OAISD Construction Projects
This webpage provides an overview of Ottawa Area ISD construction projects that support expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) services, as well as facility improvements for the Young Adult Services program. It includes project updates, funding information, and FAQs to explain what is being built, why it’s needed, and how it’s funded. Content will be updated as construction progresses and milestones are reached.
Construction FAQ's
- Why is Ottawa Area ISD completing construction and renovation projects?
- How do these projects benefit students, families and the broader community across the region?
- How are these projects funded?
- How is OAISD ensuring responsible use of taxpayer dollars?
Why is Ottawa Area ISD completing construction and renovation projects?
These projects are driven by student and community needs, particularly the growing demand for Careerline Tech Center programs, the need for purpose-built environments for students in the Young Adult Services program, and the opportunity to reintegrate early childhood program staff into shared Teaching and Learning department workspaces. Bringing these teams together strengthens collaboration and workflow while also reducing costs by eliminating the need to lease off-site space.
- Expanded classroom space for high-demand Career and Technical Education programs
- Safer and more efficient campus layouts
- Stronger alignment between high school CTE and adult training programs
- Facilities specifically designed to meet the needs of students with disabilities
- Improved collaboration among Teaching and Learning staff and more efficient use of district resources
How do these projects benefit students, families and the broader community across the region?
These projects are designed to strengthen educational opportunities and community outcomes for students and families from every school district in the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, as well as charter schools, faith-based schools and homeschooled students. As a regional service agency, Ottawa Area ISD provides shared programs and services that individual districts cannot efficiently or affordably offer on their own.
Benefits for students
Expanded facilities allow more students from across the OAISD region to access high-demand Career and Technical Education programs that consistently have waitlists. The expanded Careerline Tech Center classroom space alone is expected to increase enrollment capacity by approximately 400–450 additional student seats. Students from small to large schools and districts benefit from the same high-quality programs and facilities, regardless of where they live. Shared regional services promote educational equity and consistent program quality across communities. Purpose-built facilities provide safer, more accessible, and instructionally appropriate learning environments, while stronger alignment between high school and adult training programs creates clearer career pathways connected to regional workforce needs.
Benefits for families
Expanded capacity reduces waitlists and improves access to services families rely on, while purpose-built facilities provide safer, more consistent learning environments. Families with young children will also benefit from family education and playgroups at the Learning and Leading Commons, making early learning supports and community resources easier to access across the region.
Benefits for the broader community
Career and technical education programs help develop a skilled local workforce, supporting employers and strengthening the regional economy. Investing in shared facilities reduces duplication and promotes efficient use of taxpayer resources across the region. Repurposing and modernizing existing buildings minimizes long-term operating and leasing costs while extending the useful life of public assets.
How are these projects funded?
Careerline Tech Center (CTC East) and Thompson M-TEC Building
The shared Thompson M-TEC and Careerline Tech Center East building, along with related renovations and upgrades at the Careerline Tech Center West building, represent a $16 million investment funded through bond proceeds that were approved without a tax rate increase. Repayment of the bond’s principal and interest for this portion of the project is made from the Career and Technical Education fund, ensuring that costs are covered by the programs that directly benefit from the investment.
Learning and Leading Commons
The Learning and Leading Commons is being funded through a bond, estimated at approximately $8.5 million, that was approved without a tax rate increase, along with remaining costs covered by the district’s Capital Projects fund. Bond repayment is allocated across district funds using a square-footage-based method, meaning each fund pays its proportional share based on how much space it uses. Capital Projects funds are tracked by the original funding source and allocated accordingly to ensure costs are distributed fairly and transparently.
Georgetown and Holland Young Adult Services Buildings
The Georgetown and Holland Young Adult Services buildings were funded entirely through Special Education operating funds, supported by the OAISD Special Education millage. These funds are specifically designated to serve students with disabilities and are used to provide appropriate, accessible learning environments for special education programs. Together, these facilities projects represent an investment of approximately $19.6 million, covering property acquisition, construction and furniture.
How is OAISD ensuring responsible use of taxpayer dollars?
Ottawa Area Intermediate School District is held to rigorous financial reporting and transparency standards under Michigan law and professional best practices. State law requires intermediate school districts to publicly post audited financial information, including annual operating budgets, financial reports, and other key data on the district website to ensure taxpayers and stakeholders can easily review how public funds are used. Each year, OAISD’s budget is publicly reviewed, discussed, and approved by the elected Board of Education, ensuring direct local oversight and accountability for how taxpayer dollars are spent. Board members are also local taxpayers, providing an additional safeguard in the use of public funds.
This public review and approval process ensures financial decisions reflect community priorities and are subject to transparent governance by locally elected board members. In addition, OAISD prepares a full Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and independent audit requirements, providing a complete, accurate picture of the district’s financial position and operations.
To further demonstrate this commitment, OAISD recently received the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO), recognizing the district’s high standards for clear, transparent reporting for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, marking the 24th consecutive year the district has earned this distinction.
Project FAQ's
+ Career & Technical Ed
Career and Technical Education Expansion & Facility Changes
Why did OAISD need to expand Careerline Tech Center?
Demand for Careerline Tech Center programs has grown significantly. Each year, hundreds of students are placed on waitlists because available classroom space limits enrollment. Many of those wait-listed students are ultimately unable to participate in these programs that lead to industry credentials, college credit, and high-wage career pathways. This sustained enrollment pressure created an urgent need for additional instructional space.
How did OAISD create more classroom space for Career and Technical Education programs?
OAISD renovated and expanded the former Educational Services Building into a shared instructional facility for Careerline Tech Center and Thompson M-TEC. This created modern learning spaces, supported program growth, and enabled a campus-wide reorganization that improves capacity, safety, and operational efficiency. Careerline Tech’s East building opened to area students in the fall of 2024 and the newly renovated Thompson M-TEC opened in the fall of 2025. Together, they serve K-12 and adult students in morning, afternoon and evening sessions.
Why did Thompson M-TEC move into a shared building with Careerline Tech Center?
Relocating Thompson M-TEC into the renovated building aligns high school and adult Career and Technical Education programs, allowing them to share specialized spaces, equipment, and staffing support. This move also freed the former Thompson M-TEC building to become the district’s future Learning & Leading Commons.
Why were certain locations selected and programs aligned or consolidated?
Decisions were guided by:
-
Student safety
- Instructional compatibility
- Efficient campus operations
Co-locating related programs improves supervision, reduces student movement across campus, and supports shared resources. These priorities were balanced with site constraints such as high groundwater, nearby wetlands, limited green space, and existing underground infrastructure. The selected locations represent the best long-term balance of safety, functionality, and program alignment.
How does program alignment improve safety and long-term sustainability?
Aligning related programs:
- Reduces unnecessary campus transitions
- Simplifies traffic and pedestrian patterns
- Supports clearer safety protocols
- Minimizes duplication of specialized spaces
This approach improves operational efficiency while maintaining flexibility for future growth.
Were other options considered besides renovation and relocation?
Yes. OAISD developed the facilities plan by evaluating program demand, existing space and long-term needs across the region. Careerline Tech Center programs had large numbers of students on waitlists to enroll, with no room to expand. Thompson M-TEC’s space was not designed for high school programming, and administrative and conference facilities no longer met current needs despite potential investment. After reviewing facilities across the region and finding none that met instructional, safety and operational requirements, OAISD realigned programs into district-owned spaces to reduce leasing and create a sustainable, regional solution.
How were renovations funded?
The renovation of the shared Careerline Tech Center East and Thompson M-TEC facility includes updated instructional spaces for Thompson M-TEC and nine Careerline Tech Center programs, Emergency Medical Services, Fire and Rescue, Public Safety and Security Services, Certified Nurse Aide, Patient Care Tech, Phlebotomy, Surgical Tech, Advanced Healthcare, and Dental Careers, along with exterior site improvements such as parking lot expansion, a new bus loop and landscaping. These improvements were funded through the 2023 Building and Site General Obligation Bonds issued by the OAISD Board of Education. In total, the $16 million investment supports the expansion of high-demand Career and Technical Education programs and strengthens workforce development opportunities across the region.
+ Learning & Leading Commons
Learning and Leading Commons
Why is OAISD building the Learning and Leading Commons?
After Thompson M-TEC relocated, the former facility became available to serve as a centralized home for administrative services and professional learning. The Learning and Leading Commons will:
- Provide modern administrative spaces that meet current staff and professional development needs
- Eliminate temporary office use in instructional areas
- Serve as a regional hub for training, collaboration and educator support, helping local schools enhance teaching and improve learning for students across the region.
What will the Learning and Leading Commons include?
- Professional learning and conference spaces
- Administrative offices and Board of Education meeting space
- Meeting rooms for educators and district teams
- Space for Early Childhood programs and Play and Learn groups for children birth to age 5, while consolidating staff previously in leased space to improve collaboration and reduce cost
- Space for community programs and family engagement events
When will the Learning and Leading Commons be completed?
Construction began in December 2025 and is expected to be completed and ready for move-in by spring 2028.
What happens after staff move into the Learning and Leading Commons?
Once staff move out of temporary spaces in Careerline Tech Center’s West building:
- Classrooms will return to instructional use
- Additional Career and Technical Education programs will be added
- More students may enroll in high-demand programs
How are renovations for the Learning and Leading Commons being funded?
The Learning and Leading Commons is being funded through a bond, estimated at approximately $8.5 million, which was approved without a tax rate increase, with remaining costs covered by the district’s Capital Projects Fund. Bond repayment is allocated across district funds using a square-footage-based method, so each fund pays its proportional share based on the space it uses. Capital Projects funds are tracked by their original funding source and allocated accordingly to ensure costs are distributed fairly and transparently.
+ Young Adult Services Program
Young Adult Services (YAS) Program Facilities
Why is OAISD renovating facilities in Holland and Georgetown Township?
The Young Adult Services program serves students ages 18 to 26 receiving special education services through Ottawa Area ISD who are preparing for independent living and employment. New facilities were needed because:
- The Young Adult Services program had been operating in multiple leased or adapted sites that did not fully meet students’ physical, instructional, or accessibility needs.
- Purpose-built environments were needed to support mobility needs, hands-on skill development and community-based learning.
- Consolidating smaller locations into dedicated facilities strengthens consistency, efficiency and student support services.
- Enrollment in transition services has grown as the region’s population of young adults with special needs increases.
The Felch Street Young Adult Services facility in Holland was completed and opened fall of 2024, providing a fully accessible, purpose-built space designed around student needs. The Georgetown Young Adult Services facility in Jenison is currently under construction and is expected to open fall of 2026, further expanding the district’s ability to serve students in community-based settings.
How do the new Young Adult Services facilities better support students?
The design of both facilities directly reflects student needs:
- All learning spaces are located on a single floor for accessibility.
- Kitchens, laundry facilities and other life skills rooms are ADA-accessible.
- Flexible classroom layouts accommodate a range of learning styles and support real-life skill development.
- Community-based locations place students near workplaces and public services used for training, employment and community immersion.
Together, the completed Holland facility and the upcoming Georgetown/Jenison location help students develop independence, confidence and employment readiness in environments designed specifically for their transition to adult life.
How are renovations for the Young Adult Services facilities being funded?
Property acquisition, construction and furniture for the Georgetown and Holland Young Adult Services buildings were funded entirely through Special Education operating funds, supported by the OAISD Special Education millage. These funds are specifically designated to serve students with disabilities and are used to provide appropriate, accessible learning environments for special education programs.