Bond projects continue, new Roose to open Sept. 6

CENTER LINE/WARREN — In November 2017, Center Line Public Schools passed a $53.95 million bond issue, and since that time construction crews have worked on a number of districtwide building updates and technological improvements.

A bond issue is a state-approved funding process for a group of planned projects. When voters approve a bond proposal, the school district sells bonds in the authorized amount and uses the sale proceeds to pay for those projects.

The bond issue included the new-and-updated Roose Elementary School. The new Roose was supposed to be ready to open for the 2021-2022 school year. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic there were delays with materials and labor, which put the project on hold for a year.

The district’s former Early Childhood Center is the home of the new Roose, and the new address is 4701 Marcy St., in Warren. The ECC is now housed at the new Peck Elementary School at 26201 Lorraine Ave., in Center Line. The new Peck opened in the winter of 2021.

The updated Roose school included renovations to the current building, and also a brand-new addition that included two additional classrooms. The building is expected to be ready for the first day of school Sept. 6, and the project included the purchase of new student desks for each classroom.

Prior to the renovations and updates, the former ECC building measured 37,160 square feet. A total of 10,690 square feet were added for a total of 47,850 square feet.

The Roose building underwent a number of renovations that included new flooring in the older building and in the addition. Inside all the classrooms, Roose now has digitally controlled light switches that enable teachers to adjust the lighting as needed. The new light switches are designed to conserve energy. The classrooms also were painted.

Each classroom at Roose received new interactive smartboards and 30 Chromebooks. New sinks, faucets, countertops and drinking fountains also were installed in all the classrooms. The bond construction includes new cubbyholes for the lower elementary students and lockers for the upper level. Those will be located inside the classrooms. Bond dollars also paid for security cameras inside and outside of the building, and for a new secure entrance vestibule and main office.

“That’s the way schools are going,” Superintendent Joseph Haynes said of safety and security. “We wanted every area accessible.”

The new Roose school will now have a separate gymnasium and a separate cafeteria. Before the bond, the gym doubled as the eating space. That caused scheduling inconveniences when it came to gym class. In addition, custodians had very little time to clean up the cafeteria after lunch and get it ready for afternoon gym classes. The school really needed to separate the two.

Another highlight is the new kitchen, which has more space and will allow students to move through the lunch line more quickly and efficiently. The new equipment includes portable food warmers on wheels.

“It’s a full cafeteria line. We’ll get kids going through here much faster,” Haynes said. “With all the new equipment, we can prepare food more efficiently.”

There is a new media center, computer lab and makerspace; new technology equipment; and mechanical and electrical upgrades. When school begins this fall, Roose staff and students will see the new playground equipment.

“Most of it is brand-new,” Haynes said. Since the installation of the new playscapes, swings and slides, families in the neighborhood have taken advantage of each on a regular basis, “which is very, very nice,” Haynes said.

According to District Maintenance Supervisor Mike Connell, the school’s bathrooms were all updated with new sinks and toilets.

“All the updates were well overdue. It’s definitely a plus,” Connell said. “The custodians are appreciative of it. It shows their work, too.”

The work of Roose was done during phase two of the bond construction. The bond work is being done in three phases.

When phase three begins, crews will work on the district’s central administration building and Crothers Elementary School. According to Haynes, half of the central office building will be removed during the bond renovations. The Crothers students will attend school at the former Roose building during the renovation process, Haynes said.

The administration building formerly housed the Academy 21 program, but that program has moved to the former Peck Elementary School, which is now known as the Eve Kaltz Academy 21 and Special Programs Center. Academy 21 is an online program open to K-12 students, but students do meet periodically with staff inside the building. Kaltz is a retired Center Line educator and superintendent.

Partners in Architecture PLC, based in Mount Clemens, are the architects for the bond projects. McCarthy and Smith, of Farmington Hills, is the construction manager.

A complete list of bond projects is available at clps.org under bond information.