In May 2023 GHAPS will ask voters for money. It is the duty of every citizen who plans to vote to be informed.
Grand Haven Area Public Schools would like $155 million dollars. $86 million of the $155 million will be allocated for construction of a new middle school near the intersection of 152nd and Lincoln. The remainder of the money will be used to build a multi-purpose building on the Ferris St. high school property ($30 million), renovate elementary schools ($21 million), support transportation and bus garage renovation ($11 million), and for music and new buses ($5.5 million).
On November 16, 2022 GHAPS leaders presented their plans to the community in a presentation and tour at Lakeshore Middle School. The primary reason for building a new middle school is because the existing school is just too old. Additional issues with Lakeshore Middle School include difficult drop-off/pick-up, uneven heating/cooling throughout the building, and leaky ceilings.
Although Lakeshore Middle School is in decent structural shape for its age, there are issues that are obvious to the average person. The layout of the building is awkward to say the least. This is due to numerous renovations and additions. Many classrooms do not have windows and the cafeteria in the basement has a bottleneck entry that could prove disastrous if a full lunch room crowd needed to exit quickly. In addition, the cafeteria feels unwelcoming and has poor acoustics. There are no less than eight stairways. Low ceilings, low/no natural light make learning difficult at best, impossible at worst. Half of Lakeshore is underground. In general, the building is just unwelcoming.
Although GHAPS leaders answered some community questions during the November 16th presentation they did not entertain audience questions. All questions were required to be submitted in writing in advance of the presentation. Based on prior GHAPS board discussions this seems a blatant attempt to “Control the Narrative”. It is typical of GHAPS leaders to respond to concerns on an individual basis, thereby preventing community members with similar concerns from hearing the answer. They did however answer some submitted questions. Time will tell if GHAPS leaders allow citizen concerns to be addressed with community interaction or if they continue working the divide and conquer method that allows them to “Control the Narrative.”
Continuing with the new middle school….. The estimate of $86 million does include providing new infrastructure such as water and electrical to the building site. Design is expected to take one year followed by two years of construction. Decisions on what will ultimately happen to Lakeshore Middle School will be finalized in 2025-26. Perhaps the structure will be sold and turned into apartments? Perhaps a developer/investor would want the property? Perhaps it will be demolished? This has not been determined.
Scott Grimes emphasized that bond money could not be used for employee wages and addressed busing questions. GHAPS leaders see no issues with busing and simply stated that busing will just be flipped. Currently kids are bused into the city, in the future they will be bssed out. Increased wear and tear on township roadways was not discussed. The increased distance/inconvenience for families who currently live north of the bridge was not addressed. Traffic studies have not been done and they don’t plan to do any traffic studies until the bond has been passed by the taxpayers.
One audience member had concerns about entering into a massive construction project during an unstable inflationary economy. His questions were not answered before the audience so it is unknown how GHAPS leaders addressed his concerns.
Another issue that could prove to be problematic or expensive in the future has to do with wetlands. There are some wetland areas on the perspective site. Where/how many/and implications – unknown.
At least one slide during the presentation mentioned the buzz word “equity” which raises an entirely new set of questions.
What does “EQUITY ACROSS ALL BUILDINGS” even mean? Is GHAPS receiving federal/state money in connection with these construction projects? What federal strings are attached to the design of the new school? What will the bathroom design be? Does Title IX affect the bathroom designs?
What about shop facilities? Home economics facilities? Will these be provided in the new construction/renovations?
What other options for dealing with Lakeshore Middle School have been considered?
Have GHAPS leaders asked for community feedback in a face-to-face open forum that is not an online survey or special-invitation meeting?
Restore Ottawa is not advocating for or against this project at the current time. There are many reasons a new middle school could be beneficial for the community, but building a new school will affect a lot of people. The community needs to be included in the planning. After all, doesn’t GHAPS continually say they advocate for DEIB (diversity, equity, INCLUSION, and belonging)?
Controlling the narrative is unacceptable as it is the opposite of transparency. TRANSPARENCY is paramount, as is APPROPRIATELY applying funds to the building of the structure. That’s it.