Bond work resumes during summer break

Districts looking for progress on unfinished projects

 

TRI-CITY AREA — Crews will be busy in three of the four school districts within the Tri-City Times coverage area while a fourth district is hoping voters approve a second try at a multi-million dollar bond issue in August.

It will be a busy summer at Dryden Elementary and Dryden High School.

The following are projects that are expected to be completed by the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year.

Dryden Elementary School–new roof, new boilers, new heating and cooling system and a new sign.

At Dryden high school, improvements include a new roof, new boilers, new heating and cooling system, new sign, new drinking water system and a new hot water heater.

After much discussion and fine tuning, the new FFA Barn in Capac is making good progress. The hope is for the structure to be done in time for this fall session, allowing students to have a more hands-on feel for raising various livestock.

The new 3,000 square foot structure will be built west of the bus garage in an area that has been used by the program for rotating pastures for livestock.

It was first believed the structure would cost around $300,000. Material costs have driven the price up, causing some delays in the work. Interim Supt. Amy Nelson said the new updated price tag is now around $440,000.

In addition to this project, crews are busy at the elementary school this summer. The main office is being remodeled to create an environment “that better serves the students and staff,” according to Supt. Nelson. All classrooms in the original portion of the building are being updated with new casework and classroom doors. A new clock system at the elementary school is being installed and Supt. Nelson said throughout the district, landscaping will be updated at each building entrance.

Officials at Imlay City say while a majority of the work is done on their bond issue, there still remains some small ticket items to complete.

The big ticket item, the Performing Arts Center, has been completed and been host to a number of events to help showcase the district.

Meanwhile, in Almont, school district officials and the school board have been working together to come up with what they hope is a successful plan for a school bond.

The first try, a $58 million dollar bond issue, failed by a wide margin in February.

The board has agreed to trim down the request to around $33 million and have set the process in motion to have a second vote on August 6.

The major adjustments have been eliminating any kind of a field house or solar power project that combined together, totaled over $20 million in savings.

The district is holding informational meetings and giving tours of the facilities prior to the vote in August, to make voters aware of the changes.

Supt. Kimberly VonHiltmayer had met with various groups following the rejected bond issue in February.

She gathered feedback from a variety of voters’ opinions and brought the ideas back to the board for consideration.