Board approves Lone Pine entrance, district technology and network projects and summer move services

The Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education approved a package of capital and operational projects tied to the district’s 2020 bond program and related funds during its Jan. 27 meeting.

Scope and approvals

• Lone Pine Elementary front entrance (Bid Pack 12): Superintendent staff described a front‑entrance renovation focused on concrete replacement, patio improvements and safety upgrades. The board approved awarding Bid Pack 12 in the amount of $365,310 inclusive of a 10% contingency to be paid from the 2020 bond fund. Trustees asked about design renderings and township approvals; staff said renderings could be shared and that West Bloomfield Township jurisdictional approvals would be addressed through the design process.

• Technology systems (Bid Pack T‑8): Director of Information Technology Samer Al Sayed Solomon outlined T‑8, which will replace end‑of‑life high‑school classroom equipment, upgrade access control and video surveillance, modernize selected gymnasium AV systems and add work to support robotics and other specialty AV needs. Staff said a pilot demo room informed the design and teacher/student feedback had been incorporated. Trustees asked about bandwidth and cell reception (which the district cannot control). The board approved T‑8 for $2,017,300.85 inclusive of contingency, funded by the 2020 bond fund and center program fund.

• District wide area network (Bid Pack T‑9 / E‑Rate): Staff presented phase 2 of a district wide fiber and cabling upgrade, explaining some portions qualify for federal E‑Rate funding. The $1,330,747.33 approval (inclusive of contingency) covers fiber extensions, Ethernet cabling, switches, access points and battery backups. Trustees pressed administration on redundancy and mitigation of pole‑line/tree risks; staff noted Oakland Schools is adding a redundant fiber feed and the district will explore additional redundancy and routine tree maintenance.

• Physical move services: To support planned summer flooring and renovation work, the board approved contracting for physical move services covering packing, storage and re‑installation; staff described multiple vendors to meet compressed timelines and technology protection measures. The board approved the move services contract for $523,850.

All motions for these capital and operations items were approved by roll call (each 6–0). District staff committed to provide additional design materials, scheduling details and clarifications on contractor coordination and insurance coverage to trustees as the projects move into execution.

Votes at a glance

• Bid Pack 12 (Lone Pine front entrance): $365,310 (incl. 10% contingency) — approved 6–0. • Bid Pack T‑8 (Technology systems): $2,017,300.85 (incl. 10% contingency) — approved 6–0. • Bid Pack T‑9 (District WAN / E‑Rate): $1,330,747.33 (incl. 10% contingency) — approved 6–0. • Physical move services (summer): $523,850 — approved 6–0.

Next steps

Administration will circulate project renderings, confirm schedule windows and return with implementation details as procurement and planning advance.