Bond projects welcome students back to school

Utica Community Schools students are returning to more than 30 building improvements, courtesy of district voters.

Projects ranging from new instructional equipment, new roofs, parking lot improvements and renovated media areas are wrapping up in preparation of the first day of school on September 7.

"The investment from our community will ensure students continue to learn in safe and comfortable facilities with state-of-the-art technology," said Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns. "Utica Community Schools is dedicated to raising the achievement of our students to prepare them to not only compete - but excel - in work and college environments. This important effort can only occur in facilities that directly support teaching and learning."

UCS voters have authorized more than $250 million in bonds to fund facility improvements over the past ten years. Voters most recently approved a $112.5 million bond issue in spring, 2009.

Bond issue projects focus on three important goals:

To Provide classroom technology that will:

• Sustain and expand student/staff access to technology
• Continue emphasis on presentation and community through 21st century technologies
• Improve infrastructure technologies and systems

To Keep building in good working order by replacing, renovating or remodeling:

• Boilers, HVAC, interior lighting
• Roofing, doors, restrooms
• Security improvements, paving
• Flooring, cabinets/countertops, furniture/equipment, school signs, public address systems

To Create parity among facilities, offering equal access to students, including:

• Auxiliary gyms reconfigured at Malow and Davis Junior High Schools
• Electronic Collaboration Classroom at Stevenson High School
• Media Center at Utica High School
• Bus replacement

Below is a chart that lists recent bond improvements during 2009-2010.

	Purpose
Projects	Upgrade Technology	Create Parity Between Schools	Improve Safety and Building Infrastructures
Replacement of Roofs (20 Year Cycle)			X
Interactive White Board Technologies	X
Boiler Replacements			X
Rest Room Uprades at District High Schools			X
Flooring Improvements and Replacements			X
Districtwide Paving Projects and Site Improvements			X
Furniture Replacement at All Schools			X
New Instructional Equipment at All Schools	X	X	X
Replacement of Elementary Media Center Computers	X	X
Renovations and New Additions - Instructional Areas - including: New Media Center and Renovated Science Rooms at Heritage Junior High Renovation of Eisenhower Science Rooms Electronic Collaboration at Stevenson (estimated completion Spring, 2011) and Utica High Schools	X	X	X
Replacement of Student Computers (notebooks and desktops) at secondary level	X
Replacement of Doors Districtwide	X
Installation of Science Room Projection Systems	X

 

Follow this link for specific building projects