MAY 2021 – Since Albion Public Schools annexed into the Marshall Public School (MPS) district in 2016, there has still been a presence of public schools open in Albion.
Public schools currently still operating in Albion are Harrington Elementary School and Marshall Opportunity High School.
Since 2016, the need for a new elementary school building has become apparent. The MPS School Board, in partnership with the district’s Facilities Needs Assessment Committee, have drafted a tentative bond proposal that could be on the ballot in November 2021 to fund the new elementary school.
There are three choices for the location of a new elementary school in Albion. They are labeled on the survey as:
- Behind Marshall Opportunity High School
- Replace Crowell School
- Next to Washington Gardner School
The Marshall School Board has scheduled a vote to tentatively decide on the formal bond proposal language on Monday, May 10, 2021. At this stage in the process, the bond proposal does NOT have to explicitly state the location of the elementary school.
In order to strategically plan the location of a new elementary school based on residents’ input, Marshall Public Schools created the following survey which is actively seeking responses.
The Survey about Albion Elementary School Locations
Other options for the survey
We are aware that there have been some technical issues with accessing the online survey. There are additional options to take the survey and express feedback.
Option 1 – Hard copies of the survey are available at Albion City Hall. The lobby hours at city hall are currently limited to 10am – 3pm due to the pandemic restrictions. However, City staff are available from 8am – 5pm, Monday – Friday at 517-629-5535.
Option 2 – Community leader Harry Bonner and his volunteers will be at Family Fare in Albion Saturday, May 8. A table will be available to pick up surveys from 9 am to noon and 1-4 p.m. His main concern is to get information out to the community. Source – The Recorder, May 6, 2021
Option 3 – Voters can also contact their school board members. The link to the school board members is at the bottom of this post.
Possible Locations for a New Elementary School in Albion (Pending Community Input and a Bond Millage Approval)
Below is the text from the survey, and the architect’s design.
In a recent article from The Recorder, it was stated that there were no public statements about the Crowell School location.
The following information about the Washington Gardner location for an elementary school is not included within the information provided on the MPS survey.
The intent of this post is to share all available information for voters to make the most informed decision possible.
Two presentations about the opportunity for an elementary school next to the Washington Gardner School building have been shared on YouTube.
The first presentation was provided to Albion City Council on April 5, 2021. You can hear the 2.5 minute presentation specifically about this option in the Youtube excerpt below.
The video below is a presentation about the proposed partnership with Albion College for the location and other benefits of this option. This video is about 15 minutes long.
The info below are quotes from the videos above.
The Washington Gardner location could give children:
- Access to a theatre, auditorium, and a African American History Museum including Albion Wildcat memorabilia that could be created inside of the Washington Gardner School.
- More connection with Albion College students, including those who may elect to study education if there is a nearby location for student teaching.
- Shared space within the Washington Gardner School, which has 140,000 square feet.
- An identity that they a sense of belonging on a college campus.
Although Marshall Public Schools does not currently own the land next to Washington Gardner School, Albion College has pledged to deed the land to MPS, if this option is approved.
May 6, 2021 – The Recorder newspaper states one council member shared her reasons for voting to support the plan that was approved by the City Council.
Albion City Council member Lenn Reid, supports the vision of Albion College President Mathew Johnson.
“It is because they have a well-thought-out plan that I haven’t seen from anyone else so far,” she said.
“I also think the whole plan for what they are offering will help Albion to grow.” She also shared her desire for others to put their plans out on the table and that there should be more discussion before a vote. “I feel that they should take a little more time and make sure everybody is aware of what is being done and on what’s being voted, when it’s going to be voted, and how much it is going to cost, and where it is going to be. I don’t’ think we should rush into it without knowing. They are citizens; they are going to have to pay for it, and they are going to have to live with it.”
Community leader Harry Bonner and his volunteers will be at Family Fare in Albion on Saturday, May 8. A table will be available to pick up the surveys from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. His main concern is to get information out into the community. Voters can also contact their school board members.
Marshall Public School Board Members
The link below includes names, photos and emails of the Board of Education for Marshall Public Schools.
https://www.marshall.k12.mi.us/BoardofEducation.aspx
They include Albion residents, Shawna Gamble, Dr. Carrie Nicholson, and Larry Williams.
Other May 2021 Happenings
Historical Marker for Mother’s Day
The first known observance of Mother’s Day occurred on May 13, 1877, and was held in Albion, Michigan over a dispute related to the temperance
Albion Food Distribution has a new name, new dates and new location
The Community Table of Albion opened on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. The current schedule is the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tuesdays of each month, at
Cinco de Mayo – May 5
Cinco de Mayo is May 5 each year. The holiday is more popular in the United States than in Mexico! The date has become associated
Special Election May 4, 2021
The results of the election from May 4 are in. The City of Albion Recreation Millage was passed with 377 votes Yes and 154 No
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Washington Gardner School – From 1872-2011, a school has sat on E. Michigan Avenue as a landmark where thousands of pupils have been educated and graduated. This school was cobbled together in various stages, the oldest part still standing in this art dates back to 1885.
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