WISD invites community to tour High Point School

On August 6, Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD) will ask voters to consider a bond proposal to renovate and reconstruct High Point School for students with significant medical, emotional, physical, and cognitive disabilities.

In anticipation of election day, the WISD is welcoming community members to tour the facility, learn more about the proposal, and ask questions at a series of Open House events.

“High Point School opens a world of opportunities to our students who have the most significant needs, and we want community members to see where students attend up to 23 years of schooling,” said WISD Superintendent Scott Menzel. “All students in Washtenaw County deserve high-quality learning environments, and this is especially true for students with significant disabilities. The truth is that students educated at High Point today face a number of hardships because this facility wasn’t designed with their unique needs in mind. If passed, this bond can eliminate those barriers by providing a school building that enhances their learning environment.”

If approved, the proposal’s estimated 0.37 mill increase over 10 years would generate $53.295 million. The bond would allow for the renovation of High Point’s existing gymnasium and pool where adaptive aquatics and adaptive physical education would continue, demolition of the remaining parts of the building that would no longer be used, and new construction. New construction would include classrooms, special subject rooms for music and art, professional rooms to support occupational and physical therapy, age and ability-appropriate outdoor playscapes, and ample storage space for equipment needed for students with severe and multiple disabilities. The bond would also cover costs of furniture, specialized equipment, technology, and energy-efficient infrastructure.

Community members are invited to WISD’s High Point Open House events on:
 Tuesday, July 23 at 5:30 pm.
 Thursday, July 25 at 5:30 pm.
 Thursday, August 1 at 5:30 pm.
 Sunday, August 4 at 12:00 pm.

Those interested in attending an Open House should meet in the front lobby of High Point School, located at 1735 S. Wagner Road, Ann Arbor. Tours will last approximately 30-40 minutes. Each Open House will offer the same tour and information, so community members need not attend more than one. RSVPs are requested, but not required. To RSVP, call (734) 994-8100 x1321.

High Point School is specifically dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of students with severe cognitive and multiple disabilities from ages 3 through 26. Students from all nine public school districts in Washtenaw County attend High Point. As the only educational program in Washtenaw County designed to meet its students’ unique needs, students often attend High Point for up to 23 years. To further WISD’s commitment to educating students with the most significant disabilities near their general education peers, High Point School also shares its campus with Honey Creek Community School and Gretchen’s House, as well as WISD’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program.

To learn more about the WISD’s Bond Proposal, click here.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.