Tecumseh School Board to contract with design company for athletic complex

By DEB WUETHRICH

The Tecumseh School Board voted 6-1 to enter into a contract with Foresite Design, Inc. from Berkley for professional design and construction management services for a new athletic complex to be located at Tecumseh High School. Foresite president, Bruce Lemons, was present at Monday night’s meeting to show renderings of the proposed facilities and to answer board members’ questions about the project.

Board member Jason Sines voted no on the project, stating that while the presentation was “excellent and knowledgeable,” he maintained his stance that the board was moving in one direction when there were other options that might have been considered.
“This is a two-part contract for professional services and also for construction management of the project,” Bill Wright, Director of Business and Finance, told the board. “By approving this you will be approving up to $140,175 for various services that Bruce will directly or indirectly coordinate.” He said the bidding process for construction work would come later.

Adopted earlier this year, a revised school code now mandates that school districts must seek site plan approval from the Superintendent of Public Instruction before beginning any major construction or remodeling project. The Superintendent of Public Instruction has delegated the site plan review process to the Michigan Department of labor and Economic Growth’s Bureau of Construction Codes. This is one of the areas where Foresite Design will provide expertise. Lemons, formerly from Hudson, is a well-known expert in the field of sports complex design and a founding member of the Synthetic Turf Council, a national organization based in Atlanta, Georgia.

The scope of the work outlined in the contract will be for development of specifications and bid documents for the proposed athletic field complex. Work will include developing design drawings; holding bidding sessions; soil borings; topographic survey; construction administration and management.

The proposed athletic complex will include construction of an 8-lane track and field events course; a synthetic turf field to accommodate football, soccer and lacrosse; grandstands with press box; sports/field lighting; fencing; walkways and an entry plaza. The total cost for this proposal is not expected to exceed $2,100,000 and includes a $50,000 contingency and $140,175 in fees for the professional services that was approved Monday night. Funding for the project is expected to come from the district’s capital projects fund, an installment purchase agreement, potential competitive grants, and fundraising.

The board also approved a resolution to develop specifications and seek competitive bids for the demolition of the bleachers at the Middle School athletic field. The action was taken to improve safety and reduce the likelihood of an accident on or near the structures. The project would include the demolition of both the bleachers and press box, the light poles, removal and salvage of debris, and restoration of the existing hillside site, placing a drainage system at the base of the hillside to prevent water from entering and flooding the adjacent athletic field and track. During an analysis of the situation, Daley Engineering provided an estimate that the project might cost around $40,000 to complete. Upcoming bids could be a little higher, according to Superintendent Mike McAran, due to specs including hillside concerns. Funds for the project would come from the Capital Projects fund. There was some discussion about a future resurfacing of the existing track for middle school students, which would likely include grinding down the current surface. McAran said middle school students could still use the six-lane track since their sports programs do not require eight-lanes as is now required at the high school level in order to remain competitive and host home events.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the collection of property taxes for the July 1, 2009 tax levy for summer taxes. Taxes included in this collection would be for payment of debt service on outstanding bonds (7.2 mills) and the levy on non-primary homestead exemption (non-pre or non-homestead currently 18 mills) properties located within the boundaries of the Tecumseh Public Schools. Wright said it is especially important to collect these funds since the school does not receive a state aid payment until well after school begins in the fall.

• Heard a presentation from kindergarten students at Tecumseh Acres about how they are advancing the Outdoor Garden there by fundraising and planting bulbs. The students represented kindergarten classes of Mrs. Darlene Penterics, Ms. Carrie Frick, and Mrs. Lisa Shirk.

• Heard a report from Lisa Powell on behalf of the Herrick Park PTO regarding the paving of a 1/5 mile trail at the school through grant-seeking and fundraising.

• Heard a report from Sutton Elementary Principal Deb Langmeyer, who outlined a proposal for kindergarten classes to conclude the 2009 school year on May 29, four days earlier than previously scheduled, so that teachers might conduct assessments of incoming students in a more timely fashion, providing more time for parents to receive advice on placement (such as readiness for regular kindergarten or Young Fives) prior to the beginning of the new school year.

• Learned from Technology Director Todd Thieken that the new Honeywell Alert System is now available, and parents can go to the Tecumseh Public Schools website and log on to receive the alerts. Parent letters also are expected to be distributed soon to let parents know that this is available.

• Heard a report from Tecumseh Middle School Principal Rick Hilderley that the school recently received state recognition at a luncheon for coming off the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) “watch list.” Guidance Counselor Mary Tommelein said teachers should receive much of the credit for that as they have stepped up to help analyze reports and looked for ways to improve the process.

• Recognized Boys Cross Country team members for qualifying and participating in state events this year, along with coaches Jim Brown and David Green.