Kentwood — Voters have approved Kentwood Public Schools’ $125 million bond request to fund construction of a new Valleywood Middle School, a new performing arts center at the East Kentwood Freshman Campus and restoration of the Kentwood Ice Arena, plus other technology and safety projects.
The proposal passed with a vote of 3,980 to 3,101 on Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Kent County Clerk’s office.
Superintendent Kevin Polston said the vote results reflect a “strong partnership” between KPS and the community.
“We are grateful for the trust our community continues to place in us, and we take that responsibility seriously,” he told School News Network. “Our community understands that strong schools are an investment in students, families and the future of the community as a whole. This vote reflects continued confidence in our students and in the work happening across Kentwood Public Schools every day.
“We are deeply appreciative of that support, especially during financially challenging times for many families.”
The slate of projects included in the bond, which were determined after multiple rounds of stakeholder input last fall, come in direct response to continued district growth and the resulting facility needs, Polston said. The nearly 10,000-student district has increased by 800 students in the past 10 years.
The superintendent said he expects growth to continue, as Kentwood has become known as a destination district and more than 1,000 units of new housing are planned for construction.
“This bond helps position us to meet both the current and future needs of our students and families,” he said. “It also allows us to thoughtfully respond to the growth and changing needs of our district while ensuring students have safe, modern and engaging spaces to learn.”
A New Valleywood
With passage of the bond, construction is scheduled to begin in 2028 on a new Valleywood Middle School, which will replace the existing 1967 building at its current location, 1110 50th SE. The decision to build new rather than renovate was made after a facilities study found that Valleywood would need $30 million in infrastructure investment, Polston said.
The district expects the new Valleywood to open in 2030. It will have capacity for 750 students, up from the 552 enrolled this year, and feature modern learning environments, natural light and a safe, accessible and efficient building layout, according to district communications.
“The new Valleywood Middle School is especially meaningful as we think about the future of our district,” Polston said. “It gives us the opportunity to design a learning environment that reflects the expectations we have for student learning and experience in Kentwood Public Schools. More importantly, it creates opportunities for teaching, learning and student success well into the future.”
He said community input will be an important part of the Valleywood build “because we want the building to reflect the needs of the people it will serve.”
Other Planned Projects
Renovations to the Kentwood Ice Arena will include a new roof coating, a new mechanical room and equipment for code compliance, a complete electrical system upgrade, a new rink refrigeration system and enhanced security.
A second performing arts center, added to the Freshman Campus, will have a capacity for 600 seats and be available for use district-wide. The district also plans to renovate the high school performing arts center, including the performing arts classrooms and auditorium upgrades.
The bond will also fund a Career Tech Education/STEM Center at the Freshman Campus to add expanded space for career readiness programs.
Other projects in the bond include:
- Accessible playgrounds at Bowen, Brookwood, Discovery, Endeavor, Explorer and Meadowlawn elementaries.
- District-wide safety improvements such as security upgrades; technology enhancements, upgrades and new devices; modernized furniture; and additional new buses.
Polston said the district will now begin the planning and design process, which will include community input, and put together timelines for all projects with the help of its design and construction partners.
“Some projects will move sooner than others, but throughout the process our focus will remain on creating the best possible learning environments for students while maintaining strong communication with our community,” he said.
Projects are scheduled to be completed by 2032. More information can be found at the Kentwood bond website.
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