Voter Education Under Way in the Bloomfield Hills Schools

After weeks of touring the district and talking about the benefits of a unified Bloomfield Hills High School, Superintendent Rob Glass is ready to start showing the promise of students today and the years ahead.

The technical evidence — PowerPoint slides and large graphic displays detailing enrollment and projected tax savings — he used during the series of town hall meetings about the $58 million bond request have been replaced. At the community chat about the upcoming May 8 election at the Bloomfield Township Senior Services Center last Friday, Glass wanted the students' talent to speak for itself.

So he opened with performances from 4th grade students participating in rendition of Aladdin, and a dramatic interpretation of original work from two Andover High School students.

"We have all the talent. That's there as you can see," he said, noting the reality of looming deficits and funding cuts from Lansing. "We just have to operate as efficiently as possible. Every dollar we save helps keep programs like this in place. We're really tryring to hang in there."

Answering questions

Saving on operations costs — roughly $2.4 million annually — is a key component of the district's strategy behind merging and  high schools together in a hybrid plan that combines new construction with renovation of the Andover site. If the bond passes, 1,650 students could be housed at a new Bloomfield Hills High School by the fall of 2015.

Students would leave the Andover site for two years and be split. Ninth-graders would move to Hickory Grove, and grades 10-12 would relocate to Lahser High School. Model High School would move to Pine Lake during the transition and would fit on the proposed new high school campus.

If it fails, the district would still merge the high schools, but operate them on separate campuses, with Lahser housing a 9th grade academy. The district anticipates still saving $1 million under this scenario, known as Plan B. The adopted the controversial plans for both scenarios .

Opponents argue the cost to taxpayers is too high and the plan is not focused enough on instructional benefits to students. Some that also worked to defeat two prior high school millage proposals said they see value in having two high schools remain open.

After showcasing the students' talent, Glass spent more than an hour answering questions and concerns raised by the dozen voters in attendance. Questions ranged from traffic and how the merger will influence instruction, to the future of the Lahser building.

"Are you going to sell it? And what about that money?" asked one long-time Bloomfield Township resident that later declined to give her name to Bloomfield Patch. "That's a very important thing that if I were going to vote for this, would want to know going in."

Glass said that the decision will not be made for a long time following the May 8 election, but did not rule out the possibility of selling the building and using the funds to offset the 26-year cost of the pending millage request. He also said that public/private partnerships are also an option for the facility, if students will ultimately move out.

Don Foehr, a township resident since 1968, said the majority of his concerns surrounded traffic, as he is often now caught in jams and lengthy delays due to the current parking configuration at Andover. Glass reiterated that the district worked with the township's traffic consultant and devised a plan that constructs an entrance for staff and students only at the south end of Franklin Road.

"I feel a lot better now because I didn't know that," Foehr said after the event. "These meetings are helpful because the more you educate people on what they're trying to do the better."

Future chats:

Glass will meet with community to discuss the proposal several more times this month, beginning Wednesday.

• Wednesday: 10 a.m. at the Bloomfield Hills Schools Doyle Center, for  community seniors and Gold Card Members.
• Wednesday: 1:30 p.m. at the (Woodward and Square Lake).
• April 9: 1:30 p.m. at the (Maple and Telegraph roads).
• April 11: 7 p.m. at Bloomfield Hills Fox Hills for preschool parents.
• April 16:  7 p.m. at  Media Center.
• April 18: 1 p.m. at the for moms and tots (district employees will be available to read to children while moms ask questions.)

For previous coverage of this issue please see our High School Consolidation in Bloomfield Hills Topic Page.