Read about our architecture/construction management firms:
TMP Architecture and
AVB Construction / Triangle Associates

  12th Street Elementary

• The groundbreaking was held May 1, featuring Texas Supervisor Ron Commissaris and Portage Mayor Peter Strazdas, joined by Board of Education President Shirley Johnson, Superintendent Marsha Wells, and Principal Ron Jones, along with the Board of Education, community representatives (including parents), representatives of the 12th Street Elementary Steering Committee, TMP Architecture, and American Village Builders / Triangle Associates.
• See a conceptual drawing of the new school.
• This is a $14.8 million school (which includes $1.4 million in technology) and will be a two-story, 72,000 square feet school.
• See the progress on the web cam:
  http://portage12thstreet.dyndns.org:8080/
• The first project underway involves the 12th Street Elementary School. Waylee faculty and staff will be given priority in posting for teaching positions at this new elementary and, therefore, are serving on this committee.
• 12th Street Steering Committee includes Waylee faculty and staff: Missy Griffioen, secretary; Larry Griffioen, custodian; Heather Haas, lower grades representative; Keith Lam, upper grades representative; and Principal Ron Jones. The committee also includes Lake Center Principal Mark Root, Superintendent Marsha Wells, and Assistant Superintendents Ric Perry and Tom Noveer.
• The school will be finished in time for Fall '09.
• Anyone with ideas to share with this committee may route them to Principal Ron Jones through the Waylee office at
  323-6500.

  Lake Center Elementary

• The District hosted a community Open House about the new Lake Center on April 17 at the school to gather input on traffic flow.
• Lake Center ’s Steering Committee includes teachers Deb Frieben and Deb Meewes, head secretary Pat Baltmanis, custodian John Bray, Principal Mark Root, Superintendent Marsha Wells, and Assistant Superintendents Ric Perry and Tom Noverr.
• Committee members have toured new elementaries during December in Saline, Dearborn, Walled Lake, and Melvindale along with the 12th Street group.
• The District is planning a two-story school for this and the 12th Street site.
• Lake Center’s design phase began in May and goes through January 2009, with construction taking place from March 2009 through July 2010.
• Anyone wishing to share ideas with the Steering Committee may call Mr. Root at 323-6361.

  Central High School

• A Community Open House was held on May 22, discussing the draft site plan.
• Central’s Steering Committee includes faculty and staff: Teachers Bonnie Moss, Jim Murray, Aja Kaylor, Assistant Principals Kim Lummis and Jason Frink, Athletic Director Larry Edlund, Principal Eric Alburtus, Northern Principal Jim French, Assistant Superintendents Ric Perry and Tom Noverr, and Superintendent Marsha Wells.
• The school also has 73 sub-committee members working on LEED/Green, Classroom Spaces, Office Spaces, Student & Public Common Spaces, Fundraising/Enhancement Projects, Athletics, Technology, Media Center, Security, Teacher Spaces, Custodial and Maintenance, Fine Arts Spaces, and Kitchen Space.
• Anyone wishing to share ideas with the Steering Committee may call Mr. Alburtus at 323-5261.
• Central’s design phase will go through January 2009, with construction taking place from March 2009 to August 2011.

  Northern High School

• A Community Open House was held on May 21, featuring this draft site plan.
• TMP Architects briefed these initial plans to the Board of Education on March 10. See this link for three levels of interior designs and front and back site graphics.
• Northern’s Steering Committee includes teachers Stacie Phillips, Mike Huber, and Bryan Hill; Head Custodian Dennis Collier, administrative assistant to the principal Pat Hansson, Athletic Director Chris Riker, and Principal Jim French, and Central High Principal Eric Alburtus, Superintendent Marsha Wells, and Assistant Superintendents Ric Perry and Tom Noverr.
• Northern also has building staff and community research teams looking into leadership in energy and environmental design as well as fundraising/enhancement projects.
• Anyone wishing to share ideas with the Steering Committee may call Mr. French at 323-5461.
• Northern’s design phase will go through September 2008, with construction taking place from May 2008 to December 2010.

More Bond information on Page 2.