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Board presented Park Elementary classroom redesign and furniture purchase — $892,518 recommendation
Summary
District staff reviewed the Park Elementary remodel furniture plan, described classroom furniture features, and recommended using municipal purchasing contracts to buy furniture for the entire building with a total recommendation of $892,518 from bond proceeds.
District staff presented the Park Elementary design playbook and classroom furniture plan, describing the remodeled layout and a recommended furniture purchase methodology. A presenter described the kindergarten classroom layout, modular pentagon tables on wheels, teacher work stations with built-in organizer cubbies, storage shelving for new curriculum materials, stools that tuck under activity tables, and quiet breakout “ottoman” seating. “This table is 5 sided pentagon … it gives us the ability to be really efficient in the class,” the presenter said while walking through the design playbook for Park Elementary.
The presentation said the classroom changes reflect extensive teacher input gathered over seven months with meetings every two weeks and tours of factory and school examples. Staff said the district will replace furniture across the entire building rather than only in new addition rooms; usable existing pieces will be moved within the district where appropriate.
Budget and procurement: staff recommended buying furniture off municipal purchasing contracts (for example, Omnia) rather than running multiple public bid packages. They said these cooperative contracts meet Michigan purchasing standards and allow the district to select specific pieces that meet its quality and budget requirements. The total recommendation for furniture and allowances, including a 5% contingency and tariff allowances, was presented as $892,518 to be charged against bond proceeds from the district’s 2019 bond sales (proceeds issued in series in 2023 and earlier bond series).
Board member Pat asked whether the purchase covered only new rooms; staff answered the purchase was for “everything in the building.” Board members discussed order timing and potential backorders; staff said earlier ordering improves the chance of receiving items before the fall and that they would present the recommendation for board approval at an upcoming meeting.
Staff also noted installation will be handled by an installer the district is considering; the district plans to retain as much serviceable furniture as possible and move it to other buildings or store it for later use.
The item was a staff recommendation and will return to the board as an action item for approval from bond funds.
