Michigan Voters to Decide on $500 Million in School Construction Projects

By ALEXIS SEELEY
Reported July 30, 2024

When Michigan residents hit the polls on August 6th in the primary election, voters in 15 school districts will decide whether or not they support improvements locally that would add – if all are approved – more than $517 million of new construction-related work to the state.

Southeast Michigan Proposals

• Oakland County: Avondale School District requests a $150 million bond with French as the architect. The proposal involves constructing and outfitting a new early childhood center, elementary school addition, and modernizing various school spaces, including instructional, fine arts, and theater areas, playgrounds, and other facilities.
  
  
• Washtenaw County: Whitmore Lake Public Schools has a bond for $53.5 million. Kingscott is the architect. The proposal includes constructing an addition to a school building, as well as remodeling, enhancing security, upgrading the furnishings and equipment in existing school buildings, acquiring and installing instructional technology, and improving playgrounds, athletic fields, parking areas, driveways, sidewalks, and other related sites.
  
  
• Lapeer County: Almont Community Schools has two proposals on the upcoming ballot at a total cost of $32.73 million. French is the architect. The proposals feature constructing and equipping additions to the high school building, remodeling, and upgrading school buildings, and developing playgrounds, athletic fields, facilities, structures, and related sites. Additionally, it involves constructing and equipping an addition to the primary school building, remodeling school buildings, and improving playgrounds, athletic fields, and sites.
  
  
• Monroe County: Whiteford Agricultural School District has two proposals on the upcoming ballot at a total cost of $10 million, with The Collaborative Inc. as the architect for both. The proposals would bring additions and improvements to Whiteford Elementary School, along with developing and improving athletic fields, including installing synthetic field turf for the baseball and softball fields.

Mid-Michigan Area Proposals

• Ingham County: Williamston Community Schools has a bond for $38.5 million with French as the architect. The proposal includes remodeling school buildings along with adding additions, improving athletic fields, facilities, playgrounds, and sites.
  
  
• Montcalm County: Central Montcalm Public Schools has a bond for $33.2 million with GMB as the architect. The project includes remodeling, furnishing, and equipping school buildings and facilities, constructing and outfitting additions to the middle/high school building (including an auditorium), enhancing instructional technology, building athletic support structures, and developing and equipping athletic fields, facilities, and related sites.
  
  
• Isabella County: Shepherd Public School District has a bond for $25 million, with Kingscott as the architect. The project involves remodeling, equipping, and re-equipping district-owned school buildings, facilities, and additions, as well as furnishing and refurnishing these spaces. Additionally, it includes acquiring, installing, and updating instructional technology in school buildings, and preparing, developing, and improving athletic fields, playgrounds, structures, facilities, and related sites.
  
  
• Saginaw County: Chesaning Union Schools has a bond for $14 million. French is the architect. The proposal includes remodeling school buildings, including heating, ventilating, and air conditioning improvements and a pool facility; erecting an addition to a school support building; and developing and improving athletic fields and facilities, driveways, parking areas, sidewalks, and sites.
  
  
• Osceola County: Pine River Area Schools has a bond for $4.5 million with Integrated Designs, Inc. as the architect. The project involves remodeling and upgrading school buildings for improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, enhancing instructional technology, and developing and equipping athletic facilities and the middle/high school site, including replacing the wastewater treatment system.

West Michigan Proposals

• Ottawa County: Allendale Public School District has a bond for $88.27 million. TMP is the architect. The project includes constructing and upgrading school buildings with security improvements, building and equipping a field house and support structures, enhancing instructional technology, and developing and improving playgrounds, athletic fields, sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, and other sites.
  
  
• Newaygo County: White Cloud Public Schools has a bond for $28.4 million with Pure Architecture & Development as the architect. The project involves constructing, completing, remodeling, furnishing, and equipping school buildings and facilities (including additions), enhancing instructional technology, and developing and improving athletic fields, playgrounds, structures, and related sites.
  
  
• Berrien County: Eau Claire Public Schools has a bond for $7.8 million with Tower Pinkster as the architect. The proposal features remodeling and refurnishing school buildings along with installing and equipping instructional equipment.

Northern Michigan Proposals

• Cheboygan County: Cheboygan Area Schools has a bond for $22.2 million. SitelogIQ is the architect. The project includes remodeling and upgrading school buildings, constructing and equipping additions, enhancing athletic facilities and playgrounds, and improving sites.
  
  
• Houghton County: Adams Township School District has a bond for $5.9 million with UP Engineers & Architects as the architect. The project includes constructing and equipping school building additions, partially remodeling and upgrading existing buildings, enhancing instructional technology, relocating a greenhouse, and developing and improving sites.
  
  
• Antrim County: Alba Public Schools has a bond for $3.25 million with Anthony Essen as the architect. The project involves constructing and equipping a secure entryway addition, partially remodeling and upgrading the school building, and improving the surrounding site.

Find voting information online at michigan.gov/vote, where you can register to vote and learn what is on your local ballot and the location of your voting center.

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