STANTON — The Central Montcalm Public School Board of Education was presented with a schematic design and pricing package Monday of the upcoming construction/renovation, and approved it … sort of.
Designers from the engineering and architect firms presented designs for construction and renovation, focusing first on secure vestibule entrances for four school buildings. The board, in a 6-0 vote with Mark Grossbauer absent, approved the design, with a Plan B proposal for the high school/middle school entrance.
“This is the first step in three phases. Tonight is for the engineering phase to plan for budget and scheduling, and to keep us as close to budget as we need to be,” said Steve Hoekzema of Tower Pinkster in Grand Rapids.
“This is the design process for Phase One,” added Matt Bramstedt of Tower Pinkster. “This shows the new high school/middle school secure entry, the exit drive, site improvements and security enhancements at the elementary buildings, and site improvements for the lower elementary building (in Sheridan).”
The three main goals in the design of the high school/middle achool were security, safety and maintaining the infrastructure as much as possible.
“In the pre-bond design phase, some of the concerns that came up were the band storage area, access to the interior of both buildings, and aesthetic appeal with the entrance near the loading zone and dumpster area,” Bramstedt said. “It is keeping the footprint of that area, and adding to it in a manner that won’t affect the other interior points.”
The proposed design, with an east main entrance door, had to take into account: Is it safe and secure? How does it impact the other areas that are currently in that area? Is it secure for pedestrians and what parking adjustments will have to be made?
One concern voiced in early meetings was that locker room facilities are currently located where the proposed entrance is to be built. Options were to keep the locker room but re-configure it, move the locker room to the east of the building or move the locker room nearer to the athletic fields.
“When looking at the locker rooms, we realized they were in disrepair, the interior space has a low ceiling deck, and probably not the best location,” Bramstedt said.
“The decision seemed to be re-using that locker room area, it was not worth salvaging,” said Hoekzema, who described creating a pole barn unit with locker rooms, team rooms, storage space for helmets and pads, referee space, a co-ed training room and additional storage space for the concession stand.
School board members discussed the pole barn idea, and the cost involved.
“If we stay close to budget, I don’t have a problem with it,” Treasurer Jim Rogers said. “I think it would provide better safety for the football players to not have to walk across parking areas to get to locker rooms, and I have no problem. My big concern is money.”
The 40-x-40 pole barn would have a training room not only for football, but also for track and cross country, and have a safe place for referees, according to Superintendent Amy Meinhardt.
“We are definitely keeping a pulse on the budget,” said Chad Nienhaus of Granger.
The school board agreed to the pole barn structure, then returned to analyzing the future office space.
While tweaking the layout, the concept arose about how a mirror image of the design would pan out.
“Keeping the interest of the interior, we looked at a mirror image, with the same cost, using a left (west) entrance instead,” Meinhardt said.
That change would eliminate the need for a corridor to access the middle school and would reduce the need for a ramp and stairs to be built at the outside entrance needed with an east entrance. A wall could be constructed to block from vision the delivery area, according to Hoekzema.
After more discussion, the board approved having architects pursue a design with a mirror image design.
“If it stays within budget, with the entrance on the left, I am in favor of seeing the plans,” Board President Bill Simpson said.
The board also reviewed design plans for the upper elementary, with vestibule enhancements and minimal mechanical and electrical upgrades and the lower elementary, with a secure vestibule, a change in traffic flow and bus drop-offs, and the playground area backed up.
“I like what I see,” said Simpson of the proposed Sheridan building plans.
In other matters …
The Central Montcalm Public School board also:
• Was introduced to Charity Groom, a former Central Montcalm student, who was recently hired as the new middle school principal. She will begin in her role Oct. 31.
• Approved 2 p.m. May 21, 2017, for commencement.
• Approved hiring Austin Caster as a middle school wrestling coach.
• Approved hiring Phillip Kahler as a middle school track coach.
• Approved hiring Trina Geiger as a cook’s helper.
• Granted a medical leave of absence for JoLynn Spencer.
• Granted medical leave for Robin Bennett.
• Accepted the resignation of Heather Palmer as health paraprofessional.
Correspondent Lori Hansen is a Greenville-area resident.