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Board hears bond update; consultants say Highlander Way Middle School should close after 2025-26
Summary
Consultants and district leaders briefed the board on bond construction timelines and recommended closing Highlander Way Middle School after the 2025-26 school year to speed construction and improve safety; short-term moves of grade configurations were outlined for 2026-27 and 2027-28.
Consultants and district administrators told the Howell Public Schools Board that construction timelines and safety concerns make it advisable to close Highlander Way Middle School after the end of the 2025-26 school year.
"Mr. Ragone talked about the need to close Highlander Way Middle School after the end of the 2025/26 school year," the board record states. Mr. Ragone, representing AUCH, described work at the new Northwest and Southwest elementary schools and projects at Highlander Way, saying continuous work on the building would be safer and allow projects to finish sooner.
Superintendent Dr. MacGregor outlined short-term shifting of campuses to accommodate construction, noting the Freshman Campus would move into the high school and freshmen would be separated as a 9th-grade community while the district evaluates whether that structure could be a long-term success. He flagged operational issues including in-district transfer requests, drop-off/pick-up logistics and use of Freshman Campus spaces by external groups.
The board did not take a formal vote on closure during the meeting; the presentation was informational and part of the district's ongoing bond project updates. The session included discussion of communications plans to keep staff, students, families and the community informed during the transition.
