Thursday, April 4, 2013
The area will be off-limits to everyone.
Demolition is set to begin Monday for Baker Elementary School and Highland Middle School, according to an email from Huron Valley Schools. Fences will be erected around the properties and it is expected that heavy equipment will be on site beginning the week of April 8. According to the school district email, the demolition area is off-limits due to the fact that conditions will be unsafe for anyone other than those trained for this type of work. "We are asking for cooperation from our neighbors and others to ensure that only those with permission are on site," the email states. Due to declining enrollment and diminished state aid, the two schools were closed in 2011. The Board of Education then decided in December 2012 to demolish the …
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Former Highland Middle School staff member Mike MacGregor thanks school board for helping to sponsor the reunion photo event last week.
Dear Editor, The temperature was about 20. A cold wind was blowing out of the north at 15 miles per hour. For those who turned out for one last photo together at Highland Middle School last Friday, the frigid weather was viewed as just another typical early March day and would not be an obstacle to coming together one last time to mark the passing of Huron Valley’s most venerable school. Most citizens know that Huron Valley’s history goes directly through Highland Township School. Built in 1936, added onto in 1938, 1953 and again in 1964, it gave way to Highland Junior High in the 1960’s and then finally Highland Middle School in the 1970’s. We all know that in a few short weeks, our school will be lost to the wrecking ball and be gone …
Friday, March 1, 2013
Former students and staff gather for last photo and farewell to local school.
It was a reunion of sorts for many former staff and students of Highland Middle School who gathered Friday afternoon to say goodbye to the historic school. Greeted with smiles, hugs and laughter, more than 50 staff members showed up for a final picture in front of the school building that was built in 1936. After months of discussion, the middle school was approved for demolition by the Huron Valley School board and prep work and asbestos removal has already begun.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
A photo opportunity will take place on March 1, rain or shine, for Highland Middle School alumni.
In 1936, Highland Middle School opened its doors and over the next 75 years welcomed thousands of students and staff into its halls and classrooms, providing education, history and memories. On Friday, March 1 the Huron Valley Education Association is inviting back all alumni, students and staff, for one final picture in front of the historic building. The building was approved for demolition in December by the Huron Valley Schools board of education and demolition prep work and asbestos removal has already begun. A staff photo will take place at 4:30 p.m. in front of the old entrance on John St. with all former staff including bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, paras, teachers and administrators encouraged to attend. A student alumni …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The Highland Township Board will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Highland Township Hall.
The Highland Township Board of Trustees will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at 205 John Street to discuss several items. The Highland Middle School issue is expected to be discussed, along with other items Other items on the agenda include:
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The Highland Township Board unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday stating they have the $150,000 needed to save Highland Middle School, and they authorized Supervisor Rick Hamill to negotiate with Huron Valley Schools.
The Highland Township Board of Trustees will send a resolution to Huron Valley Schools Thursday morning that states they have the money Huron Valley Schools requested in order to save the Highland Middle School gym. In addition, the board has given Supervisor Rick Hamill permission to negotiate terms with the school district. "They said the ball was in our court Monday, well now the ball is in their court," Hamill said Wednesday night at a special meeting. Hamill said he and the township board hope that this new resolution will meet the monetary requirement the district requested Monday night, and allow the township and school district to meet and hammer out the details needed to move ahead and work to save the gym at Highland Middle …
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Highland Township will have to hold a special meeting this week to discuss committing $150,000 to save the Highland Middle School gym.
Despite a large showing of support by the Highland community last week to save the gym at Highland Middle School, the Huron Valley Schools Board of Education asked Highland Supervisor Rick Hamill to get the township to commit $150,000 to the the school district at Monday's school board meeting in order to save the building. School Board President Sean Carlson said he appreciated the show of support, but that the school board needed the monetary commitment in order to move forward with the township. The asbestos removal at the property is scheduled to be completed Feb. 14 or Feb. 15, so the time line for the township to commit the money is short. Following the asbestos removal, demolition of the building will begin March 1 unless the …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
A resolution will be given to Huron Valley Schools that states the community's support to save the Highland Middle School gym.
It was a packed room Wednesday night at the Highland Adult Activity Center as residents and the Highland Township Board of Trustees discussed how to save the Highland Middle School gymnasium. Supervisor Rick Hamill said the township, legally, can't invest taxpayer money into the project because the township won't have ownership of the building. Instead, the township is asking that the community help invest in the project - whether it's helping with landscaping or donating money. Earlier this month, Huron Valley Schools gave the township a chance to save the gym on the condition that the township finds a way to pay for the electric and water hookups, and the heating and cooling so that the building can stand on its own. Wednesday, residents…
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Supervisor Rick Hamill said the township will hold a special meeting to discuss saving the gym at Highland Middle School.
The following is from Highland Supervisor Rick Hamill. Time to do some real community involvement. I need a huge turn out on Wednesday, January 30, at 6:30 p.m. to meet at the Adult Activity Center next to the Highland Middle School Gym. There will be a tour of the gym for the public to help make the decision to save that structure. The Township Board has to be shown that there is real community interest in being partners in saving and using the gym and land for community use. This is a real investment in our community and I need your support to make it a reality. Please pass this information along to all that support this opportunity.
Friday, January 18, 2013
In a letter home to parent, Huron Valley Schools Superintendent Jim Baker said parents at Highland Elementary will notice work being done while getting students from school.
The following is a letter from Huron Valley School District Jim Baker. Dear Parent or Guardian: As you are aware, Highland Middle School has been shuttered since 2011. On Tuesday, January 15, the HVS Board of Education voted to move forward with asbestos abatement at Highland Middle. HVS has contracted with Quality Environmental Services for this project. It is anticipated that the removal will begin on the site on January 22. Therefore, you should expect to see activity in that area when you are dropping off or picking up your student. I want to assure you that air quality will be monitored continuously during the entire abatement process. Contiguous air samples (outside of the containment areas) will be run to ensure isolation during the…
Greg Soraruf
10:24 am on Monday, April 8, 2013
Yes it is sad to see that the school could not be reused for adaptive reuse project, but I'm grateful that its not going to be a charter school. As for the dust and demolition- the dust should be controlled by the contractor "most likely with water sprayed continuously during demolition activities". This will elevate dust from moving and accumulating. There should be a third party certified air … more ›