Community says yes at public hearing
ISHPEMING -- Last May, the Ishpeming School District attempted and failed to pass a bond issue, that would have raised over 11 million dollars for the expansion of the Birchview Elementary School.
But with December's closing of the Phelps Middle School, both Birchview and Ishpeming High School are now a little cramped for space. So the School Board is re-visiting the issue.
Monday night, School Board members sat in silence as the community spoke out about the possible construction project for the district.
Now, the School Board is faced with the task of deciding what to do. . . to build, or not to build.
"The sense we had from last night was that most people felt that we should pursue some kind of project, we should do something" says David Leverton, Ishpeming School Board Vice President.
Leverton says no plans have been made yet. But he told Upper Michigans Source Tuesday that if the board decides to propose another construction project, it will be an expansion of Birchview School. That's what was proposed last May. This time around, Leverton says the project would be smaller in scale.
Birchview parents we spoke with say they'd be thrilled to see the school grow.
"I would be really excited to see the school expand, I think we have space in the school but it's not necessarily great space" says Karen Liimatta, a Birchview parent.
"We need a new cafeteria, a new gym. . . I would just love it. It's such a great school and I really believe if we expanded it could be so much better" says Angela Robbins, another Birchview parent.
The majority of those in attendance Monday night also said they wanted to see improvements made. This begs the question: If so many people seem to be in favor of construction, why did the bond fail last May?
"Many people told us that they wish they had known more about the project in the beginning... we thought we did a good job (informing the public), but a lot of folks didn't get the message and feel that, had they known more, they might have voted differently" says Leverton.
Monday night people volunteered to help get the word out if the bond is brought up again, and Leverton says the board will take them up on the offer.
He says the school board will be making a decision within the next few months in hopes to have it on the August or November ballot.
If you would like to have a say in the matter, please contact one of the board members, their contact information can be found here. _____________________________________________________________________________
To build or not to build? That was the hot topic at Monday night's Ishpeming School Board meeting.
At the special meeting, members of the community had the chance to express their opinions about a possible construction project and a millage to help pay for it.
With the closing of Phelps School, parents have expressed concern that the facilities are too small to accommodate the number of students.
There was no vote tonight, but a variety of views and ideas were brought up, including the construction of a gym, cafeteria, and library at Birchview Elementary.
Others suggested they make better use of the already existing buildings.
"The bond issue last May was a much larger project; that bond issue failed. We've been told in other public meetings recently that the bond should be tried again, perhaps for a different kind of proposal," said Board Vice President, David Leverton.
The school board will take the comments and feedback into consideration.
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