VOTER DETAILS & LOCATIONS ON PAGE 10 ESTIMATED OVER 2024 RATES
Proposed renovations and reconstruction at Ferndale Middle School would open up new possibilities for collaboration and project-based learning.
CONTENTS
The Future is Flexible
Adaptive classrooms and spaces for secondary education.
PAGES 3-4
Distinguished Middle School & High School
Strengthening school identity to seperate FMS from FHS would support student development and community.
PAGES 5-6
Turning Up the Volume
Integrated and expanded music education spaces to support orchestra, choir, and band programs.
PAGE 7-8
CREDITS
A new Music Suite at Ferndale High School would bring band and orchestra together with new collaborative spaces and improved storage for equipment and instruments.
GRAPHIC: Site Improvements Map
View the map of ongoing and proposed improvements at Ferndale Middle & High Schools.
PAGE 9-10
Story Contributors: Tim Burke, Linden de Leeuw, Elon Jamison, Diana Keefe, Brady Mills, Jason Naumann, Grace Peterhans, Kimberly Schroeder, Tom VanDeGriend, Felicia Wright Senior Editor: Robert Tolbert
Photos: Jeremiah Sanders, GMB
Superintendent, Ferndale Schools: Camille Hibbler Deputy Superintendent: Felicia Wright Board of Education: President Sandra N. Dukhie, Vice President Lisa Kaiser, Secretary Jonathan Turner, Treasurer Jackie Hart, Trustees David Crumrine, Mark de la Vergne & Erin Molnar
Sample Imagery. Actual layout and design to be determined after voter approval.
0ZERO MILL INCREASE
VOTER DETAILS & LOCATIONS ON PAGE 10 ESTIMATED
OVER 2024 RATES
Dear Ferndale Families, Neighbors, & Community Partners,
If you’ve stepped inside the brand-new Ferndale Lower Elementary, you’ve seen firsthand the incredible transformation our students experience every day. Bright, modern, and built for 21st-century learning, this space is more than just a school—it’s a launchpad for our students' futures!
And here’s the best part—it was made possible by YOU! Every brick, every classroom, every innovation is a direct result of our community’s unwavering support. Over the past five years, your commitment has helped shape environments where students thrive, teachers inspire, and learning comes to life in so many of our classrooms.
We’re excited to carry this vision forward. We are asking the community to vote May 6th on a bond proposal for $114.8M in capital improvement funds at an estimated no tax-rate increase over the 2024 millage rate. These funds would support the next phase of this transformation, focused on Ferndale Middle and High Schools and continuing the goals established in 2020. Over the next year, we will embark on a 12-14 month planning and development process with GMB architects, Ferndale Schools staff, and YOU—our community—to finalize plans that will create a modern learning environment designed for student success, health, safety, security, and energy conservation.
Here’s what’s ahead:
• A dedicated and age-appropriate Middle School environment with secure entryways.
• Expanded learning spaces with larger classrooms and collaborative areas.
• A brand-new Music Suite for band, orchestra, and vocal music programs.
• Remodeled and upgraded instructional and fine arts spaces.
• Improvements to outdoor learning areas and athletic fields.
This is more than construction—it’s an investment in our students, our schools, and our future. We are committed to making these improvements in partnership with you, ensuring our schools continue to be a place where all students thrive.
Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey!
Camille Hibbler Superintendent, Ferndale Schools
Superintendent Camille Hibbler cuts the ribbon to unveil the new Ferndale Lower Elementary building alongside Principal Diana Keefe, Board of Education members, city officials, and neighbors.
The Future is Flexible 21st Century Learning Environments
Innovation and collaboration are essential to contemporary and future workplaces. As automation increasingly replaces manufacturing jobs, entrepreneurs and employees alike are expected to perform multiple tasks using multiple sets of tools. Every day, most workers jump between physical and digital space. Traditional classrooms struggle to prepare students for these roles and expectations. Let's explore what it takes to create a 21st Century Learning environment, and how bond funds would achieve those goals.
New classrooms built at FMS would be 30% larger if the bond passes on May 6th, 2025. The new space could be used for research stations, reading nooks, maker spaces, or a variety of other needs identified by staff and students. Flexible furniture would also make the space adaptable to project-based learning and distributed focus areas.
NEW SIZE CURRENT SIZE
Sample Imagery. Actual layout and design to be determined after voter approval.
EVOLVING CLASSROOMS
A priority of the bond proposal is to enlarge classrooms by adding approximately 30% more space inside. FHS & FMS science labs are programmed to be 200 sq ft larger, with flexible floor plan improvements that transform traditional rooms into learning labs and makerspaces. As the district has done in other buildings through the 2020 bond, this increased footprint enables more movement and flexibility. Instead of remaining seated and facing the chalkboard, students are encouraged to move about the classroom for a portion of the day. Educators have found that designating specific areas of the classroom to certain learning or work modes within the classroom—as within the modern workplace—teaches students to segment their workload and delegate activities to appropriate areas. This is made easier with flexible classroom furniture and technology that encourage student choice.
BREAKOUT ROOMS
Changing the environment has also been shown to stimulate the brain and improve learning. Often, collaboration is encouraged with group zones and cooperation areas. Proposed improvements also include breakout rooms for small groups or individuals to collaborate with acoustical privacy when projects demand higher focus (or higher volume).
EXTENDED LEARNING AREAS
Early plans for the 2025 bond improvements include multiple extended learning areas on each floor of the new addition. These large shared spaces are directly off the corridor and immediately adjacent to the classrooms. Access will be shared by 3, 4, or 5 classrooms for student collaboration and project-based learning. To further stimulate the brain, these spaces would include varied seating, writeable surfaces, and integrated technology.
Our vision of aligning student experiences across the district is a continuation of the 2020 bond work, once again partnering with GMB—an educational services firm who has supported recent improvements. “Our approach goes beyond the fundamentals of technology, flexible furniture, transparency, natural daylight, and indoor air quality—these are just the baseline. True transformation happens when space is designed to adapt to evolving educational needs, empower educators, and inspire students to engage, collaborate, and thrive.”
Grace Peterhans is the parent of two students at Ferndale Upper Elementary and FMS. She learned more about the bond proposal at the State of the District. "Expanding the common areas to allow for collaboration and experiences outside of the traditional classroom setting is exciting. Ferndale students deserve modernized accommodations that take both educational and safety concerns under consideration."
Breakout rooms offer acoustical privacy and integrated technology for project-based learning. «
Extended learning areas invite independent study & small group collaboration. »
Sample Imagery. Actual layout and design to be determined after voter approval.
Sample Imagery. Actual layout and design to be determined after voter approval.
Distinguished Middle School & High School
Middle school is a time of transition for every student. Providing an environment for pre-teens to comfortably learn and interact is essential. The proposed bond projects at the Pinecrest campus would create a new corridor structure for 6th-8th grade classrooms with age-appropriate amenities.
Children grow the capacity for more connections and community as they mature. This results in a larger ideal range for student populations, with 6th-8th grade thriving among 125-200 peers. Currently, the entire middle school population of over 500 students is dispersed across the 2nd and 3rd floors, occasionally intersecting with high school students. The bond proposal would achieve this ideal scale for student learning and reduce the social pressure of mixed grade-levels in the following ways:
• Dedicated Middle School corridors
• Grade-level neighborhoods
• Improvements & modernizations to every classroom in the entire building
»
Through grade-level neighborhoods and a dedicated middle school corridor, Ferndale Middle School students can experience the optimal population range for their developmental age.
1,200-1,300 450-550
FMS students transition between classrooms, often sharing corridors with high school students. To reduce anxiety and social pressures at this critical stage of development, the proposed bond project would clarify the distinction between Middle & High School spaces. «
NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENTS
Limiting interactions across grade levels is a proven strategy for reducing social pressure and increasing self-confidence for any age range. This can be achieved by grouping classrooms and shared spaces into 6th, 7th, and 8th grade neighborhoods where students spend most of their day. We've centered the new Ferndale Lower Elementary similarly through K, 1, and 2 neighborhoods where students interact and thrive. Continuing this transformational work of the 2020 bond projects, we have similar improvements planned at the Ferndale Middle School corridor. By designing intentional learning environments that foster meaningful interactions, we can actively support students' physical and emotional well-being.
SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS
Secure environments continue to be a priority, as they were in 2020 bond improvements. The entryway location would be the same with increased security made possible by a secure vestibule, as we have constructed at Early Childhood and Elementary buildings. The new office space would provide the amenities parents and visitors need without access to student spaces.
Common areas, grouped classrooms, and visual cues like color pallettes can all be used to establish a cohesive grade-level neighborhood as part of middle schools bond improvements.
MAKING DISTINCTIONS
Ferndale Middle School students are encouraged to experience music, drama, robotics, advanced STEAM courses, and athletics to explore their interests and identity. These opportunities are supported by proximity to Ferndale High School, and those benefits will only increase with improvements to every classroom on campus. However, construction plans would establish more consistent separation between middle and high school students.
One planned improvement would relocate the Middle School band room adjacent to the FMS gym, while increasing its scale for student safety. While Middle School students would also retain access to shared spaces—including the auditorium, cafeteria, and courtyard—they would continue to utilize these spaces at separate times from high school students.
All of these improvements would bring Ferndale Middle School & Ferndale High School environments inline with Ferndale’s preschool, elementary, and other high schools—child-centered, age-appropriate learning spaces that empower our students to succeed.
Sample Imagery. Actual layout and design to be determined after voter approval.
Turning Up the Volume
Right-Sizing Spaces for Music Education
The last time the music program was moved around was 20 years ago. Since then, music staff have found very creative ways to store all of this stuff. It isn’t easy or practical, and that can have an impact on education. That’s why we are turning up the volume!
Large instruments like tubas, trombones, percussion instruments, oboes, and upright basses take up major space in music rooms.
STUDENT DIRECTED LEARNING SPACES
Small ensemble spaces added to the Music Suite will allow for more peer-to-peer collaboration and small group work. Student-directed learning in music supports the curriculum goals district-wide that foster student leadership and executive functioning.
GREATER HARMONY
This capital improvement will also create clearer boundaries around Ferndale Middle School by moving the FHS Band Room out of the SW corner of the campus. This space, adjacent to the Middle School gym, will be renovated for middle school music students. Moving band and orchestra spaces together in the arts extension of the high school will extinguish the need for hundreds of band students to enter the Middle School wing for band practice. Middle school students will still access orchestra, theatre, and choir rooms in the east wing.
Adjacent to the band room and orchestra room, the Music Suite will also add individual and group practice rooms, library storage, and offices.
STORAGE SPACE
Adjacent storage for instruments and equipment will not only support collaboration. It will also prolong the life of valuable equipment. Orchestra instruments require temperature and humidity stable rooms. “Right now instruments are stored next to big windows in a room with a drafty garage,” according to Orchestra Director Linden de Leeuw. Marching Band requires keyboards, drumline, and the massive sousaphones which aren’t used in Concert Band, as well as flags, rifles, and other equipment for color guard and winter guard performances. Keeping all these items together and in good condition will be a breeze with new facilities.
New library rooms will also house over 300 linear ft of sheet music collected by concert band, marching band, orchestra, and ensembles. Orchestra alone has over 1,600 pieces of sheet music. These collections are worth over $100,000!
A LASTING IMPACT
“I think it will be transformative,” said High School Band Director Elon Jamison. “For students, [a dedicated music suite would result in] more obvious collaboration. Students will be rehearsing at the same time, and the ease of integration will be dramatically improved.” Elon Jamison has led the High School Marching Band to 11 State Championship victories. “I’m also a community member, with an 8th grader and 3rd grader in Ferndale Schools. And I’m very excited for the opportunities this will provide to my own children.”
ESTIMATED OVER 2024 RATES
ZERO MILL INCREASE VOTER DETAILS & LOCATIONS ON PAGE 10
Storage space is needed for large instruments like the tuba «
Site Improvements Map
UPCOMING 2020 BOND IMPROVEMENTS
ATHLETICS ENTRY ADDITION
Small classrooms would be demolished to make room for expanded, modernized learning spaces.
Reduces transit time for students
Modernized, flexible classrooms built for collaboration with technology integration
FINE ARTS ADDITION
Improved dressing rooms for theatre department
Expanded set construction room for stagecraft
Backstage access improvements
2025 BOND PROJECTS
DEMOLITION OF 1950S CLASSROOM BLOCKS
Small, distant classrooms would be demolished to make room for expanded, modernized learning spaces.
ACADEMIC ADDITION
Separating Middle & High School identities and spaces
Reduces transit time for students
Modernized, flexible classrooms built for collaboration with technology integration
30% larger classroom footprints & extended learning spaces for group work
Expanded common areas for more efficient school day transitions
How To Vote
VOTE EARLY IN-PERSON
Saturday, April 26th
– Sunday, May 4th
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on all days except Thursday. 12:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursdays
FERNDALE & ROYAL OAK TWP RESIDENTS
Hazel Park Community Center 620 West Woodward Heights Boulevard Hazel Park, MI 48030
OAK PARK & PLEASANT RIDGE RESIDENTS
Oak Park Community Center 14300 Oak Park Blvd. Oak Park, MI 48237
MIDDLE SCHOOL OFFICE ADDITION
Increased security at visitor entry point
More space for student services
MUSIC SUITE ADDITION
New High School music rooms to accomodate greater collaboration
Appropriate equipment and sheet music sturage
MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND ROOM CONVERSION
Renovate current HS band room for Middle School
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Absentee ballots became available March 27 and can be filled out and returned at any point prior to the election.
ON ELECTION DAY
Tuesday, May 6th
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Find your polling precinct location
State of Michigan Voter Information Center https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index
On May 6, 2025, voters in Ferndale, Royal Oak Township, Oak Park, and Pleasant Ridge will consider a bond proposal that would provide major improvements to the Ferndale Middle & High School Building:
If approved, the proposal would generate $114,800,000 for signi cant renovations with no projected increase to the current
