April 10, 2026

Latest Update

Work on the lane/access road has continued to move forward. Crews completed stripping topsoil, grading, and prep work for the new roadway and access roads, with additional grooming and scraping completed in the baseball/softball parking area. Drain field excavation and storm-related prep were also underway in support of the new parking lot and roadway work. Base gravel has now been placed on the lane as well, marking another important step in establishing the road base and moving the project closer to the next phase of construction.

Other Information/Reminders

Bid Package 1B carried an overall budget of $6.2 million, with the selected bid coming in approximately $200,000 under budget at $5.9 million. The work will be completed in two phases: Phase 1 will begin and be completed during the summer of 2026, with Phase 2 scheduled for the summer of 2027.

Planning accomplished in the redesign of the traffic flow in and around the middle and high school buildings. Based on observation and feedback, we feel we have the best plan possible to address safety and flow concerns. A few notables:

• Fully separate buses from carpool and staff traffic at both the middle and high schools
• Reconfigure the carpool traffic routes at both the middle and high schools
• Add needed parking in front of middle and high schools
• Add a through drive east to west for bus traffic to move within our district
• Open Holler Lane to all traffic coming in or out of the campus allowing for efficient flow
• NOTE: the removal of 4 current tennis courts will be needed to facilitate the bus lane behind the building due to grade and utilities limitations. As a reminder, 12 new courts will be constructed south of the stadium in bid package 4.

This spring and summer, Mattawan Consolidated School will advance with major components of our ongoing $110M school construction bond project!

😎During the summer of 2026 we will partner with Great Lakes Furniture Supply to install new furniture at both the middle school and high school—including new teacher workstations, key program supports (choir risers/chairs, music stands, robotics/STEM workstations), and a substantial refresh of high school student classroom furniture—completed under budget so building leaders could secure all identified high-priority items.

😎Phase 1 of Bid Package 1B (Traffic Flow) will be underway this spring. This will involved the construction of a new bus lane southside of the middle/high school as well as an access drive between the middle school and ball diamonds. The entire project came in about $200,000 under the $6.2M budget at $5.9M. Phase 2 is scheduled for summer 2027 and will address parking and carpool/traffic flow on the North side of the middle and high schools.

😎Construction progress continues on the new Transportation & Maintenance Facility, with work moving forward again this summer.

😎Phase two of our stadium enhancement scheduled to begin in the Summer of 2026, will include the addition of a new sound system, as well as the completion of the home bleacher facing (top portion).

😎Construction documents will wrap up this June for the New Cafeteria and Main Office project at the middle school. The projects will go out for bid after this!

Phase three will include the construction of a new entryway and concession on the south end of the current stadium, as well as cosmetic improvements to the current entryway on the North side of the stadium.

Construction continues to move forward steadily. Crews have installed exterior footings around the full perimeter of the building, completed the remaining foundation wall at the southeast corner of the office area, and finished the loading dock foundations. Exterior backfilling has now been completed around the perimeter, and a layer of stone has been added to support upcoming crane work. The team has also started installing underground electrical, and the temporary power inspection has been successfully passed. Next week, crews will continue electrical work, while Pioneer begins mobilization for the PEMB structure on Monday and Tuesday, with the full crew expected to be onsite beginning Wednesday. Coordination with AEP on permanent power will also continue.

Recap of Work Completed, Fall of 25

• New perimeter fencing
• Baseball infield sod with top dress and regrade of sand
• New outfield irrigation systems with field repairs as needed
• New windscreens

Issues Developed, Spring of 26

• The main cause of issues and delays can be attributed to the early onset of freezing temperatures this past fall, which caused the overseeding of the outfields and sod to go dormant earlier than anticipated, and to late-season frost, which prevented crews from starting work again this spring without causing further damage. We had frost as early as October and as late as the last week of March. Undoubtably, installing sod prior to October would have been more ideal.
• There was one particular stretch of outfield sod in center field that was inadequately placed. This has been corrected.
• Gaps under the fence’s bottom rails were too large.

Plan to Rectify

• The fence gaps have been corrected.
• An additional sand/soil mixture was spread across the baseball field over spring break, significantly reducing divots, valleys, mounds, etc. The necessary areas have been reseeded (not re-sodded).
• Timeline, weather permitting: baseball fields would be ready in May 2026.
• Windscreens are scheduled for installation prior to occupancy.
• A temporary bullpen mound will be purchased for use at temporary fields and at the home field.
• Until the home baseball field is playable, we will be utilizing the big field at the Little League complex for Varsity practices, JV practices, and JV games. A huge thank you to our friends from Mattawan Little League for their help with this assist! The district facility team will ensure that the Little League field is prepped and ready for each home game, practices, and has the equipment necessary to host a varsity-level practice, including a new portable pitching mound.

Varsity games are either being moved to opposing fields or will be hosted at other venues. The Varsity baseball game on 4/9 will be played at Kalamazoo Central. On 4/15, we will play both the Varsity and JV games at Robert J. Bobb Stadium on the campus of Western Michigan University! (Thank you, Broncos!) The Varsity will take the field at 4:00, and the JV will follow. An invitation to all to join in on this unique, memorable experience for our team.

Again, we sincerely thank you for your flexibility in this minor setback and appreciate your understanding as we navigate this situation!

Did you know?

• Current Maintenance Building will be demolished to make room for Natatorium/Field House

• Current Bus Barn will be maintained as a district storage facility

• New building will serve as primary hub for both maintenance and transportation departments

• Total Square Footage of new building: 24,554 sq ft

• Building Highlights:

• 4 drive through bus maintenance bays

• Dedicated parts room, wood shop and machine shop

• Dedicated, dehumidified district storage

• Locker rooms

• Kitchen

• Training room/lounge

• 4 offices with additional workstations for secretaries and maintenance staff

• Building Receiving Loading Dock

• 40 exterior bus parking spots

• Secured employee parking

• Exterior salt storage

General Information

Designed for efficiency, this 24,000-square-foot building will combine both departments, maximizing resources and making the best use of taxpayer dollars. It will include administrative offices, locker-and-shower facilities, and dedicated garage space for both transportation and maintenance teams. With four drive-through bays, our talented team of mechanics can now service buses more safely and efficiently, eliminating the need for backing in or out.

This new facility will also provide additional dry storage with a dock, streamlining district-wide deliveries and distribution. This investment ensures our district operates more effectively while supporting the vital work of our transportation and maintenance staff.

Tree Removal/Replacement & Disc Golf Course

The disc golf course on the west side of the high school was recently removed to prepare for construction of the new transportation and maintenance facility, slated to begin this winter. Approximately nine baskets and several trees were removed, a step the district did not take lightly. We recognize how meaningful this wooded space and recreational area have been for students and neighbors, and we share the disappointment that comes with altering a natural setting. Our team is working carefully to limit environmental impact and is committed to thoughtful tree replacement as part of the project. We are also exploring possibilities for relocating the disc golf course—potentially off campus—so the community can continue to enjoy the game in a new setting.

During the summer of 2026, Mattawan Consolidated School will partner with Great Lakes Furniture Supply to install new furniture in both the middle school and high school. Updates will include new teacher workstations at both buildings and select supporting furniture at each building, including choir risers and chairs, music stands, robotics/STEM workstations. Additionally the high school will be receiving a substantial amount of new student classroom furniture. This project was completed under budget, enabling building leaders to secure all items identified as high priorities while enhancing learning and instructional environments districtwide.

Click on the link below for more details.

Update on Progress

We moved from Schematic Design (last update) to Design development. Schematic design phase develops the 'big ideas' and gets them on paper, "what are we building and does it roughly fit together." Design Development turns the approved conceptual elements in a coordinated, buildable design.

Archived Information on this Project

The middle school project is currently in the schematic design phase. Many broad design elements are coming together and still very fluid and not permanent at this time.

During the pre-bond discussion, there was talk about the construction of a new cafeteria. After much research and study of the current floorplan and needs within the middle school, an exciting, new concept is emerging: renovating and expanding the current cafeteria and the construction of a new main office.

Cafeteria Improvements

The updated cafeteria design focuses on improving student experience, operational efficiency, and community use. Key benefits include:

• Expanded seating capacity for approximately 400 students, allowing for more flexible scheduling and improved comfort.

• Dedicated serving and preparation spaces, improving meal service flow and overall functionality.

• Centralized location adjacent to the main office to enhance safety and supervision during the school day.

• Proximity to the front of the building, providing convenient access for after-hours and community events.

Main Office Relocation and Redesign

The new main office layout strengthens security, improves daily workflow, and better serves students and families. The redesign includes:

• More efficient staff workflow through a centralized, connected layout.

• Integration of “The Den” and student resource areas directly within the office suite for easier access and support.

• Improved health room design to provide enhanced privacy, accessibility, and student care.

• Consolidation of essential services—placing all administrative and student support functions in one area rather than two.

• Dedicated receiving area to streamline deliveries for operations and food service, reducing congestion and improving building safety.
  
  

Summary

This design revision supports the district’s goals of maximizing existing resources, enhancing safety and efficiency, and improving both student and community experiences. By renovating and expanding the current spaces, the district achieves a more functional, secure, and cost-effective solution that supports long-term operational excellence.

Note below: green shading is the proposed new cafeteria footprint; blue is the new main office construction; purple is the current students' services office. The stand-alone area is 'The Den.'

This project involves construction of a new 80,000+ sq/ft natatorium and athletic fieldhouse that will serve as a year-round hub for student athletics and community use. Designed as a standalone facility within the existing athletic complex, it will support swimming, indoor training, and outdoor sports while providing improved access, parking, and connectivity to nearby fields, courts, and the stadium.

The facility will include a competition pool with spectator seating, locker and changing rooms, and spaces for school. The fieldhouse will house a multi-sport turf field, training areas, and support spaces that enhance both athletic performance and event use. Additional amenities will support stadium events and broader athletic programming.

Architecturally, the building is intended to have a strong, welcoming identity that complements existing facilities, featuring transparent elements, durable materials, and prominent district branding. An adjacent athletic entry plaza will serve as a ceremonial arrival space and community gathering area.

The work captured in this bond is broken down into bid packages. For example, the work described above is in Bid Package 1A - the very first bid package. Upcoming bid packages are outlined below with tentative timelines.

2024

• Summer 2024

  • ✅COMPLETE Owner Direct – Replace Existing Soccer Lights

  • ✅COMPLETE Owner Direct – Technology Infrastructure (Switches, Wireless, HS Fiber Upgrades)

• Fall 2024

  • ✅COMPLETE Owner Direct – Student Device Replacement Phase 1

Winter 2025

• ✅COMPLETE Owner Direct – Student Device Replacement Phase 2

2025

• March – August 2025

  • ✅COMPLETE - Bid Package 1A – Football Stadium: Inner Scope

• Summer 2025

  • ✅COMPLETE- Bid Package 1C – Baseball & Softball Field Improvements

  • ✅COMPLETE Bid Package 1D – HS Replace Fire Alarm System

  • ✅COMPLETE Bid Package 1E – HS Carpet Replacement

• Fall 2025

  • ✅UNDERWAY- Bid Package 1F – HS Gymnasium Cooling

  • ✅SOURCING MATERIALS Owner Direct – Auditorium (Band Shell, Pit Section, Lighting, Stage Floor, A/V, Curtain)

• Nov 2025 – Oct 2026

  • ✅UNDERWAY Bid Package 2 – Transportation & Maintenance Facility

2026

• March – September 2026

  • ✅PROJECT UNDERWAY - Bid Package 1B – Campus Traffic Flow

• Sept 2026 – March 2028

  • ✅DESIGN PHASE UNDERWAY - Bid Package 4 – Field House

  • ✅DESIGN PHASE UNDERWAY - Bid Package 4 – Natatorium

• ✅Owner Direct – SOURCING MATERIALS: Summer 2026

2027

• Summer 2027

  • Bid Package 3 – MS Upgrade Domestic Water Heaters

  • Bid Package 3 – MS Replace Fire Alarm System

  • Bid Package 3 – MS Replace Building Temperature Controls

  • Bid Package 3 – MS Replace Chiller & Associated Pumps

  • Bid Package 3 – MS Replace Boiler & Associated Pumps

  • Bid Package 3 – MS Add 3rd Boiler for Redundancy

  • Bid Package 3 – MS Classroom Wing Security Doors

  • Bid Package 6 – Upgrade Domestic Water Heaters

  • Bid Package 6 – Upgrade ECEC Gym AHUs to Include Cooling

• March – August 2027

  • Bid Package 4 – Tennis Court Facility

• June 2026 – August 2027 (overlapping start)

  • DESIGN PHASE - Bid Package 3 – MS Cafeteria Renovation

• Sept 2027 – March 2028

  • Bid Package 6 – HS Weight Room Addition

2028

• March – August 2028

  • Bid Package 6 – HS Locker Room Renovation

• June 2026 – August 2028 (overlapping start)

  • DESIGN PHASE - Bid Package 3 – MS Front Office Expansion

• Summer 2028

  • Bid Package 1B – Stadium Press Box Upgrades

  • Bid Package 5 – MS Replace Interior Lighting to LED

  • Bid Package 5 – MS Replace Ceiling Tiles (with Lighting Replacement)

  • Bid Package 5 – MS Replace Corridor Lockers

  • Bid Package 5 – MS Renovate Science Labs (6th & 7th Grade)

  • Bid Package 5 – MS Renovate Toilet Rooms

  • Bid Package 6 – HS Auditorium Exterior Upgrades

  • Bid Package 6 – HS Exterior Masonry Upgrades (@Entry Canopies)

  • Bid Package 6 – HS Replace Interior Lighting to LED

  • Bid Package 6 – HS Renovate Toilet Rooms

  • Bid Package 6 – HS Renovate Science Labs

  • Bid Package 6 – HS Replace Building Temperature Controls

  • Bid Package 7 – Practice Fields

  • Bid Package 7 – Baseball & Softball Upgrades

• March – August 2028

  • TBD – Multipurpose/Soccer Competition Field

TBD

• Owner Direct – Replace Security Cameras

• Owner Direct – Technology District Wide: Classroom Upgrades

• Owner Direct – Technology District Wide: Large Spaces (Gymnasium A/V)

• Bid Package 7 – Football Stadium: Outer Scope / Entry

• Additional bus purchasing

Our focus revolves around five key objectives for the bond:

1. Preserve existing assets
2. Prioritize safety and security
3. Provide future-focused academic and extracurricular experiences for our students
4. Enhance infrastructure
5. Demonstrate fiscal responsibility

Safety & Security:

• Addressing traffic congestion, lack of parking spaces, and separation of traffic and busing through enhancements
• Replacement of outdated, unreliable security equipment at each building

Transportation:

• Continued replacement of an aging bus fleet

Academic Learning Spaces + Experience:

• Replacement of original, aged classroom equipment and furniture at middle and high schools
• Updates to original, outdated science areas at middle and high schools (excluding the newly renovated portions) to ensure students have state of the art experiences.

Fine Arts:

• Upgrades to lighting and media equipment at the high school auditorium

Infrastructure:

• Replacement of original, outdated lockers, bathrooms, various ceilings, and lighting at middle and high schools
• Renovations to high school weight room including expansion to address overcrowding and scheduling issues for student-athletes and physical education courses
• Upgrade of aged building controls at middle and high schools (water, fire, HVAC, etc.) to provide the most efficient and safe environmental controls
• Addition of cooling to main gymnasiums at the high school

Student Athletic Experience:

• Renovation of aged high school locker rooms
• Renovation of the high school stadium, including artificial turf, new entryways, expanded concessions
• New high school track - the current track is backwards and nearly unusable in the current condition
• Upgrades to baseball and softball fields
• Construction of a new multi-use turf field (soccer, lacrosse, football)
• Maintenance of existing practice fields; addition of a new outdoor practice space

Other Construction:

• Addressing overcrowding in the current Middle School cafeteria
• Replacement of aged, quickly deteriorating tennis courts
  
• Replacement of aged transportation building and maintenance building
• Construction of a fieldhouse facility for indoor practice teams/band to address lack of 12-month practice space; available for community use
• Construction of a student/community pool

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