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Superintendent Stephen Grimm and architects from Tetra Tech showed the Lansing Board Of Education a synopsis of items to be included in a $3,612,000 capital project that will address learning, health, and safety issues at all three Lansing schools.  This comes on the heels of two other projects that the district was able to pay for without asking taxpayers for additional money.  Grimm said this new project is being formulated in the same way.

"We're trying to do this with the money that's in our capital reserve that we've been saving over the years," he said.  "The district currently has about $1.1 million available in capital reserves to help pay for the project.  State aid triples the amount of available money.  We're going to finance the project in such a way that it's not going to cost any additional taxes, just like we did the last time with the elementary school roof."

In August architects and the district's facilities committee began evaluating the items identified in a 2005 building conditions survey that identified serious problems in all but one of the campus buildings.  The group sifted through items that remained after the two most recent projects -- one that replaced the elementary school roof this summer, and an energy contract that will replace or enhance equipment and building space to increase energy efficiency, and incidentally replace aging equipment.  They identified $4.3 million of work in the three schools alone, then applied triage to zero in on the highest priorities for the new project.


The number one priority identified was acoustic problems in the high school.  The building was originally designed with temporary walls that could be reconfigured to suit changing needs.  In reality the wall configuration has not been changed.  The combination of the light-weight changeable walls and a noisy HVAC system makes it difficult to hear and concentrate in classrooms and other learning spaces.

Other items in the high school include renovating exterior stairs, replacing and relocating a transformer, work on front entry sidewalks, exterior cladding, replacing smoke hatches and old lockers, and a new security system.

The security system will be installed in all three schools.  Additionally the middle school will have work done on basement drainage and exterior door hardware.  The elementary school will get additional smoke doors, improvements to water pressure, and a new, expanded fire alarm system.

In dollars this breaks down to $2,681,580 for the high school, $72,380 in the middle school, and $256,080 in the elementary school.

The main proposition that was voted down in 2007 included repairs and renovations to all schools with renovations and new classrooms in the high school was defeated by only 16 votes with 635 voting for it and 651 against.  A second proposition that would have included a new band room, a technology classroom, and renovations to the existing band and chorus rooms was also defeated with 607 yes votes and 669 against.  Exit polls showed that 91% of no voters said the top reason they nixed the project was concern about rising property taxes.  62% said the tax increase the $20.8 million dollar project would have cost was unreasonable, and 45% were not convinced the high school addition was necessary.

Since Grimm started as Superintendent in Lansing about a year and a half ago, he has taken a different approach that breaks down the district's needs into smaller projects.  With creative accounting, and by soliciting input from a a wide variety of stakeholders, his first two projects passed.  Neither required additional taxes.  Last month he said that eventually taxpayers would have to pay at least some capital improvement expenses, but in last week's presentation he backed off that position, presenting a third project that will not require additional taxes.  He has said that long range planning will keep future capital expenses under control.


Grimm noted that he likes working with Tetra Tech on the project, because some of the architects live in Lansing and have children in the schools.  He noted that Roger Vanderpoel had been seen climbing onto the elementary school roof to make sure that project was being executed to the highest standards, and he anticipates the same level of service on future projects.

"Two of the three who are here tonight are from Lansing and they have children in our school," he noted.  "It's great to have Lansing people work on our capital projects with us.  The trust level of working with them has been great."

The board anticipates acting on the project at its December 14th meeting in order to bring the project to a referendum in mid-February.  Construction would take place from September 2010 through September 2011.  Archetect Pam Hamel noted that the high school would be 'torn up' during the summer of 2011 while walls and HVAC equipment are replaced.

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