Board Authorizes Planning For Harriet School Work
Board Authorizes Planning For Harriet School Work
YPSILANTI —The Board of Education last night instructed its architectural firm to draw up final plans for a $250,000 addition to and renovation of Harriet Elementary School.
As proposed in preliminary plans, the project will include the construction of a seven-room and gymnasium addition to the south-side school, plus complete remodeling of the present 17-class-room building.
As proposed, the present Harriet gymnasium will be divided into two levels, with counseling and teacher rooms on the second floor and a large ‘‘community room,” complete with stage, below. A new gymnasium, comparable to those at George and Chapelle Schools, will be built at the northwest corner of the present school.
To Add 20,000 feet
The classroom addition will be built along the front of the present structure and facing Harriet St., trustees decided. The addition will add some nearly 20,000 square feet of floor space to the school. Other, smaller additions were constructed at Harriet in 1943, 1947 and 1949.
Also referring to Harriet School, Business Manager Donald H. Porter reported that a new sewer line will probably have to be installed near the school. The project, to cost an estimated $7,000, will end continual and costly drainage from flat lands nearby into the school building, he said.
In other business at the regular board meeting, trustees were given an answer to their appeal to the Ypsilanti Township Board that three parcels of school district-owned property be annexed to the city.
Chapelle Move Unopposed
Donald E. Ehle, township clerk and spokesman for the township board which was invited to last night's session, said the township is "not opposed" to the annexation of Chapelle School. However, township officials "are not in favor" of annexation of the other two sites "until specific plans for their development” are formulated, Ehle explained.
He referred to vacant land on Cornell Rd., proposed site of an elementary school, and the “Breakey farm" property west and south of Estabrook School.
Ehle also reported on joint township, city and school district efforts to improve a serious drain-problem near Chapelle School. The township official said another sewer line will probably be constructed in the area to relieve the present system, which causes regular flooding of basements in nearby homes and the school. Representing the township board last night, in addition to Ehle, were trustees Robert L. McKenna. William Gallaher and H. H. Schrader.