What to expect with renovations to Marine City High School
The Marine City campus has always operated as a sixth through 12th grade institution, but new renovations may bring the students closer.
Previously, the middle and high schools were separate buildings connected by a shared hallway. Principal Sherri Becker said current enrollment did not warrant the need for separate buildings, so part of the middle school will now be moved to a wing inside the high school building. Since the middle and high schools already shared teachers and certain classrooms, the new renovations are more fine-tuning the building's sixth through 12th grade status.
Students and staff can expect to see new classrooms, a new office area, cafeteria upgrades, new entrances and redone parking lots. Remaining project work will continue to be done through the school year.
The renovations are a part of the East China School District 2020 bond project.
"I'm very excited to have teachers come into the new rooms and for the opportunities our students have," Becker said.
Total enrollment at the Marine City campus is just under 800 students. Middle and high school students will continue to have some shared facilities, such as the cafeteria and certain classrooms, but otherwise will have their separate activities.
Majority of the middle school building will still be used, including the gymnasium and a wing for its classrooms. Superintendent Suzanne Cybulla said one wing of the building will be demolished due to its poor condition and the JV baseball field will be moved to fill in space.
The middle and high school gyms will be shared amongst the students during the school day. However, the gyms will be used by their respective students for afterschool activities.
Cybulla said the renovations will be completed in phases. Currently, phases two and three are being finished around the same time. There are between seven and 10 phases in total.
Renovations include:
Repaving parking lots and replacing sidewalks
Creating a new main entrance, including a safe, secure entry
Creating a new athletic entrance
Roofing upgrades
Upgrades to flooring, lighting, furniture and paint
New technology throughout the campus
New exterior doors and windows
New staff lounge, cafeteria and kitchen
Renovations began in spring this year. Cybulla said the district is hoping to have renovations completed by November 2024, but projecting the end date to be around the start of the 2025-26 school year.
The estimated cost of the project when it was first approved in 2020 was $34 million. Cybulla said she suspects that number has changed but will not know the exact amount until moving past the project stage.
"As of all of our planning right now, we are able to do everything that we have promised the community," she said. "As we go through each project, we make sure we use the dollars in the best way possible to fulfill those promises."
The East China bond was approved in March 2020 to utilize $112.9 million for various renovations and upgrades to the district. Many of the bond projects are occurring simultaneously.
Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.
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This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Marine City school undergoing renovations
