Royal Oak Schools Board of Education President Schucharski presided over a vote Thursday approving detailed planning for a redesign of the Royal Oak Education Center to house Churchill Community High School, the district's Trails program and an expanded early childhood education hub. The board directed administration to begin architecture and construction planning with TMP Architecture and construction manager Barton Malow, with the district aiming for construction in 2026.

The plan matters because it repurposes an underused district facility to expand early childhood seats, strengthen alternative‑education pathways and centralize several programs in one campus. Superintendent Dr. Joseph Topelski told the board the change is intended to increase postsecondary readiness for Churchill students and relieve capacity constraints for early childhood programming.

Topelski framed the redesign as student‑centered and outcome driven. "We want kids to feel good about the spaces that they're in," he said, describing a design informed by learning archetypes ("cave, campfire, watering hole") that prioritize reflection, expert instruction and collaborative space. He noted Churchill's recent graduation rate was about 80 percent and said the district wants to better support students in a planned "thirteenth year" of transition strategies, dual enrollment and micro‑credentialing so graduates do not get lost when they enroll at colleges or training programs.

Board members and administrators discussed program details in depth. Topelski said the Trails program (Transitioning Responsible Adults and Life Skills, ages roughly 18–26) would remain intact but move to a different wing of the building, and that the district expects to relocate early childhood special education and state GSRP (Great Start Readiness Program) seats into a centralized early learning hub. He said the early childhood program currently has about 100 seats and a wait list. Topelski also described site benefits such as more central parking and improved drop‑off logistics compared with the current Adams site.

On funding, Topelski told the board the project's estimated construction cost is approximately $2,000,000. He said the district currently has about $5,100,000 available in its sinking fund (the board uses sinking fund proceeds for construction, building improvements and instructional technology), and that the sinking fund would collect an estimated $3,400,000 next July. Topelski explained furniture purchases would generally be paid from the general fund because sinking funds cannot be used for general furniture; he said the district already owns some early‑childhood furniture and would rely on existing inventory where possible.

The presentation included a proposed timeline: upon board approval the district will finalize programming requirements, complete design and bid documents with TMP Architecture and Barton Malow, put the project out to bid (planned for October), and begin construction with a target opening in fall 2026. Topelski said stakeholder input from Churchill staff, parents and students would be part of the design process but that the project scope must remain within the sinking‑fund constraints.

Trustee Wicky moved to proceed with the plan as presented by Dr. Topelski; Trustee Jasinski seconded. The board voted to approve the motion. The board did not adopt final construction contracts at the meeting; administration will return with construction bids and final documents for approval before construction begins.

Board members asked several operational questions during the discussion: whether staff displaced from Adams would be relocated (Topelski said technology services would move to Adams and some special‑program spaces could be returned), how the district would accommodate future expansion (Topelski pointed to open land for possible additions), and whether staffing for expanded early childhood seats could be found (he said the district expects to staff with certification‑agnostic instructors and existing hiring pipelines). Finance director Kathy Sebelle confirmed the sinking fund balance and the expected next collection amount.

What happens next: administration will finalize detailed plans, collect stakeholder input as the design is developed, complete bidding and return to the board with contracts and a construction schedule. Topelski said the goal is to have construction documents and bids complete by October and to begin construction in early 2026 so the new campus can open in fall 2026.

Estimated or quoted figures in this article are taken directly from the board presentation: an estimated project cost of about $2,000,000, a current sinking‑fund balance of approximately $5,100,000 and projected additional sinking fund collections of about $3,400,000 next July. Enrollment figures discussed in the presentation included an approximate Churchill student population of 66 and a Churchill graduation rate of about 80 percent (both figures supplied by district staff during the presentation).