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Board hears building walkthrough results, asks for sinking fund support for school repairs and Excellence Institute update
Summary
Board members reported a Building & Site walkthrough identifying multiple rooms needing carpet removal and other repairs at Beacon and Tyrone elementaries; Dr. Jaber asked the board and superintendent for support to use sinking funds for kitchen and remodeling work. Superintendent Steven McGhee described the new Excellence Institute and programs for students and seniors.
The Harper Woods Board of Education received a Building & Site committee report on Sept. 16 that flagged multiple facility needs across the district and included a request to use sinking funds for renovations.
Reginald Tabron, who distributed the Building & Site walkthrough report, said committee members walked through three schools and identified specific rooms at Beacon Elementary and Tyrone Elementary that need attention, including planned carpet removal for a list of classrooms and other repairs. The minutes note that Beacon identified areas for improvement and that kindergarten students showed assessment growth.
Minutes record that Dr. Jaber asked the board and Superintendent Steven McGhee for support in applying district sinking funds to enhance kitchen sizes at Beacon and Tyrone elementaries and to help remodel school spaces. The minutes specify that several rooms should have carpet removed by November or December 2025 and that Dr. Jaber's goal is to have Tyrone Elementary walls painted by Spring 2026.
Superintendent Steven McGhee provided an update on the Harper Woods College & Career Institute (CCI) and the district's Excellence Institute under construction. McGhee described the Excellence Institute as a roughly 10,000-square-foot space designed for college and career readiness, health and wellness, and social-emotional learning; the district plans scheduled access for students and a Senior Sneakers program under AARP allowing seniors to use the facility between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. He also explained a district plan to place messages in a time capsule to be reopened in 2125.
The minutes highlight Tyrone Elementary's recent COGNIA accreditation and note improvements such as painted gym and lunchroom walls and waxed floors. The Harper Woods College & Career Institute was described as fully equipped and not affected by recent fund cuts; five container homes and threading machines for the Excellence Institute were mentioned as available resources.
During public participation, Roger Krass asked several questions the board recorded, including how much taxpayers owe on a referenced $30 million school project and concerns about vehicle congestion at Tyrone pickup and drop-off and parent blocking of staff parking at Beacon. The minutes record these questions as items for board awareness; the public record in the minutes does not provide district responses or debt figures.
The board will consider facility follow-up work and budget implications in future Finance Committee updates and internal follow-up; Dr. Jaber's request to pursue sinking funds is recorded as a staff ask to the superintendent and board.
