This building in Towar Gardens neighborhood is scheduled to be demolished in February, so the East Lansing Public Schools District can build a new central administration building on the site. (Julie Seraphinoff for ELi)

ELPS Leadership Gives Updates on Safety Projects at School Board Meeting

In May, voters approved a bond of more than $23 million to pay for projects that improve school safety. At the Monday, Nov. 11 East Lansing Board of Education meeting, district leadership gave an update on how a couple major parts of that plan are progressing. 

One part of the project is transitioning a building the district owns in the Towar Gardens neighborhood into a central administration building. Superintendent Dori Leyko said the district is in the design and development phase with the building and there is optimism it could be open in October or November, 2025.

ELPS Deputy Superintendent Glenn Mitcham shows a rendering of a central administration building the district hopes is open next fall. (Screenshot of Nov. 11 BOE meeting)

In 2014, a district building that housed administrators on Burcham Drive was closed, Deputy Superintendent Glenn Mitcham said. The administrators were moved downstairs in the high school, a move that was meant to be temporary. However, relocation plans had stalled until the bond proposal passed. 

Mitcham said that having administrators in a different building will make them available to assist first responders if there is ever an emergency puts the high school in lock down. Additionally, moving administrators frees up space for the high school to use.

The new administration building, which Mitcham said has not yet been named, will include a reception area, wellness space, board room, courtyard and more. 

“We feel like it’s simple, efficient, practical, not overdone, but meets the needs of what we’re hoping to accomplish,” Mitcham said.

Mitcham said that the district has held three community meetings with Towar Gardens neighborhood residents to inform them of plans. Additionally, the school has had representatives knock on doors to speak with residents about the project. 

The district plans to demolish the building currently on the site in February, Mitcham said. 

Another key part of the project, the new secure entrance at the high school, is not as far along in planning as the administration building. This part of the project is in the schematic phase, Leyko said.

Superintendent Dori Leyko presents renderings of the new entrance to East Lansing High School that is currently in the schematic phase. (Screenshot from Nov. 11 BOE meeting)

Leyko said the district is meeting weekly with architects for the new entrance, and shared early renderings of the design. 

The new entrance will be pushed out further than the current main entrance and include space for door monitors. Additionally, the offices for high school administrators are moved to the front of the building, so parents and other visitors are not crossing through the hallway to reach that office, Leyko said. 

The current office space will house high school administrators who are not needed by visitors as frequently, Leyko explained. 

Trojans football team in midst of deep playoff run, swim team conference co-champs. 

During her student representative report, Holyn Walsh highlighted the accomplishments of some of the East Lansing Trojans’ sports teams. 

The football team defeated Dexter in a thrilling 50-49 game on Friday to capture the regional championship. The Trojans will be back in action in East Lansing this Friday, Nov. 15, against Saginaw Heritage. 

Additionally, the girls swim team won its first conference championship in its 30 years of existence, Walsh said. The Trojans finished as co-champs of the Capital Area Athletic Conference with Okemos. Winning the conference after some close runner-up finishes in recent years was a goal players and coaches spoke about before the season started. 

ELHS girls swim team takes a break before another long set of laps. (Mark Pontoni for ELi)

Walsh added that two East Lansing divers have qualified for the regional meet. 

The theater program will also be hosting opening night for Peter and the Starcatcher this Thursday, Nov. 14, with shows being held through the weekend, Walsh said. General admission tickets are $7 and can be purchased here. 

ELPS to host Multicultural Student Achievement Network conference this week. 

East Lansing Public Schools will host more than 250 students and chaperones for the Multicultural Student Achievement Network (MSAN) conference this week, Leyko said during her communications portion of the meeting. 

“MSAN is a national coalition of multiracial school districts learning, growing, and working together toward the goal of improving access, opportunity, and achievement for students of color,” MSAN’s “about” page reads. 

The event will primarily be held at the Kellogg Center and will include a tour of the Michigan State University campus. 

The conference will feature speakers Amariyanna Copeny, who is also known as Little Miss Flint for her advocacy about the city’s water crisis, and Ingham County Commissioner Myles Johnson, Leyko said.