© 2025 WEMU
Serving Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, MI
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
School Closing Information

Construction of new Thurston Elementary School moving forward despite public objections

Site of new Thurston Elementary School.
Ann Arbor Public Schools
Site of new Thurston Elementary School.

Officials with Ann Arbor Public Schools are saying building a new Thurston Elementary next to its current location is the only feasible option.

Residents living near Thurston and the adjoining district-owned Nature Center have been telling the School Board they oppose the current plans.

The district wants the new Thurston to be built just north of the current building which would require the removal of part of the reserve. Opponents want alternative sites, but project executive Stephanie Corona says that turned out be impossible.

“Any property we found was either not large enough or big enough to accommodate an elementary school and give it the play area that was needed, or wasn’t zoned for it, or the site was contaminated.”

The idea of temporarily moving Thurston students to a different school while a new building is constructed at the same location was also nixed. The Board was told none of the other schools have enough room.

Non-commercial, fact based reporting is made possible by your financial support.  Make your donation to WEMU today to keep your community NPR station thriving.

Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

Contact WEMU News at 734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org

News Reporter and Host Kevin Meerschaert was a student reporter at WEMU in the early 90s. After another 30 years in the public radio business and stops in Indiana, Maryland, Florida, and New Mexico, Kevin is back to where it all began.
Related Content