A total of $34.3 million in school construction for the Cedar Springs School District that included a new middle school and an athletic complex was recently completed as a result of two bond proposals that were passed in 2002.

A citizen's committee considered over 20 different options for

the expansion. After reviewing all of the various options, it was concluded that a new middle school was necessary in order to meet the needs of the school district. Projections had shown that 23 new general classrooms, nine special education classrooms and 10 other classrooms would be needed to replace the portables that were in use.

Proposition II for the athletic complex included the construction of a new football field with artificial turf, a track, locker rooms, public restrooms, a concession stand, and a press box. The new field is located behind the present high school and replaces the city-owned Skinner Field in Morley Park, across 17 Mile Road. Since the district did not own that complex, by law it could not use ant bond dollars to make improvements needed for the athletic complex.

The Cedar Springs School District's present 100-acre campus contains all of the school buildings in the district and is near the center of Cedar Springs. The school is among the 35 percent of Michigan schools accredited by the North Central Accrediting organization. By the 2006–2007 school year, it has been estimated that the district will have 3,718 students (an additional 330 students over the next four years).

In addition to the construction of a new middle school and a new athletic complex, work was also done on the addition of a new work bay for the school's bus garage, and there was additional work on the elementary schools. The district's present middle school will be renovated for elementary students.

The new middle school is located on Northland Drive and 16 Mile Road on the south side of Cedar Springs. Proposition I for the new 119,000-square-foot school included purchasing land for the school site; 28 classrooms; a gymnasium along with a nearby equipment room; several science and life skills rooms; a media center; music and art rooms; a cafeteria (located in the center of the school); and a loading dock at the south end of the school. Two sections at the north end of the school are three stories and contain the mechanical structures for the building.

Proposition I also includes adding new classrooms and a larger band room to the high school; adding classrooms to the Cedar Trails Elementary School; updating and improving district-wide technology; addressing safety and security; improvements to energy conservation; and remodeling facilities at Beach and Cedar View Elementary Schools, the high school, the existing middle school, and the Hill Top/New Beginnings Alternative High School.

The construction management firm was Owen-Ames-Kimball (OAK), of Grand Rapids. Beta Design Group, of Grand Rapids, was the architect.

Contractors included: Dykema Excavators, of Grand Rapids (site work); Michigan Paving & Materials, of Comstock Park (asphalt paving); County-Line Nurseries, of Hartford (land-scaping); Fence Consultants of West Michigan, Grand Rapids (fencing); Vigh Landscaping/Irrigation, of Comstock Park (irrigation); Cascade Cement Contracting, of Caledonia (concrete); StresCore Inc., of South Bend, Ind. (precast); J.K. Masonry, of Comstock Park (masonry); Flairwood Industries, of Norton Shores (casework); Merchandise Equipment & Supply, Grand Rapids (food service); C.G. Witvoet & Sons, Grand Rapids (signage); Interkal, L.L.C., of Kalamazoo (bleachers); Bareman & Associates, of Jenison (gym equipment); Bayvus Drapery Co., of Burton (window treatment); Depend-able Fire Protection, of Cedar Springs (fire protection); Northwest Kent Mechanical Co., of Cedar Springs (mechanical); and Excel Electric Inc., of Grandville.

The new middle school is comprised of all brick and block with 90-foot-long trusses. The building contains a barrel (curved) standing roof with a curved, sloped metal seam roof over the lecture, media and gym areas. A loading dock on the south side of the school has a chiller located nearby. The northeast side of the building is partially three stories and contains the science rooms. The majority of the general classrooms are located on the second floor.

Personnel who were involved in the construction of the school for OAK included: Larry Merryweather, project manager, and Ryan Hoeh, the job site superintendent. Ken Nederveld was the job site superintendent for the work on the athletic facility and elementary school portions of the project. Beta Design's principal-in-charge was Dan Hill.