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These architectural designs depict the proposed new high school. Van Buren school officials have decided to head back to the polls in August in order to try to secure funding for a new building, the third time within four years.
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Members of the Van Buren Public School Board discussed the new Belleville High School proposal during Monday's special board meeting and work study.
Wayde Hoppe, architect for the proposed project, presented layout plans for the new high school to board members and the audience.
The front of the high school features a one-story wing that will include the library and cafeteria. The school also will have a three-story wing added to it and Hoppe said that they are adding the three story wing for expansion in the future.
The school also will have a double-loaded parking lot that Hoppe said people will be able to park on both sides and an eight-foot island strip of landscaping.
David Peer, board president, aired his concerns about the landscape area. Peer said they don't have staff to keep up the landscaping.
Martha Toth, trustee, said, "If we pull this off, we need to take advantage of the opportunity of those trees we lost."
In contrast, the OHM Engineering Advisors had never done a project close to the community. Daniel Fredenall, executive vice president, said the closet project that the company has done near the community is in Hancock and he added, "...which isn't close at all."
Toni Hunt, trustee, questioned Hoppe's experience as an architect.
Hoppe said that he has done design work on some public, private and higher education schools. He said that he has done some work at Eastern Michigan University.
Hoppe said that the Belleville High School will be his first big project that he has designed.
"Actually I think it might be a good thing that we are not talking to people who have build a fanatic large school," said Toth.
Toth said the large high schools are beautiful but that is not in their budget and the community will not support it.
Hoppe said, "Everything we have done thus far, we are trying to show that this is a frugal effort. Obviously past efforts has failed with an attempt of a much larger budget."
Van Buren School District voters rejected a bond proposal for a new high school in a special election held in February 2006. Approximately 60 percent of nearly 7,000 voters rejected the bond proposal.
Paul Henning, communication coordinator for the Van Buren Public schools, who did not attend the meeting, said that the 2006 proposal was not supported by district voters because of a variety of reasons not the least of which was based on residents' concern for a deteriorating Michigan economy. School officials will face similar challenges as Van Buren schools go back to the well for a third time in four years.
Board Vice-President Ralph Nodwell, after the 2006 vote, said he was frustrated with the lack of support for education from the community
"Everybody wants a better education, but nobody wants to pay for it," he said. "People are going to have to step up to the responsibility. Eventually, they will have to accept the fact that we need a new school."
Hoppe said the construction budget is close to $80 million dollar. The estimate is $166 dollars a square foot. "That's a fair number to work with," he said.
Pete Lazaroff, superintendent, said "We took the treasury application from the last bond issues and work off those specifications.
Lazaroff said the Proposal will be put on the agenda for the Jan. 13 meeting.
Elaine Burnett is an intern for the View/Courier newspapers. She can be reached through editor@bellevilleview.com.
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