School building updates, bond projects continue this summer

CENTER LINE/STERLING HEIGHTS.WARREN — The summer has been busy as local school districts undergo building renovations.

Through bond issues, sinking funds and other funding sources, several schools are receiving upgrades, many of them slated to be ready by the time school opens for the 2024-2025 school year.

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.

A sinking fund is a limited property tax to be used for funding building maintenance and infrastructure projects. A sinking fund cannot be used for employee salaries, preventive maintenance or general operating costs.

The Warren Weekly emailed local school officials to get some insight into the various projects currently under construction.

 

Center Line Public Schools
Work has continued with the district’s $53.95 million bond issue that passed in November 2017, and a $17 million capital improvement bond proposal voters approved in May 2023.

The tennis courts are one anticipated project at Center Line High School. New kitchen equipment, too, is expected for the high school.

Crews also are busy refitting rooms at the Eve Kaltz Academy 21 and Special Programs Center to welcome the Early Childhood Center, which will move from Peck Elementary this fall. In the building, lead paint abatement on beam bracing locations have been completed. In addition, the vertical unit ventilators were demoed, and the facia boards were expected for completion by press time. The asbestos demolition was completed, and lead abatement is ongoing. At Eve Kaltz, the old playground equipment was removed, and new playground equipment will be installed.

Last year, Crothers Elementary was closed to students as the school underwent a number of updates. In the interim, students and staff attended school at the former Roose building. The updated Crothers — ready to open this fall — will include a new gym/cafeteria, updated classrooms and media center. Two additional classrooms are being built and are expected to be finished in the spring.

The district’s transportation and maintenance building also underwent updates. The new roof has been completed, and masonry wall repair is scheduled for mid-July.

Fitzgerald Public Schools
Money from the district’s bond issue and sinking fund is being utilized for a number of projects. With school scheduled to begin Aug. 26, district officials are hopeful the work will be completed in time for the new school year.

“Our goal is to have fully completed projects for when the students return in August,” Director of Communication and Culture Jessica Strye-Percy said. “We are working with a shorter summer though due to our move to an August return to school. Our construction partners are aware of this and working with us to meet our deadlines.”

Here is a breakdown of the projects:

Schofield Early Childhood Center is receiving classroom renovations, exterior updates and new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)equipment.

Parking lots are being redone at Westview Lower Elementary School.

The projects at Mound Park Upper Elementary include classroom renovations and new HVAC equipment.

Chatterton Middle School is receiving new parking lots.

Fitzgerald High School is receiving new HVAC equipment at the auto tech building.

 

Van Dyke Public Schools
Officials are using money from the district’s 2019 10-year, 1-mill sinking fund, which generates approximately $350,000 to the district each fiscal year.

This summer, Van Dyke is using $275,000 of sinking fund dollars to update its auditorium. During the project, crews are updating the entrance by installing new concrete stairs and entry doors. Work also is being done on the stage curtains and the overall electrical system.  The project began in the spring and school officials anticipate the majority of the work being done before school begins at the end of August.

“Our auditorium is a beautiful space; however, we did need upgrades for both safety and modern usage,” Superintendent Piper Bognar said. “The steps outside were worse for the wear; entry doors needed upgrades to be consistent with the rest of our buildings; and working on the inside in phases will give our students and community a state-of-the-art space.”

The auditorium has a capacity of 895. Student groups use the space for practices and performances, and the community is able to use the space for various activities. Because school officials have been frugal with the sinking fund, there are plans to utilize it behind its 10-year lifespan for building repairs and upgrades.

“We will continue to evaluate other projects and buildings,” Bognar said.   

 

Warren Consolidated Schools
Two years ago, a $150 million bond issue passed in Warren Consolidated Schools to update buildings districtwide.

This summer, bond work has occurred at Green Acres, Harwood, Pearl Lean and Siersma elementary schools, Beer Middle School, Warren Mott High School and Sterling Heights High School. The work includes HVAC upgrades, flooring replacement, and site work improvements.

Along with the construction projects, security upgrades are taking place throughout the district, which include a new public address system integrated with classroom audio systems. New playground equipment will be installed at each elementary school.

“The majority of the bond work begins the day school gets out for summer break in June and continues until the start of school year at the end of August,” new Superintendent John Bernia said. “To maximize the window of opportunity, bond work is also done during holiday breaks, and winter and spring break, as to not impact the school day.”

 

Warren Woods Public Schools
During the summer break, crews are converting all of the lights in district buildings to LED lighting. Warren Woods Middle School and Westwood Elementary School are both receiving new boilers this summer.

Work also has been occurring at Warren Woods Tower High School. A new roof is being installed on the high school roof, which will include a 360-kilowatt rooftop solar array composed of approximately 650 solar panels, designed to produce approximately 441,000 kW per year of energy. School officials also are replacing seven rooftop HVAC units at the high school this summer.

“We anticipate all of the work being completed by late summer/early fall with the exception of the LED light conversion,” Deputy Superintendent Neil Cassabon said. “The LED lighting project will continue into the winter with contractors working after school hours on second shift to complete the conversion.”

The Warren Woods Tower roof is being paid for through the district’s $45.5 million bond issue. The other projects are part of the district’s $7.5 million 2023 energy bond.