Additional classroom space at the heart of $24 million Harper Creek bond proposal
BATTLE CREEK — It's getting a little crowded at Harper Creek Community Schools these days.
In response to a growing student population in each of its buildings, Harper Creek will ask voters to consider a bond proposal on May 7 that, if approved, will allow the district to construct additional classrooms at each of its elementary buildings and its middle school, among other upgrades.
The 20-year, $24 million bond proposal would raise the district's current debt levy by 0.6 mills. The owner of a $200,000 home — $100,00 taxable value — would pay $5 more per month under the proposal.
The Harper Creek Board of Education unanimously approved ballot language for the bond package on Monday night.
"The reason that we’re moving forward now is because we are literally out of classroom space at our elementary buildings and our middle school," Harper Creek Superintendent Rob Ridgeway explained Tuesday. "We have some teachers on carts at the elementary buildings because we don’t have enough classrooms and we have used every available space at the middle school."
Harper Creek has experienced growth in its student population at every building, with the marked increase of in-district growth allowing the board of education to cap the schools of choice program for at least five years.
Currently, Harper Creek's elementary schools have four teachers who teach art and Spanish from a cart, using classroom space during other teachers' planning periods. Additionally, two preschool classrooms are currently running out of the high school as it is the only space available.
"These teachers do their very best moving from classroom to classroom with their materials on a cart, still, we all know this is not best practice, nor conducive to a world-class experience or education," Ridgeway explained in a letter to families earlier this month.
The bond proposal would fund the construction of four additional classrooms at Beadle Lake Elementary, Sonoma Elementary and Wattles Park Elementary, respectively, to accommodate this growth. The vacant middle school pool area would also be remodeled into four or five classrooms.
Additionally, the bond would fund improvements to playgrounds and parking lots, renovate the high school weight room and add safety upgrades at all school buildings.
Ridgeway said from the outset, board members have made it an emphasis to develop a bond proposal that has "the least impact financially on voters" while ensuring the district's needs are met.
A full scope of the proposed upgrades included in the bond proposal, broken down by building, is as follows:
Beadle Lake Elementary
Four additional classrooms
Furnishings for new classrooms
Technology for new classrooms
Security film on windows
Expanded parking
New playground equipment
Sonoma Elementary
Four additional classrooms
Furnishings for new classrooms
Technology for new classrooms
Security film on windows
Expanded parking
Revised bus drop loop
New playground equipment
Wattles Park Elementary
Four additional classrooms
Furnishings for new classrooms
Technology for new classrooms
Security film on windows
Expanded parking
Revised bus drop loop
Relocate playgrounds for addition
Add preschool playground
Pave gravel parking lot
Harper Creek Middle School
Remodel pool for additional classrooms
Remodel pool locker rooms for storage
Furnishings for new classrooms
Technology for new classrooms
Security film on Windows
Harper Creek High School
Add secure vestibule at athletic entrance
Partial roof replacement
Security film on windows
Upgraded weight room equipment
Select technology upgrades
Bus Garage
Replace parking lot
Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Harper Creek Community Schools to seek $24 million bond in May
