Construction begins on Birchview School expansion

ISHPEMING — Construction has begun in Ishpeming on a project that will improve educational opportunities for elementary school students.

Students and faculty of Birchview Elementary School helped break ground today the school’s new expansion. Expanding the school will add technological opportunities for students and provide more classroom space.

“It’s a technology-based expansion,” Birchview principal Dan Barry said. “We’re adding two new computer rooms. We’ll have a complete new technology infrastructure throughout the building. We’re also adding two classrooms to pull our students from Central Elementary over to Birchview.”

A bond recently passed by Ishpeming residents is providing funding for the project. That bond will also provide new windows, a new cafeteria, and other improvements at the combined middle and high school.

“We’re excited about it,” superintendent John Summerhill said. “It’s not only here at Birchview but at the middle/high school as well. We’re going to do some much needed improvements, and at the end we’re going to have a very, very strong structure to support students. It’s just a great opportunity for our community and students to give them a high learning experience and our staff to have an infrastructure that’s strong and up-to-date.”

Officials hope to have the Birchview expansion complete by the end of this school year and the improvements to the middle/high school finished by next August.