Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) trustees voted unanimously Monday to authorize staff to negotiate a deal to sell the former Bertha Vos Elementary School to North Arrow ABA, a local business providing autism services to children. North Arrow offered $700,000 for the property; a final purchase agreement would still need to come back to the board for approval. Trustees Monday also approved a resolution to put a renewal of the district’s 10-year operating millage on the November ballot and discussed next steps for a $180 million capital bond approved by voters last week.

Bertha Vos Sale
After multiple potential buyers fell through for the former Bertha Vos Elementary School on Shore Road in Acme Township, TCAPS Superintendent Dr. John VanWagoner expressed optimism Monday that the district might have a winning proposal from North Arrow ABA.

North Arrow – which occupies another former TCAPS elementary school, Norris Elementary, in addition to clinical centers in Petoskey, Cheboygan, Grayling, and Cadillac – provides autism therapy services to “children as young as 18 months through young adulthood and beyond,” according to the company’s website. North Arrow submitted a $700,000 offer for the Bertha Vos property to TCAPS Realtor Scott Hardy of Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors, which was forwarded to trustees Friday.

“They have a ton of people that need services, and they’ve run out of room,” VanWagoner told the board. “They have a lot (of clients) coming from the Kalkaska/Acme/Elk Rapids area. They really would like to do an east-end-of-the-county program.”

TCAPS has entertained previous offers for the property, ranging from $600,000 from Acme Township to $1.225 million from Strathmore Real Estate Group. Those deals have fallen through for a variety of reasons, ranging from challenges with the building’s condition to neighborhood opposition to development plans. TCAPS had the property listed for $725,000 last year, but more recently upped the price to $1 million.

VanWagoner said it was possible North Arrow would go higher than $700,000 in its final offer but was awaiting inspection results first. VanWagoner said the company was also willing to entertain discussions with neighbors about carving off a few acres for use as a public park – another factor that could impact the final sale price. Some neighbors asked TCAPS trustees last month for time to put together their own offer, but VanWagoner said nothing has been submitted. However, VanWagoner was hopeful that between offering child-oriented services, working with a group that’s already had experience taking over a former TCAPS elementary school, and potentially creating a public park, the North Arrow deal could be a “win-win” for the community and TCAPS. VanWagoner also mentioned the potential of the park being dedicated to the Hoxsie family and pioneering resident Bertha Hoxsie Vos, noting that “the district at one point did get that (property) free” from the family.

Multiple trustees expressed support. “I think it makes sense,” said Trustee Beth Pack, while President Scott Newman-Bale said he was “happy when I saw the offer and the backstory.” Trustee Erica Moon Mohr agreed: “I do think it’s what we have been looking for.” Board Secretary Josey Ballenger said the proposal “could check a lot of boxes,” but pointed out that TCAPS was coming down from a previous $1.225 million cash offer to a $700,000 bid. She encouraged VanWagoner to negotiate for the best deal possible. “Because we have so few precious assets to offload ourselves, it’d be nice if we could get the fair market value,” she said, noting the proceeds could be used to directly benefit TCAPS students.

Operating Millage/Bond
TCAPS trustees approved a resolution to put a renewal of the district’s 10-year operating millage on the November ballot. TCAPS is required to levy the 18 mills non-homestead tax – which applies only to second homes and commercial properties, not primary residences – in order to receive its per-pupil funding from the state of Michigan. The authorization, which makes up a significant portion of the district’s operational budget, would cover a 10-year period from 2026 to 2035.

The operational millage is distinctly different from the capital bond proposal just approved by voters last week, which maintained a 3.1-mill rate on homeowners to raise $180 million in the coming decade for projects including the reconstruction of Central Grade School, bus replacements, technology upgrades, learning space enhancements, and infrastructure renovations across multiple schools including roofs, boilers, septic systems, stormwater drainage, and water heaters.

VanWagoner told trustees Monday that staff are preparing to give an extensive overview in October of next steps with the bond, including a map/timeline of projects and funding options for addressing energy efficiency projects. TCAPS has been working with the company Trane on a plan to make energy upgrades districtwide with a guaranteed savings performance. That approach, under which the upgrades would essentially pay for themselves over time, would be used in conjunction with bond funding to help maximize the number of improvements TCAPS can tackle.

However, VanWagoner said there’s also a possibility TCAPS can partner with Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) to qualify for zero-interest funding through the USDA for energy upgrades at schools within the TCLP service zone. “The interest savings would be huge” in that scenario, VanWagoner said. He estimated approximately $10 million in project funding could be available through TCLP. However, VanWagoner cautioned that TCAPS and TCLP officials are still in the early stages of exploring how such a partnership could work, as it would be a first for the city-owned utility. VanWagoner said he hoped to have a recommendation by October on going with the Trane or TCLP approach.

VanWagoner said that Central Grade in particular offers exciting potential in deploying new energy-efficient technologies since it will be a complete renovation. Incorporating geothermal or solar aspects into the reconstruction, for example, could both make the school more environmentally friendly and help teach students about those technologies, VanWagoner said. 

Photo credit: Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors