Operations & Facilities

FLower Principal Diana Keefe put on her hard hat and safety vest to check up on the progress of her new school building. She is happy to report that the construction team is almost done installing the 153,000 concrete masonry blocks and are approximately 30% done with the 180,000 bricks that need to be installed. The project received the D. Keefe signature of approval.

FHS is receiving a 2020 Bond-funded update, taking inefficient boilers offline and replacing them with high efficiency condensing boilers. In addition to efficiency upgrades, the new system will be scaled to appropriately meet the needs of the FHS building. A mechanical engineer assessment calculated that the existing plant was oversized, producing nearly twice the necessary output. These new boilers are rated at 96% efficiency vs. the old ones which were field tested at approximately 75% efficiency. The resulting carbon dioxide emissions savings, at the high school alone, is equivalent to consuming 20,391 gallons of regular gasoline. Similar reductions are expected at other buildings, as FECC and UHS will both be receiving boiler replacements next spring, following TCEC’s boiler replacement and building renewal this past summer.

Watch for our infographic explaining environmental impacts in the next issue of Local: the Community Education Magazine!

First fives began their community helpers unit for the month of October with a visit from a Ferndale bus driver, Mr. Tom! The students were invited onto the bus to learn some bus safety and to ask questions about Mr. Tom's role as a community helper. Next stop for the young students will be a trip to Westborn Market to explore a local grocer, as well as a walk to the Pleasant Ridge police department. Students will also be visited by the Ferndale fire department!

If you're interested in helping out your community like Mr. Tom, Ferndale Schools is currently hiring bus drivers to work while students are in school. Starting pay is $20 an hour with paid training, paid time off, and benefits including enrollment credits in the MI Public Schools Employee Retirement Plan for as long as you are driving. The job posting can be found here: Bus Driver Job Posting. Call (248) 586-8896 for more details, email james.stottlemyer@ferndaleschools.org, or contact your school office.

The Grant building, current home to the Tri-County Educational Center, was updated with a new boiler system, high-efficiency HVAC, and a roof improvement this summer. The interior also saw improvements, with new electrical, lighting, and flooring installed throughout.

Ferndale Upper Elementary School (FUEL) was recently improved with a new secure vestibule, to provide a higher level of security in our buildings. All visitors will now be buzzed into the first set of doors and required to pass through the office for screening before entering the building. The improvement also included high efficiency lighting and a more inviting, contemporary aesthetic. These improvements were made with bond funds at no tax rate increase.

Our building has been improved with a new health room (including a private bathroom). This addition was part of the summer Bond-funded construction, which also beautified our reception area and added a secure vestibule to our entryway. Visitors can now be routed directly to the reception area before entering the rest of the building. This multi-stage, remotely locked system includes nearly impenetrable SchoolGuard Glass for state of the art security.

The FECC Staff room was improved with new fixtures and furniture. We are so happy to share this comfortable new space with our staff, the lifeblood of everything we do here. 

The motor room was also improved, so that our developing students have a safe and comfortable place to practice movement skills.

Have you been into our renovated buildings recently? Over the summer of 2021, bond funds allowed us to make some major improvements. The hard to spot features include a brand new roof and high-efficiency temperature control units in all classrooms. Other features are much more obvious.

Classrooms have new lighting, ceiling tiles, and flooring. Hallways and lockers have been improved as well, and water bottle filling stations were installed.

Our gymnasium was restored over the summer, complete with stylish new bathrooms.

The FUEL Cafeteria was renovated over the summer, from floor to ceiling.

The Ferndale Early Childhood Center has a brand new accessible playground for our earliest learners to enjoy!  The work was completed over the summer, and the students are thrilled to explore and learn in the new nature, themed accessible playground. From left to right, the new play area includes:

• a natural play area and climbing dome
• a playhouse with slide and climbing bridges
• a covered picnic area and sound discovery stations
• a connected fort complex with tunnels, slides, and climbing walls
• and a swing set

Scroll down for more detailed images of these exciting new outdoor learning opportunities.

The UHS media center went through a much needed transformation over the summer. The new media center now has two student-centered breakout spaces, an enlarged computer lab and additional offices. These spaces have also been outfitted with collaborative and modern furnishings.

Construction 

Work has started on the bus garage to modernize this facility.  A portion of the old warehouse is being utilized to create a new dispatch center, offices and a conference room.  The old driver lounge is being doubled in size and turned into a training room and modern break space.  Demolition is nearly complete, the plumbers have put in the underground plumbing and the HVAC contractor is installing new ductwork.