Novi School District May Construct New Early Education Center

Novi's school board will be voting next month on whether to approve putting a $70 million bond proposal on the May ballot. 

The bond proposal comes from a comprehensive Facility Assessment Report, based on a total assessment of the entire Novi Community School District conducted about seven months ago. Part of that assessment are plans to enhance the district's preschool program.

Novi’s preschool classes, a self-sustaining program that is paid for by the parents directly, are currently at capacity.

“We’ve turned away at least two or maybe three classrooms of kids,” said Steve Barr, assistant superintendent of business and operations with Novi schools, at a community meeting Monday.

Currently the preschool classes are divided among the district, some at the Community Education Building (Instructional Technology Center, or ITC), a portable classroom at the Novi Meadows 5th Grade House and at the high school.

There are two solutions to this preschool problem: add classrooms around the district or construct a new early childhood education center.

The preschool classroom additions, including needed additions to Novi Meadows, Novi Middle School and the alternative education program, would cost about $6 million, while a whole new center will cost about $11 million. The second option would exclude the necessity of touching three other buildings because the preschool classes would get moved and free up space for the other classes, Barr said. For example, the alternative education classes would move from the middle school back to ITC where preschool is currently held, while also creating open space at the middle school.

“We think it makes sense,” he said. “It gives us an advantage over other districts by having this program.”

If approved by the school board and then approved by voters in May, the early childhood center would be a 21-classroom building with all preschool programs under one roof, located near the Novi Meadows 5th Grade House gym. The tennis courts there would be relocated, Barr said.

The school board has to vote by Feb. 25 on whether to put this millage proposal on the ballot.