Hundreds of residents urge Ann Arbor school board to pause Thurston rebuild over Nature Center concerns
Loading...
Summary
Dozens of residents, parents and teachers told the Ann Arbor Board of Education during a lengthy public‑comment period that the planned New Thurston Elementary would damage the Thurston Nature Center, risk flooding and harm student safety; others urged the board not to delay the rebuild. Speakers also raised teacher‑pay and equity concerns.
Hundreds of community members turned out at the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education meeting to press trustees to pause plans to build a new Thurston Elementary adjacent to the Thurston Nature Center.
Speakers across multiple public‑comment slots described the Nature Center as an educational and ecological resource and said the current site plan—placing the new school next to a pond and wetlands—risks flooding, reduces play space and will irreparably harm habitat. Maria Pinson, representing early commenters to the board, said the district repeatedly closed schools for minimal snow and noted community frustration with process and communication. David Hutchinson and many other neighbors described repeated flooding and a 2021 emergency drain repair they said should be weighed before proceeding.
The volume of opposition centered on three claims: (1) the construction plan was produced with insufficient community engagement and ignored local input; (2) building next to Thurston Pond risks repeated flooding and long‑term liabilities for taxpayers; and (3) staging construction on the current Thurston site or at New Logan would avoid damage to the Nature Center while still delivering a new facility. Speakers urged the board to provide environmental reports and specific drainage cost estimates before committing additional bond draws.
Board members heard repeated, tightly worded appeals from parents and alumni. At the same time, a substantial group of parents and staff urged the board to proceed without delay, arguing Thurston’s existing building is in poor condition and the bond schedule and finances favor moving forward. Those speakers said staging or pausing could push the rebuild back years and carry its own costs to students and taxpayers.
Trustees thanked speakers and acknowledged the breadth of views. Superintendent Jazz Parks said staff will compile and publish clarifications after reviewing the evening’s comments. The board did not take up any formal motion on the Thurston site that night; public comment closed after the chair noted the board will continue work with the bond committee and capital‑project staff.
What’s next: trustees followed public comment with bond committee reports and capital‑projects briefings; any change to the Thurston schedule, site plan or funding would appear in later bond‑committee meetings and require board action.
