Ever since moving from the administration building on North Lapeer Street in September, Lake Orion school officials have been looking forward to returning, says schools? Supt. Christine Lehman.
Assuming there are no more weather-related delays, Lehman says she and other school officials will move back into the newly-renovated building by January 1, 2007.
The building has been undergoing a $1 million facelift, including facade changes, a new parking lot, realignment of the building’s entrance and other improvements.
‘The parking lot was the biggest issue,? said Lehman, who pointed out that many of the building’s parking spots were lost when the adjacent Ehman Center was sold a few years ago.
The rebuilt central offices will provide space for Lehman, two assistant superintendents, the business and human resource offices, and a newly-added conference room.
‘We’ve been working with the village and following all the guidelines (for occupancy),? Lehman said.
To save money, many of the left-over furnishings and amenities will continue to be used at the refurbished site.
‘We’re trying to use as much of the existing items as possible,? said Lehman. ‘The layout is a little different, but the bathrooms haven’t been touched and we’re using a lot of the same furniture. It’s mostly been new paint and carpet.?
Despite being out of the building for several months, Lehman doesn’t anticipate any difficulties moving back in.
‘We should be able to do it in a day,? she said, adding that administrators and staff are looking forward to returning to the village’s downtown area.
‘We enjoy being down there and feeling part of the community,? she said. ‘We had been in that building for a long time, and we all really like it.?
Once the project is completed, board of education meetings will return to the administration building.
The first anticipated board meeting will take place at the renovated facility on Jan. 10, 2007 at 7 p.m.
Since mid-August, the school board has been meeting at the CERC Building on Scripps Road.