State sending IM schools $3.1M for infrastructure improvements

IRON MOUNTAIN -- The Iron Mountain School District will receive $3,101,274 from the Michigan Department of Education as part of more than $224 million awarded in infrastructure competitive grants throughout the state.

The grant will pay for projects at four district buildings, including HVAC and fire protection and building access and security work involving doors and windows.

"This state infrastructure funding is a significant investment in the future of the Iron Mountain School District and the students we serve," Superintendent Jerry Sardina said. "This funding will allow the district to address critical facility and infrastructure needs identified in a recent state audit of our facilities. This opportunity will help in creating safer, more modern and more efficient learning environments while reducing the financial burden on local taxpayers. This demonstrated the state's confidence in the district's planning and commitment to responsible stewardship of public resources and demonstrates the state's ongoing efforts to put students first. Most importantly, these improvements will help ensure that Iron Mountain students have the high-quality facilities they need to learn, grow and succeed for years to come."

Iron Mountain is currently replacing the HVAC system in the Izzo-Mariucci building, which has administrative offices and also houses the high school gymnasium. Other work on the building includes increased security at entryways, updates to flooring and walls and new trophy cases.

Gundlach Champion of Iron Mountain is overseeing the more than $2 million project. Other infrastructure work will be planned at other buildings in the future.

Grants were awarded for projects in more than 80 schools and 31 districts. Iron Mountain was one of only two Upper Peninsula districts to receive this funding. Engadine Consolidated Schools received $8,151,746. The infrastructure competitive grants help schools address major infrastructure needs that they otherwise haven't been able to fund. The grant money was able to pay for only 16.5% of the nearly $1.8 billion of requests received, according to a news release.

"These infrastructure grants put Michigan students first and help move us toward multiple goals in Michigan's Top 10 Strategic Education Plan, including Goal 3, to improve the health, safety and wellness of all learners, and Goal 8, to provide adequate and equitable school funding," State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko said in the release. "I thank Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the legislature for providing this important funding. MDE will continue to strongly advocate for investing more state dollars in school infrastructure. In my visits to schools around Michigan, I have witnessed first-hand the critical facility needs that districts are unable to meet with local tax dollars and how this negatively affects student health and learning."

"On behalf of myself, the Iron Mountain Board of Education and the greater community, I would like to thank the State of Michigan and Department of Education for their support and partnership," Sardina said.

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.