NEWS RELEASE
PICKFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL
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2022 is the 100th year since the Pickford Panther Legacy began in 1922, and it will be remembered as a year of significant and lasting change for our Pickford Public School District.
In November 2019, voters passed an $8.5 million dollar bond proposal to renovate and upgrade existing areas of our building, complete site improvements, enhance safety and security measures, and make building additions necessary to house our growing student population. The project was set to begin in late March 2021 and conclude in December 2021 with a phased-in approach to occupancy as new parts of the building were completed.
Sometimes the best made plans don’t come to fruition. Instead of working our plans, we practiced our patience and flexibility as Covid-19 made its appearance known. Sharp price increases for everything in the construction industry made it impossible to deliver the finished product we had proposed and voters had passed.
The Board and Project Steering Committee forged ahead, modified plans, and prepared for a new construction window. In November 2021, bid #3 placed one entire section of the original plan (the 6 classroom addition to the south) as a bid alternate.
Utilizing various cost saving measures, we have finally managed to come in under budget by a VERY narrow margin, but unfortunately, without the 6 classroom addition on the southern end of the building that was originally planned.
As we move ahead with the prioritized design portion of the project in the next month, the Board of Education has also approved moving ahead with an additional millage request to fund deferred project components. This proposal will be on the May 3rd, 2022 ballot, and it is a request for $3.5 million dollars (0.5 mill increase) to erect the middle/high school 6 classroom addition, renovate the old locker rooms, create a paved parking lot at the southern end of the building, and replace casework and flooring in the remodeled science and home economics classrooms. These funds will allow for the completion of the project as originally planned in 2019.
The Board is committed to growing our district and these additional classrooms are a crucial component of that plan. The district has already seen a 21% increase in our student population over the last 5 years, and additional growth is projected to continue in our district.
The Panther Legacy Project is hosting a Centennial Celebration on March 24, 2022 to commemorate 100 years of education and service to the Pickford community.
The school will be open to the community starting at 5:30 p.m. with tours of the current building and discussion of the new construction, renovations, and upgrades that are set to commence. Everyone is invited to the Multipurpose Room to view displays of historical photos and artifacts and enjoy light refreshments. Brief presentations on the upcoming building additions and improvements, the May 2022 Bond
Proposal, and the recently established Panther Legacy Project Funds will take place starting at 6:30 p.m.. Staff and students from past and present are invited to attend for an opportunity to reflect on the building/district “as YOU remember it” and hear about exciting upcoming opportunities for our district, our students, and our community.
We look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday, March 24th between 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. We are committed to providing the very best educational facilities and grounds possible for our school family and community. This investment in our district paves the way to a great future for Pickford Public Schools and the next 100 years of Pickford students.
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