the Nov. 3 ballot, the district's fifth attempt in four years to fund a new elementary school and critical roof repairs that Superintendent Sara Croney has warned could fail at any time.

The school board approved a $24.95 million bond proposal for the ballot, with an estimated millage rate of 1.89 mills beginning in 2027, according to WLUC TV6. Croney discussed the proposal on WLUC's "Beyond the Ballot" program Thursday, Aug. 13. The bond would go to residents in Forsyth, Sands, Skandia and West Branch townships in Marquette County.

The district, located about 30 miles south of Marquette, has not secured a bond since voters began rejecting proposals in 2023. The most recent defeat came Nov. 4, 2025, when the measure failed 1,147 to 1,649 on a turnout of 32 percent of registered voters, according to Marquette County election records.

That $48 million version would have built a new elementary school and repaired the roof on the middle and high school building. The roof carries a 15-year warranty but was already past year 18 when voters last weighed in.

"It's a $3.2 million fix," Croney told WLUC on Nov. 17, 2025, after the fourth rejection. "However, it's on a roof that has a 15-year warranty, and we're in year 18 and a half. The roof could implode at any moment."

Croney told Bridge Michigan the morning after that same vote that she felt like she was "playing Russian roulette" with the building's condition. Community members urged her to hire a firm to survey residents on what they would support and to wait until the next November general election, when higher turnout could help.

The district followed that advice. Croney skipped the May 2026 ballot and brought the proposal back for November, when the bond will share the ballot with state and federal races.

Under Michigan law, bond proceeds can fund construction, remodeling and energy improvements but cannot pay for salaries, textbooks or routine maintenance. Croney has said the district's operating budget cannot cover capital projects of this scale.

The prior four proposals ranged from $30.9 million to $48 million.

Meanwhile, the school board is navigating a leadership change. Board member Kristopher Langlois resigned Aug. 10, and the board has 30 days to appoint a replacement. Letters of interest are due by noon Monday, Aug. 17, with candidate interviews at the regular board meeting that evening.