Work continues behind the scenes on Suttons Bay Public School’s $18.3 million bond construction.
In May voters approved the bond request put forward after a facilities assessment completed in 2023.
Although all facilities have undergone various stages of renovation throughout the years since first being constructed in the 1950s, the assessment found that recent enrollment numbers over the last decade imply that “an element of right sizing may need to be implemented in order to better reflect the needs of the school district and community.”
The district utilizes two main buildings for the education of approximately 600 students, with the north building housing both the elementary and middle school, and the south building occupied by the high school. Among the key priorities for the district are safety/security upgrades; sequencing of north wing, demolition and boiler replacement; completing projects that reduce costs, save energy, and “rightsize” the campus and buildings.
The public will get an updated at a special information open house at 5:30 p.m., Jan. 8 in the school auditorium.
At Monday’s monthly meeting the board approved two related motions.
“(The motions) are steps we must take to give ourselves flexibility to manage our bond projects and consolidate/rightsize our district in the monthly/ years ahead,” Superintendent Casey Petz said. “Essentially, we are starting the preliminary process to demolish some buildings and relocate some fields, parking lots, and open spaces on campus and the board is authorizing the Superintendent with powers to execute a ‘purchase agreement’ if that is the direction we determine to go at some point.”
Meanwhile, Tim Smith, chief operating officer, updated the board on projects included in the bond project.
Hand dryers will be installed over holiday break in all bathrooms.
“We’re getting away from paper towels,” Smith said. “There are too many on the floor … plugging toilets.”
The district has also come up with a plan to bring the school into compliance with a state law that every drinking source in the school must be filtered. Fountains must be designated “non-drinkable” if not filtered.
“It’s important to ensure clean (drinking) water, but it’s another unfunded mandate from the State of Michigan,” Smith said.
The school district was able to secure a $15,000 grant to help with the $30,000 project.
Over Christmas break, new curtains will be installed throughout the facility, Smith said.
In other business monday, the board approved a 2.25% raise for Petz for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year.
The base salary for the superintendent for the January 2024 to December 2024 school year is $119,762 for at least 260 days of work in that role. That salary amount was increased by 2.25% for the time period of January 2025 to June 2025, bringing compensation for the current school year to $122,756.
“ We will begin working on a contract for the superintendent beyond June 2025 sometime this spring,” Petz said.
