Last week, the Houghton-Portage Township School District finished gathering community input to improve the district's education. Superintendent Anders Hill said the community has provided important input over the past two months to help the district develop her three options for facility expansion. For planning and construction of the potential development, the district will partner with Market and Gundlach Champion's Integrated Design Inc.
“One of them could be an addition to the elementary school. Another option could be to move the fifth grade to the middle school and build a wing at the middle school. The possibility of building an early childhood building for the kindergarten. Therefore, we will only consider one of the options to reduce space, but there is good feedback on opportunities within the district to improve education. This means that each of the three buildings has a list of 6 to 10 items they are considering, including secure entrances, furniture, technology, additional STEM, science, technology, engineering, and math spaces. This is really exciting for our district.” – Anders Hill, Superintendent, Houghton – Portage Township Schools
Houghton Portage Township Schools is hoping to alleviate some of the challenges it has faced during its growth over the past decade. In 2024, the district will enroll 1,483 students, 8% more than in 2013. Currently, 37% of students are admitted to the school of their choice.
Three main options have a significant impact on elementary school space. Adding classroom flex space will cost an estimated $5.4 million. Alternatively, a fifth-grade multipurpose addition could cost about $2.4 million. Houghton Portage Township also heard from community members about the challenging gaps in child care options that exist for families. And the most expensive option may have the greatest impact on the community. The early learning center will cost nearly $11 million to establish.
“I think it would be about taking students out of elementary school and adding them to middle school, but first creating a space where kindergartners are like us and are the most unique grade in public schools. Space to enroll in a school in a busy environment. You can also build that building with the knowledge that in 10 years, you'll probably be adding a first class wing. So, We can develop a strategic plan for the growth of the district. So that's one of the options we're considering, and I think it's a good option as well as the other two, but we're not sure what our final intentions are. A lot of things need to be scrutinized before we get to the decision stage.” – Anders Hill, Superintendent, Houghton – Portage Township Schools
The district will convene an advisory committee comprised of community members, staff, parents and students to weigh the pros and cons of each expansion option. Earlier this week, the district school board approved moving forward with the bond continuation proposal. The district hopes to have a better sense of direction in May to approve ballot language that will be approved in time for November.
“Certainly, those things have to be approved in that ballot language. What's important to us throughout this process is trying to be accountable to the taxpayers, and we I think the proposal that is being considered is an extension of the millage. So in 2029, the millage rate will go down and start going down. And that's what we want.” – Anders Hill, Superintendent, Houghton – Portage Township Schools Houghton Portage Township Schools will elect members of the Community Management Committee and how the space will be used to further the education of our students. We are planning to decide which. To learn more about the district's previous community forums, or to learn more about the three facility options the district is considering, read more below.
PDF file version of the presentation given at the district's 3rd annual community forum.