With under 10-percent turnout, voters in Washtenaw County approved a $53.2-million-dollar bond issue to overhaul High Point Schoolin Ann Arbor. As 89.1 WEMU’s David Fair reports, the money will dramatically change the configuration on the school that serves special needs students from all school districts in the county.
When the school was first constructed in 1975, it was considered state-of-the-art. But, over the years, accessibility for those in wheelchairs and space design for educators became a growing concern.
The bond sale will result in a 0.37-mill annual tax increase for a period of ten years. The project also will fund demolition of part of the building and the construction of new classrooms with up to date furnishings and technology. It will provide special subject rooms and space for physical and occupational therapy.
There will also be renovations to the existing gymnasium and pool. About 14 of the newly constructed classrooms will be used by the non-profit Honey Creek Community School, which is also housed in the building.
Demolition on the existing building could begin as early as the first quarter of 2020 with construction to potentially begin in Spring with a target of having the new building open for the start of classes in fall 2021.
Voters in the Whitmore Lake School District and Chelsea Library District also approved the tax questions before them on Tuesday.
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— David Fair is the WEMU News Director and host of Morning Edition on WEMU. You can contact David at734.487.3363, on twitter @DavidFairWEMU, or email him at dfair@emich.edu
