Coopersville High School transformation takes shape as bond projects enter final phases
The renovations, which students first began utilizing when they returned to classrooms this school year, are the result of a 30-year bond proposal that passed by just 77 votes — 1,053 to 976 — in 2022, highlighting the need to address the district's aging infrastructure.
COOPERSVILLE — Nearly four years after the 2022 election approved it, Coopersville High School has completed the final stages of a $42.9 million overhaul that has transformed the campus from an aging facility into a modernized academic hub.
The renovations, which students first began utilizing when they returned to classrooms this school year, are the result of a 30-year bond proposal that passed by just 77 votes — 1,053 to 976 — in 2022, highlighting the need to address the district's aging infrastructure.
Today, those blueprints have translated into expanded classroom wings, overhauled science labs and a significant "hardening" of school security.
"The bond projects have allowed us to create spaces that truly reflect the needs of a modern learner," said Coopersville High School Principal Tricia McPheron. "From the new classroom wings to the enhanced security at our entrances, every update was designed with student success and safety as the priority.
I think Coopersville has a dynamic team and I would say the great minds within the district were truly able to put together a pretty comprehensive plan to bring the community where the growth was occurring in what needed to take place,” McPheron said.
Coopersville High School has completed the final stages of a $42.9 million overhaul that has transformed the campus from an aging facility into a modernized academic hub. [ONN photos/Cathy Seaver]
Addressing capacity, safety
McPheron said the project was borne out of necessity as the district faced a dual challenge: a growing student body and facilities that had reached the end of their functional lifespans.
The district implemented new secure entryways designed to provide a layer of protection without making the school feel like a fortress. McPheron described the result as a balance between a "secure facility and a community hub."
Beyond the visible changes, millions were funneled into the building’s "invisible" infrastructure. New HVAC systems, roofing, and electrical updates replaced equipment that had long outlived its expected service life.
"You don't always notice a new boiler or improved ventilation until it's not working," McPheron said. "These upgrades ensure that our focus remains on instruction, not on facility failures."
A shift in learning environments
For the students who have spent the past several months navigating the updated building, the most tangible changes are found in the learning spaces. The renovation replaced traditional, rigid rows of desks with collaborative "flex" spaces and updated science laboratories.
District officials noted that the project remained largely on schedule despite the inflationary pressures that have impacted the construction industry since 2022.
Please consider becoming a monthly donor!
"We are incredibly grateful to the Coopersville community for their support," McPheron said. "Seeing the students utilize these new spaces — collaborating in the hallways and thriving in updated labs — confirms that this was the right path for our district's future."
As the district finishes the final "punch-list" items this spring, the focus will shift to the $42.9 million investment, ensuring the facilities serve the Broncos for decades to come, McPheron said.
— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
