City officials in Kentwood, Michigan, are planning wave of school construction project following approval of Kentwood Public School District’s $125 million bond proposal on May 5. The approval will advance vital projects including construction of a new middle school and nearly a dozen capital improvements across the district.
District officials said the proposal will cost the average homeowner with a property valued at $321,000 about $6.68 per month, restoring the district’s debt millage rate to 2011 levels while maintaining one of the lowest debt rates in Kent County.
School leaders said the bond request was driven by enrollment growth of about 800 students over the past decade, with project priorities shaped through community input. District officials said the plan focuses on facility security, technology upgrades and expanded career-focused learning spaces designed to prepare students with real-world skills while maintaining the district’s long-standing academic reputation.
The centerpiece of the package is construction of a new Valleywood Middle School. District officials initially considered renovating the existing 1967-era building, but opted for replacement after determining it would require about $30 million in infrastructure upgrades to bring it up to modern standards.
Other major projects include a new 600-seat performing arts center and a new career and technical education/STEM center at the East Kentwood Freshman Campus. The district’s existing high school performing arts center will also receive audio-visual and sound system upgrades, along with classroom improvements and expanded instrument storage.
The Kentwood Ice Arena, another districtwide facility, is slated for renovations including roof coating, code compliance improvements, security upgrades, electrical system improvements and new exterior doors.
Additional districtwide work includes security enhancements, accessible playground upgrades, technology improvements with new devices, new buses and updated furniture.
Planning and design work is now underway, with construction expected to begin in 2028 and projects scheduled for completion by 2032.
Photo by Ali Ahmad DANESH from Pexels
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