An update on the schedule for improvements to Suttons Bay Public School was given to the Board of Education this week.
Following up on a community input session from Jan. 8, Superintendent Casey Petz told board members Monday, that the building on the north side of campus will be razed in the spring and will be replaced by a new gymnasium.
“From the very beginning, the 2024 bond proposal was designed to address a number of longstanding issues with respect to our campus and building spaces and it is exciting to see us making progress on our goals while also putting a plan together to deliver first class facilities, buildings, fields, and programs for our students,” he said. “Overall, we are trying to consolidate our fields and athletic facilities and improve the use rate (number of games, tournaments, and practices hosted) of our football stadium.)” Here are some highlights:
• The softball field will be relocated centrally near the existing playground space and football/soccer stadium.
• The Little League field along Herman Road will be relocated near the existing playground space, football/soccer stadium, and newly relocated softball field.
• The existing track will be removed and the current plan is to replace it with scaled down “walking track” around the perimeter of the football field.
• Concessions will be relocated centrally between the newly relocated fields and will also include restroom/change facilities.
“The varsity baseball field is largely unchanged in our redesign plans,” Petz said. “We are investing in improvements to the field, fencing, and other associated aspects of the varsity baseball field in the years ahead.”
The existing playground will be redeveloped/relocated as part of the softball, Little League, concession relocations and football/soccer stadium improvements.
The existing football practice field will be improved and receive some upgrades and repairs. No major changes there.
“At some point, all the repairs, relocations, improvements, and right-sizing work will be completed and the district will have approximately 9.5 acres of space on the south of the campus along Herman Road to repurpose,” Petz said. “The district is looking at options for that area of the campus and there will be some decisions to make in the near future about what the best course of action to take is.“ Petz explained the district will prioritize its right-sizing efforts around sustainability, campus efficiency, and having fields and facilities that meet the needs of existing programs at the school. “We cannot predict the future with 100% accuracy, but we do have a really good idea of what the next 10 to 25 years look like in terms of enrollment projections, athletic/ program offerings, and available revenues,” he said. “The future is bright… and our students and families will benefit from these changes for many years to come.”
