This week Fruitport Community Schools offered residents a sneak peek of the new high school that’s currently under construction, while district officials say, once completed, will be a “game changer” for decades to come.
And it almost didn't happen.
In 2016 Fruitport voters passed a new, 3.9 30-year millage to build a new high school for the district. The millage however, barely passed with the difference coming down to just a couple hundred votes. District officials, who say a new educational space is so desperately needed, have made a number of efforts to show their gratitude to the voters, and this week invited local residents and students a chance to take a look inside.
“This project shows how supportive our community is of education and of the kids,” Fruitport Community Schools Superintendent Bob Syzmoniak said. “So the investment our community is making is really going to be profound. We want them to know that their money is being well spent. We have been really fiscally responsible, we are making sure this thing is as safe and secure and energy efficient as we can make it, and make it educationally sound.”
According the district, the high school comes equipped with a new state-of-the-art (nearly) 800 seat auditorium, a reimagined layout that places student safety as a top priority, and a modern design that will enable students of all levels the chance at a better education.
“Another aspect that I think is really cool is the fact there are a lot of flexible learning spaces,” Syzmoniak said. “So kids with different kinds of learning styles will really excel in this kind of environment.”
The three year construction project will be done in phases, with the overall school being completed in 2021. The total cost is nearly $50 million.