TRAVERSE CITY —
Beth Schroeder has two children at Interlochen Elementary School, where she believes reconstruction is long overdue.
“The roof in the cafeteria, we’ve had buckets collecting water,” Schroeder said. “The year before they had problems with plumbing where only one bathroom worked until they could get a plumber in.”
In 2007, voters passed a TCAPS bond proposal that authorized up to a 3.1 millage rate for reconstruction at several elementary schools, including Interlochen, Eastern and Montessori at Glenn Loomis. Schools including Long Lake and Courtade were rebuilt, but projects at the remaining three schools stalled when property values declined.
“We kept a promise to keep the millage at 3.1 mills and not raise it, which we are legally capable of doing,” said board President Kelly Hall. “The board and administration promised rightfully to keep it at 3.1 mills. But because property values have declined, the revenues we’ve been able to receive have not been sufficient to reconstruct these three.”
Leaky roofs, bad plumbing, outdated mechanical and electrical systems are not unique to Interlochen. Eastern and Glenn Loomis also are saddled with outdated infrastructure, said Paul Mahon, TCAPS’ director construction and facilities.
“We don’t have the size or the height structure, we need to replace all the electrical, we need to put new technology in each space,” said Paul Mahon, TCAPS’ director construction and facilities. “That occurs for all three locations. They’re pretty comparable from an infrastructure standpoint.”
The problems are such that delaying reconstruction will cost millions in band-aid repairs, TCAPS’ Chief Financial Officer Paul Soma told the district’s board of education.
“Without doing the reconstructs at those facilities, we do know we’re putting millions into those facilities just to keep them running,” Soma said.
Mahon said the goal is to demolish existing buildings at all three elementary schools since “it would cost more to salvage and renovate the existing structures.” Each reconstruction effort is estimated to cost $10 million.
The situation at Central Grade School is different, Mahon said, as the building is a historical fixture and a centerpiece in Traverse City’s Central neighborhood.
“At Central Grade School, the structure, the bones are in good shape,” Mahon said.
The school is capable of a 140,000-square-foot layout once the district utilizes a third floor that was shuttered for nearly 25 years due to safety concerns from lead paint and asbestos. The complete renovation is estimated to cost $26.5 million.
“There are strong structural elements at Central, but mechanical, electrical, plumbing, site work, roofing, heating, all the finishes, all the flooring and ceilings need to be totally renovated. Our vision is a 100 percent renovation, not a new rebuild.”
Schroeder said renovations are no longer possible at Interlochen or the other schools.
“In the big picture, it’s minor things, but they’re chronic because it’s such an old building,” she said. “Everything they do now is just patching.”
Region
Related Photos
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Lettering for the gymnasium at Eastern Elementary School in Traverse City. Record-Eagle/Keith King
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The entrance to Eastern Elementary School. Record-Eagle/Keith King
Aging elementaries beset with problems
Complete rebuilds being looked at for three schools
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