How to Recycle an Elementary School

The site of the new Maple Grove Township Community Center

Communities respond to dwindling headcounts and aging infrastructure

By Jillian Manning

What do you do when a school building gets too old or out of date? What about when there aren’t enough students to fill the classrooms? These questions are becoming more common across northern Michigan, and we’ve seen elementary schools have to make major changes to adapt to failing infrastructure and shifts in the youth population.

Some of those major changes are coming to Harbor Springs, where residents recently voted yes on a $41.85 million bond proposal connected to Harbor Springs Public Schools (HSPS). The proposal—put forth after a 2019 facilities audit—includes remodels and expansions for the middle school and high school facilities and improvements to Ottawa Stadium and the district’s community pool.

The bond funds also service two important updates on the elementary side. One is the construction of a new K-4 elementary school to replace the aging Shay Elementary building, which was built in 1954. The plan is to demolish the existing school for a total rebuild on the same site.

“It really has outlived its usable life as far as school is concerned,” says Michael Behrmann, HSPS superintendent.

Currently, HSPS operates two elementary schools: Blackbird Elementary, which houses grades K-1, and Shay, which houses grades 2-4. The new version of Shay would bring all of those students under one roof, making the district’s elementary operations far more efficient.

“We would relocate all of Shay’s present students to any open space, including at Harbor Springs Middle School and Blackbird Elementary,” Behrmann says. “We would have to relocate them for probably what would amount to two school years so that the present building could be demolished and a new one built in the present location.”

Blackbird—the second piece of the puzzle—will then get new life as an early childhood center. The bond will fund renovations to the school to keep it open for childcare and preschool students, which Behrmann says there is a great need for in the community.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO WITH AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL?

Other Up North towns have faced similar needs for improvements (or shrinking numbers) which have brought about the closure of schools rather than rebuilds. On the bright side, though the doors may have closed on one chapter, several former elementary schools have been repurposed to serve the community. Let’s take a look at a few that have completed their metamorphosis, as well as those still waiting to sprout their wings and fly.

Kaleva Elementary School > Maple Grove Township Community Center

This Manistee school sat vacant for 13 years before Maple Grove Township stepped in last year, eyeing the property for a new gathering spot in the community.

“The township board decided that anything that was to promote health or well-being or education for the community, [would have] free occupancy in the building,” says Cynthia Asiala, committee chair of the new Maple Grove Township Community Center.

In January, the doors opened to offer residents an indoor walking space (think mall walking in a new setting), and—after some major elbow grease was applied by volunteers—there are now open gym nights and exercise classes offered in the gym. Artists have begun to use the school as well; classes on jewelry, mosaics, sewing, photography, and cooking have popped up inside, with more to come this summer. Asiala notes that to date, all of the programs have been offered free of charge.

Longer-term partnerships are forming in the space, with Bethany Lutheran Church’s food pantry moving in as one of the first full-time tenants, followed by offices for the Village of Kaleva and Maple Grove Township. A permanent art room has also been established, while other makers and classes rotate in and out. Asiala says that the Michigan State Police are considering having a station at the Community Center.

This spring and summer, plenty of new opportunities and ideas are brewing, from programs for kiddos 0-8 held by the Great Start Collaborative to a babysitting certification class offered by a local 4-H group. Asiala hints at a possible community garden, as well as future improvements to the nearby playground and softball fields.

“I have to give full credit to the township for being willing to take the risk,” she says. “So far, [the reaction from the community] is totally positive. Everyone who comes in is amazed at what shape [the building] is in and what we’ve done already to get it in use.”

Shay Elementary School in Harbor Springs

Norris Elementary > Grand Traverse Regional Arts Campus / Gateway Center

Seven years ago, the former Norris Elementary School on the corner of Cherry Bend and M22 was transformed into what is interchangeably called the Grand Traverse Regional Arts Campus or the Gateway Center, the latter for its position as the gateway between Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties.

Inside, classrooms have become art studios for painting, photography, and more. While there’s no longer a rope climb or a game of dodgeball afoot, you can still get a workout at New Moon Yoga Studio or Gateway Fitness Gym. Two local business and tourism drivers—Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail and the Leelanau Chamber of Commerce—also call the building home.

There is even still a connection to education, though now it comes in the form of adult learning. Agape Health Care Schools has its Traverse City office on site, offering training classes for nurse aides, pharmacy techs, EMTs, first responders, and folks looking to brush up on CPR and first aid.

Oak Park > Bridgeway

Some locations, like Traverse City Area Public Schools’ Oak Park Elementary, have risen entirely from the ashes, switching gears from being a traditional K-6 to serve another segment of our students—in this case, children with autism.

Oak Park closed in 2007, but today is the main campus of Northwest Education Services’ Bridgeway program. The program, designed for students with autism spectrum disorder, has a class size of just 4-6 students and emphasizes individual student needs when it comes to the education experience. NorthEd leases the building from TCAPS and employs not only teachers and teaching assistants but also occupational therapists, physical therapists, school social workers, speech and language pathologists, and school psychologists.

Interlochen Community School > Back Under the Interlochen Umbrella

You’ve almost certainly seen this school in the news in the last year. Interlochen Center for the Arts (ICA) had leased the school to TCAPS in 1950 for “public school purposes,” but a dispute over the property arose after TCAPS discontinued operations in 2016. Hope sparked for the school from 2017 to 2019 when it was used for a homeschool program, but funding issues with the Michigan Department of Education brought that to a halt. In 2020, ICA decided they wanted Interlochen Community School back, and—after some legal proceedings— got their wish.

So what’s the plan now? For starters, the school is on deck to host ICA’s Arts Discovery Day Camp this summer. A joint press release from ICA and TCAPS released in March also mentioned that ICA has “begun exploring the feasibility of utilizing part of the Interlochen Community School property for a much-needed daycare,” and that other options being considered “include after-school extracurricular arts programs for Traverse City-area children, early education programs, joint programming with the Interlochen Public Library, and arts classes for adults through Interlochen College of Creative Arts.”

may saturday BAYSHORE MARATHON, 28 HALF MARATHON, 10K & KIDS FUN RUN: NMC, TC. Enjoy the scenic courses which run along the shores of Grand Traverse Bay. The Full Marathon starts at 7:15am; the 10K (Sold out!) & Half Marathon (Sold out!) at 7:30am, & the Kids Fun Run at 1pm. Half Marathon racers will be bused out to the start at Devil’s Dive Rd. For more info, prices & to register, visit: runsignup.com/bayshore. ----------------------

STAFFORD’S TOP OF MICHIGAN FES-

TIVAL OF RACES: 7:30am, Bayfront Park, Lime Kiln Kid’s Fishing Pier, Bayfront Dr., Petoskey. Choose from a half marathon, 10K or 5K. runsignup.com/Race/MI/Petoskey/ TopofMichiganFestivalofRaces ----------------------

CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY: 11am-2pm, Kiwanis Park, Harbor Springs. Create art from nature, tree climb with the City Arborist (18+), kids can make a bird feeder, get free white pine seedlings & more. ----------------------

4 SEASON EQUINE ASSOCIATION OPEN HORSE SHOW: 8:30am, Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds, TC. A twoday exhibition featuring English equitation & Western pleasure riding including showmanship, jumping & riding competitions. Free. 4seasonequine.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/3/8/123808393/4_sea_2022_4.pdf ----------------------

BIRD HIKE AT CHARTER SANCTUARY:

8:30-10am, Charter Sanctuary Discovery Center, Omena. Presented by Saving Birds through Habitat. You may encounter a number of bird species including the Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting & Ruby-throated Hummingbird on this guided hike. Must reserve your spot: 231-271-3738. Free. savingbirds.org ----------------------

ARTS & TREASURES: 9am-3pm, Village Arts Building, Northport. Shop the collection of original art, vintage jewelry, pottery, sculptures, records, artisan works & much more. Benefits the Northport Arts Association. northportartsassociation.org ----------------------

FAMILY FUN DAY: 9am-4pm, Lake Ann Camp, 18400 Maple St., Lake Ann. Tour the grounds, meet staff & preview activities planned for the summer. Enjoy horse carriage rides, disc golf, archery tag, pontoon boat rides, a zipline & more. Lunch available for $5. Free. lakeanncamp.com/summer-camp/programs ----------------------

THE FRIENDS OF INTERLOCHEN PUBLIC LIBRARY PLANT & FLOWER SALE:

9am-2pm. Located in the parking lot across from Tom’s Food Market, Interlochen. Baskets, flats of annuals, perennials & more. Proceeds support Interlochen Public Library programming. interlochenpubliclibrary.org ----------------------

59TH ANNUAL FORT MICHILIMACKINAC

PAGEANT: Colonial Michilimackinac, Mackinaw City, May 28-30. Over 400 cast members will re-create events that took place between the French, British & Indian tribes on June 2, 1763. Visitors will meet famous Indian Chiefs. Free. mackinacparks.com/parksand-attractions/colonial-michilimackinac ----------------------

CARS IN THE PARK: 10am-3pm, Haserot Park, Northport. This year’s show honors its founder, the late George Irvine. Free. northportcarsinthepark.com ----------------------

ELK RAPIDS ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW:

10am-4pm, Downtown Elk Rapids, River St. More than 50 artisans & crafters displaying & selling their works. Free. elkrapidschamber. org/arts-crafts-show INSPIRATION DAY: 10am, InterQuilten, TC. Inspiration for Quilters & Sewists. See new projects, demonstrations & show-n-tell. Register. $5 per person. interquilten.com/ classes--clubs.htm ----------------------

MADE IN CHEBOYGAN SUMMER CRAFT

SHOW: 10am-5pm, Washington Park, Cheboygan. facebook.com/madeincheboygan OPEN STUDIO: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Room, Petoskey. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ open-studio-may-28 ----------------------

DROP-IN ART DAYS: 10:30am-1:30pm, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. From pinecone art to pressed wildflowers to writing haiku, join the Art Park every weekend for new projects. Free with paid admission (adults, $5; children, free). michlegacyartpark.org/calendarof-events ----------------------

LAYING OF THE LILACS: 11am, Benzonia Township Cemetery, Benzonia. Local violinists Dorothy Byers & Rob Jones will play “Ashokan Farewell,” the de facto theme song for the Ken Burns The Civil War miniseries. Society historian & curator Jane Purkis & Civil War buff Dave Jackson, a FrankfortElberta High School social studies studies teacher, will read letters between a Civil War soldier at the “front” & his wife back home. Following the program, Purkis will lead a tombstone cleaning workshop, focusing on the graves of veterans. Bring a cleaning kit consisting of a bucket, a natural stiff brush, a toothbrush, a trowel, trash bag & plastic or wood scraper. benziemuseum.org ----------------------

SPIRIT OF THE NORTH HIKE: 11am, Goodhart Farms Nature Preserve, trailhead, Harbor Springs. Presented by Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Petoskey. The hike is kid friendly. Well behaved & leashed dogs are also welcome. 231-347-2350. Free. eecpetoskey.org/News-Events/Calendar/ctl/ViewEvent/mid/416/OccuranceId/1111 ----------------------

STROLLING INTO SUMMER: 11am3:30pm, Downtown Gaylord. Celebrating 100 Years of Community. Live music by Jaden Mason, Tom Kellogg, Steve Diebel, Sandra Kennedy, LeeAnne Whitman, Bruce Walker & many others. There will also be a farmers market, pop up art, live figure drawing, mural painting demonstrations & activities, an interactive experience with actors portraying city founders, & much more. gaylordarts.org/strolling-into-summer.html ----------------------

BOOK SIGNING: Noon, Horizon Books, TC. Doug Stanton will sign copies of his updated & revised edition of his title “In Harm’s Way.” Originally published in 2002, this edition has a new chapter added. horizonbooks.com/ event/book-signing-doug-stanton-harmsway-revised-edition ----------------------

MACKINAW CITY MEMORIAL DAY PARADE: 1pm; starts at the Straits State Harbor on S. Huron Ave., turns west on Central Ave., turns north on Nicolet St., & ends in front of the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. ----------------------

NORTHERN MICHIGAN REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CANDIDATES DEBATE:

3-5pm, Park Place Hotel & Conference Center, TC. Eric Lloyd of 9and10News.com is the debate moderator. Immediately following the debate there will be a 90 minute meet & greet with the governor contenders & many candidates who are on this year’s ballot, running for many state & local offices. Presented by Citizens Liberating Michigan, Stand Up Michigan-Charlevoix County, Stand Up Michigan-Emmet County, & conservatives in Northern Lower Michigan. Free; tickets required. NMiDebate.com

may/june 28-05

send your dates to: events@traverseticker.com

Kick-yer-Assparagus 5K Fun Run & Walk is the way to kick off the 2022 Empire Asparagus Festival on Sat., June 4 at 10am at the Empire public beach! Bring your favorite asparagus dish and recipe to Empire Township Hall at noon for the Recipe Contest, followed by your asparagus-inspired poem at Ode to Asparagus at the Glen Lake Community Library at 2pm. Asparagus Eats will also be running from 12-6pm on Front St. with food vendors, local breweries and live music by 5th Gear Band and Amelia Vanderberg. empirechamber.com

MICHIGAN BEER AND BRAT FESTIVAL:

4pm, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Enjoy live entertainment while sampling a big selection of Michigan’s microbrews, meads, hard ciders, wine, liquor & gourmet brats from northwest Michigan markets. VIP: $75; General Admission: $50 before May 27. crystalmountain.com/event/beerfest ----------------------

CHERRY CAPITAL COMIC CON: 5pm, GT Resort & Spa, Acme. Connect with comic creators at a variety of panels, meet up-andcoming talent in Artist’s Alley, find deals on comics & collectibles at this gathering of exhibitors, participate in costume contests & more. Visit web site for a full schedule & tickets. cherrycapitalcon.com ----------------------

LELAND AIR 2022: 6:30pm, Old Art Building, Leland. Artists will paint & draw scenes around Leelanau County ‘en plein air,’ then, hours later, all of their completed “fresh off the easel” pieces will be hung out for the Leland Air Exhibit. All artwork will be available for sale. Exhibit will run May 29 - June 2, 11am-4pm. $30. oldartbuilding.com ----------------------

CHICAGO: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. In jazz-age Chicago, two rival vaudevillian murderesses vie to be represented by the same sleazy lawyer. In so doing, they hope to not only avoid the hangman’s noose but win their freedom while becoming “celebrity criminals” to pave their way back to vaudeville, fame, & fortune. Adults, $28; youth under 18, $15 (plus fees). tickets. oldtownplayhouse.com/TheatreManager/1/ login&event=360

may sunday BIRD WALK WITH GRAND 29 TRAVERSE AUDUBON CLUB: 7:30am. Join Kirk Waterstripe from the Grand Traverse Audubon Club for a birding experience designed for those just getting started, or wanting to polish their skills around the Boardman Lake. Meet in the Grand Traverse Area Children’s Garden, directly behind the Traverse Area District Library, TC. Dress for the weather & wear your walking shoes. Free. events.tadl.org/events/bird-walk-grand-traverse-audubon-club ----------------------

NORTH MITTEN HALF MARATHON/10K/5K/1 MILE FUN RUN: 8am, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. The Half Marathon course is a variety of trail, country roads & pavement. A portion of the proceeds benefit North Sky Raptor Sanctuary. Starts at $30. runsignup.com/northmitten ----------------------

4 SEASON EQUINE ASSOCIATION OPEN

HORSE SHOW: (See Sat., May 28) ----------------------