Tri County Area Schools Breaks Ground on New Elementary School
April 15, 2021
Tri County Area Schools Breaks Ground on New Elementary School
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(HOWARD CITY, MI) April 15, 2021 – This Thursday, Tri County Area Schools broke ground on their new K-5 elementary building, part of a $37 million bond, passed by voters in August 2019. The new school will centralize the district, putting all students, Kindergarten-12th grade, on one campus, increasing efficiency while also improving safety and traffic flow.
Other bond projects include:
- A high school addition to serve dual purpose as a performance space and a cafeteria
- Modern science labs for hands-on learning
- District-wide technology
- Classroom improvements
- Upgrades to bathroom facilities to meet current codes
- Safety improvements
The new elementary building is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2023. For the full schedule and continued construction updates, visit the district’s blog at www.tricountybond.com
"We want to thank the Tri County community for their support of the schools and the bond project. The new elementary on the central campus will help bring our school community together and help enhance the educational opportunities we can provide each child."
Al Cumings
Superintendent
Tri County Area Schools
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Woodland Elementary staff and students recently traded their classroom for hard hats. From a safe distance behind the fence line, they got a firsthand look at the jobsite where their new school is taking shape. The visit, known as a fence tour, was led by Anastasia Wojcik, project manager with Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. (O-A-K), and Jennifer Carson, principal at Woodland Elementary.
"It's great for them to be able to see the people on site, equipment moving around, and really get a sense of what's happening here," Carson said.
Teachers also used the visit to bring a classroom lesson to life, connecting the tour to a unit on area and perimeter.
The new Woodland Elementary is part of Portage Public Schools' Building the Future of Learning bond program, approved by voters in 2021. The building is being designed around an enchanted forest theme, with natural materials and abundant daylight. Learn more about the ground breaking here.
While construction continues, staff and students are temporarily housed at the former Haverhill Elementary building. Woodland is scheduled to open in fall 2027, the first of three new Portage elementary schools opening in three consecutive years, followed by Amberly in 2028 and Angling Road in 2029.
