Read about our architecture/construction management firms:
TMP Architecture and AVB Construction / Triangle Associates

  12th Street Elementary

• A ground-breaking ceremony was held on May 1, featuring Supervisor Ron Commissaris from Texas Township and Mayor Peter Strazdas from the City of Portage. They were joined by Board of Education President Shirley Johnson, Superintendent Marsha Wells, and Principal Ron Jones, along with the Board of Education, community representatives (including parents), representatives of the 12th Street Elementary Steering Committee, TMP Architecture, and American Village Builders / Triangle Associates.
• This is a $14.8 million school (which includes $1.4 million in technology) and will be a two-story, 72,000 square feet school.
• The Board of Education received an update by TMP Architects during its March 10 meeting, which included this draft floor plan of the two-story school. Also see this revised site plan. They reported that various recommendations from the February Open House at the Texas Township Hall have been incorporated, while others are pending (see this link for citizen feedback.
• The first project underway involves the 12th Street Elementary School. Waylee faculty and staff will be given priority in posting for teaching positions at this new elementary and, therefore, are serving on this committee.
• 12th Street Steering Committee includes Waylee faculty and staff: Missy Griffioen, secretary; Larry Griffioen, custodian; Heather Haas, lower grades representative; Keith Lam, upper grades representative; and Principal Ron Jones. The committee also includes Lake Center Principal Mark Root, Superintendent Marsha Wells, and Assistant Superintendents Ric Perry and Tom Noveer.
• Committee members have toured new elementaries in Saline, Dearborn, Walled Lake, and Melvindale along with the Lake Center group.
• The District is planning a two-story school for this and the Lake Center site.
• May is the start date for construction and the school will be finished in time for Fall '09. Other upcoming dates:
  - bidding site package 4/22/08
  - construction start-site package 5/08
  - bidding building package 6/08
  - construction start-building package 7/08
  - construction documents complete 5/30/08
• Anyone with ideas to share with this committee may route them to Principal Ron Jones through the Waylee office at
  323-6500.

  Lake Center Elementary

• The District hosted a community Open House about the new Lake Center on April 17 at the school to gather input on traffic flow and to share initial site plans (soon to be linked from this page).
• Lake Center ’s Steering Committee includes teachers Deb Frieben and Deb Meewes, head secretary Pat Baltmanis, custodian John Bray, Principal Mark Root, Superintendent Marsha Wells, and Assistant Superintendents Ric Perry and Tom Noverr.
• Committee members have toured new elementaries during December in Saline, Dearborn, Walled Lake, and Melvindale along with the 12th Street group.
• The District is planning a two-story school for this and the 12th Street site.
• Lake Center’s design phase will begin this May and go through January 2009, with construction taking place from March 2009 through July 2010. Other upcoming dates:
  - schematic design complete 4/17/08
  - design development complete 6/5/08
• Anyone wishing to share ideas with the Steering Committee may call Mr. Root at 323-6361.

  Central High School

• Central’s Steering Committee includes faculty and staff: Teachers Bonnie Moss, Jim Murray, Aja Kaylor, Assistant Principals Kim Lummis and Jason Frink, Athletic Director Larry Edlund, Principal Eric Alburtus, Northern Principal Jim French, Assistant Superintendents Ric Perry and Tom Noverr, and Superintendent Marsha Wells.
• The school also has 73 sub-committee members working on LEED/Green, Classroom Spaces, Office Spaces, Student & Public Common Spaces, Fundraising/Enhancement Projects, Athletics, Technology, Media Center, Security, Teacher Spaces, Custodial and Maintenance, Fine Arts Spaces, and Kitchen Space.
• Members of both high school committees have visited new high schools in Saline, Walled Lake, West Bloomfield, Otsego, Gull Lake, Jenison, Hudsonville, and East Kentwood.
• Anyone wishing to share ideas with the Steering Committee may call Mr. Alburtus at 323-5261.
• Central’s design phase will go through January 2009, with construction taking place from March 2009 to August 2011. Other upcoming dates:
  - schematic design complete 4/16/08
  - design development 4/17/08-8/6/08

  Northern High School

• TMP Architects briefed these initial plans to the Board of Education on March 10. See this link for three levels of interior designs and front and back site graphics.
• Northern’s Steering Committee includes teachers Stacie Phillips, Mike Huber, and Bryan Hill; Head Custodian Dennis Collier, administrative assistant to the principal Pat Hansson, Athletic Director Chris Riker, and Principal Jim French, and Central High Principal Eric Alburtus, Superintendent Marsha Wells, and Assistant Superintendents Ric Perry and Tom Noverr.
• Northern also has building staff and community research teams looking into leadership in energy and environmental design as well as fundraising/enhancement projects.
• Members of both high school committees have visited new high schools in Saline, Walled Lake, West Bloomfield, Otsego, Gull Lake, Jenison, Hudsonville, and East Kentwood.
• Anyone wishing to share ideas with the Steering Committee may call Mr. French at 323-5461.
• Northern’s design phase will go through September 2008, with construction taking place from May 2008 to December 2010. Other upcoming dates:
  - schematic design complete 4/11/08
  - design development documents complete 6/6/08

More Bond information on Page 2.