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Facilities » Willowcreek Middle School Construction Project

Willowcreek Middle School Construction Project

The Portage Township School Board of Trustees is considering approval of a Mortgage Lease Bond to fund facility improvement projects within the district. The largest of the projects to be completed with this bond is the construction of a new Willowcreek Middle School for Portage Township students. 
 
Portage Township residents will not see an increase in property tax rates as a result of this project. Thanks to long-term planning practices by our district's finance department, superintendent, and School Board, the bond will keep tax rates steady within our district. The bond will finance the Willowcreek Middle School Construction Project as well as other projects throughout our district in the future.
 
Project Rationale
Why Willowcreek Middle School? The building has served us well throughout the years and has also worn many labels. What first began as Central Elementary School, consisting of just the A Hallway portion of the building, the building eventually grew to become Portage High School until 1979 when the new high school was built on Route 6. At that time, the building on the corner of Willowcreek and Central became Willowcreek Middle School. That's a lot of history and a lot of years of service. After comparing options for renovation and the cost of constructing a new building, the most cost-effective and long-term option was to build a new school.
 
The Willowcreek Middle School Construction Project will address the following:
  • Aging infrastructure
  • Meeting the diverse and unique needs of our student population
  • Upgrading classrooms and technology that meets today's curricular standards
  • Improving common areas to best serve our students
 
Building on Tradition
We also understand that the school has sentimental value for many of our residents and Portage graduates. Our intention is ensure that care is taken to preserve the traditions that so many value. We will have more information on how we will honor these traditions throughout the project. 
 
Timeline for Project Completion
Currently, the School Board of Trustees has taken the first step in approving the Mortgage Lease Bond to finance the project. Once contracts have been awarded and a complete plan for the project has been developed, we will provide a timeline with monthly updates.
 
The PTS School Board has not approved financing at this point. After several more public meetings, the Board will consider adopting a resolution to issue bonds and enter into a lease for the project.
 
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! We will be hosting a community event so that students, staff, families, residents, and Portage graduates can tour the new Willowcreek Middle School. Details on the event will be shared closer to the project completion date.
The PTS School Board of Trustees has approved a Mortgage Lease Bond. Money from this bond will provide the financial support needed for the project.
No. Thanks to future planning done by our finance department, the Mortgage Lease Bond will not have an impact on our resident's property taxes. Using bonds in the right way helps us keep tax rates steady for our residents.
The proposed drawings for the building have not yet been approved. Once we have approved the entire project and have finalized the building renderings, we will share them here on our website.
Yes. We are currently working through plans that will allow for the continuation of learning while construction of the new school takes place. Those plans will be shared once they are finalized.
Once the project details have been finalized and approved, we will post a general timeline of project completion here on our website.
Under the proposed plan, Aylesworth Elementary School will be demolished and the property used for a portion of the new Willowcreek Middle School. This will take the total number of elementary schools from 8 to 7.
One of the goals of the project is to create more equitable school and class sizes throughout the district. There is an enrollment difference among our elementary schools with some having significantly more or less students than others. Our intent is to have schools with similar enrollments and class sizes. Going from 8 elementary schools to 7 will not overcrowd our schools or classrooms; instead, it will allow for a more fair distributions of class and school sizes throughout PTS.
Under the current plans, Fegely Middle School will become an intermediate school, housing all students in grades 5 and 6. Willowcreek will remain as a middle school, housing grades 7 and 8.
We are currently in the very early stages of the planning process. Families will receive communications from the district with advance notice of any significant changes to their child's school.