More than $36 million in building upgrades and energy improvements are coming to Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) properties over the next two years after trustees unanimously approved a contract with Trane U.S. – a project Superintendent Dr. John VanWagoner said will keep students “safe, warm, and dry” across the district. Trustees also approved accepting a $550,000 cash offer for the former Bertha Vos Elementary School, which – if the deal closes – will see the building demolished and the property converted to a park.

Energy Upgrades
Voter approval in August of a $180 million TCAPS capital bond proposal has cleared the way for the district to begin tackling a number of major infrastructure projects, starting with a $36.3 million contract with Trane U.S. to upgrade boilers, plumbing, lighting, HVAC system controls, building envelopes, and more across 20 schools and facilities. LED lighting improvements are also planned at Thirlby Field under the contract, which includes a 10 percent contingency cost.

The infrastructure upgrades are expected to generate annual savings of over $383,000, plus operational savings over $145,000 and utility rebates totaling more than $158,000. Board President Scott Newman-Bale said the project is a “win-win” because it will make needed repairs across district schools under a contract that has a performance guarantee for long-term savings due to energy upgrades. “We spend this much money, and we save more than this much money in savings over the life (of the project),” he said. VanWagoner said other school districts that have undertaken such energy improvement projects have “saved quite a bit more than what their guarantee was.”

Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Christine Thomas-Hill said TCAPS worked “directly with Trane to analyze our district building by building and what the needs were.” Trane will have an on-site project manager stationed in Traverse City to oversee work, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. That timeline is “aggressive,” Thomas-Hill acknowledged, “but I think because they are hiring multiple local contractors it can be done.”

Most lighting work will be done on second and third shifts to avoid impacting daily TCAPS operations. The boiler at Northwest Education Services/Oak Park – one of the oldest in the district – will be replaced next summer, which will require that facility’s summer programming to be relocated to another TCAPS property next year. In addition to being more energy-efficient, boiler upgrades will also allow several buildings to activate ice melt systems under their entryways and create safer entrances, staff said.

Planning for numerous other bond projects is also underway, with work expected to move forward on many in 2025. Upcoming projects include bleacher upgrades at multiple schools, a classroom/cafeteria addition at Traverse Heights, and permanent walls to create dedicated music rooms at TCAPS elementary schools (secondary school music upgrades will follow). The district will launch a two-year renovation of the entrance at West Senior High, reworking the traffic circulation and eliminating one of two traffic lights at the site. Restrooms renovations and a track/tennis ticket booth are also planned at West. TCAPS is in the process of securing an architect for Central High School improvements, including gym renovations and the relocation of the main office.

Sabin renovations are also on the list. That project is on a “critical timeline” because the TCAPS administrative staff will move from Glenn Loomis to Sabin so that Central Grade School students can occupy Glenn Loomis while their school is under reconstruction, Thomas-Hill said. The renovation of Central Grade has been a long-discussed TCAPS project and was a major part of the capital bond proposal. Thomas-Hill outlined a lengthy process for tackling Central Grade, including issuing a request-for-proposals (RFP) for engineering services, holding community input/visioning sessions, and reviewing sustainability, historical preservation, energy efficiency, and building code elements while creating the new school design.

“There’s a lot to consider,” Thomas-Hill said, adding that Central Grade has been “grandfathered (in) for quite some time” and will have to undergo “drastic changes” to meet modern code and ADA requirements. She estimated construction could take two to three years. Though a complex project, VanWagoner pointed out that redesigning Central Grade – the largest and oldest school in the district – will also save TCAPS considerable money over time thanks to modern efficiencies. “You can just fathom the amount of savings in that building,” he said, adding those savings would be above and beyond those generated by the Trane project.

With so much discussion about capital bond projects, TCAPS trustees wanted to ensure the public understood that the district’s upcoming operating millage renewal on the November 5 ballot is a separate proposal that will fund the district’s operating budget. That millage would continue the current 18-mill rate – which TCAPS is required to levy by the state – and would provide 60 percent of the district’s budget for the next decade. The millage is only levied on commercial properties and second homes, not primary residences. “We would not be able to open our doors if it didn’t pass,” Thomas-Hill said.

Bertha Vos
After multiple previous offers for the former Bertha Vos Elementary School (pictured) fell through or were withdrawn due to neighbor opposition – including the most recent bid from autism services provider North Arrow ABA – TCAPS trustees voted to accept a $550,000 cash offer for the property from buyer Jason Schreiber. The deal could close in a matter of weeks if an environmental assessment requested by the buyer doesn’t turn up any issues.

Realtor Scott Hardy of Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors said the deal terms require Schreiber to demolish the school building within five years. Hardy said Schreiber then intends to leave the property as a public park, though he retains the legal right to do something else in the future. “Once he's torn the building down, he's sitting on a piece of vacant land,” Hardy said. “It doesn't mean he can't at some point in the future decide to build something or sell it, but whatever they do then has to adhere to whatever the zoning regulations are in Acme Township.” VanWagoner said neighboring homeowners told him they were supportive of Schreiber purchasing the site.

Photo credit: Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors