Building, Technology Upgrades Made At Rochester Schools

ROCHESTER, MI — Building improvements and technology upgrades highlights a busy summer of work at Rochester Community Schools. Summer construction projects have been completed at Baldwin, Hamlin, Hugger, and Musson elementary schools, Rochester High School, and West Middle School.

In addition, entrances have been secured at North Hill, Long Meadow, Meadow Brook, McGregor, Reuther, Hart, Van Hoosen, Stoney Creek High School, and the administration building. The old Brooklands building was removed, and the Stoney Creek and Hart tracks were improved.

“The pace at which our contractors have been working is truly remarkable,” said Rochester Community Schools Superintendent Robert Shaner in a recent Facebook post. “While the projects vary in size and scope, each construction project on its own would be a sizable task to complete in the short weeks of summer, but we are working on seven at one time. We are fortunate to have such skilled professionals on our team who are dedicated to keeping the projects on schedule and true to the district’s mission.”

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Construction at Adams High School is also underway, and the district is looking to break ground in September for the ACE/Adult Special Education/Adult Center for Education building.

All of the projects were made possible by $185 million bond proposal that was approved by voters in 2015. School officials said $46 million of the bond funds have been awarded for construction efforts. The projects have put more than 1,000 people to work on the projects, officials said.

Residents appear to pleased with the results, thus far.

“Thank you for your investment in the schools, Rochester High in particular looks amazing!!!,” wrote Janet Olivares in an Aug. 30 Facebook post.

“I can't wait to see West!! So far it looks great!,” a”dded Samantha Caskey Foran.

Bond funds have also focused on providing state-of-the-art technology. “We have designed and implemented a robust wired and wireless network and completed many infrastructure updates across the district,” said Director of Technology and Strategic Initiatives Cindy Lindner. “Efforts are now focused on updating devices and classroom and media center technology.”

The district has currently provided 1,300 computers to teachers and administrators districtwide, installed clocks and 250 Interactive Flat Panel (IFP) SMART boards at Rochester High, West, Baldwin, Hamlin, Hugger, and Musson, and 60 IFPs in all other buildings; provided 36 mobile labs districtwide; installed 2,000 phones and 600 surveillance cameras districtwide. PA systems will be installed across the district by December 2017.

“But this is only the beginning. The bond projects will span over a five-year period of time; we are currently entering year two. This means the work needed to help fulfill our community’s legacy for the future is still in its early stages,” said Shaner.

Photo courtesy of Rochester Community Schools