Traverse City schools approve more than $42 million in Central Grade renovation contracts

Traverse City Area Public Schools approved more than $42.1 million in contracts for renovation and reconstruction work at Central Grade School, committing the district to a major school-facilities project in Traverse City.

The TCAPS Board of Education took the action at its July 13, 2026, meeting. The approval was reported July 14. The contracts cover more than a single building upgrade, with work planned for Central Grade and its surrounding site.

What the contracts cover

The project includes extensive building and site work, along with upgrades to mechanical and electrical systems. The scope also includes fire-protection and other life-safety systems.

Those improvements address core systems used to operate and protect the school. The contract approval represents a major use of TCAPS capital funds and will guide construction work at Central Grade as the district carries out its broader facilities plans.

The reported contract total is more than $42.1 million. That figure describes the value of the approved renovation and reconstruction contracts; it does not indicate that the work has been completed.

Hybrid HVAC option discussed

The July 13 meeting also included discussion of a possible hybrid heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. The option was described as costing about $568,000 more than the existing project plan.

Potential rebates and grants from Traverse City Light and Power were discussed as possible ways to offset that added cost. The additional $568,000 was presented as a potential increase tied to the HVAC option, separate from the more than $42.1 million in approved contracts.

The meeting discussion did not establish the hybrid system as a final addition to the project. Its adoption and funding remain separate from the contract approval unless a later board action incorporates the option.

Part of broader district decisions

Central Grade was considered as part of wider TCAPS capital-improvement and budget decisions. For the district, the project brings building-system, site and safety work together under a substantial capital commitment. For students, families and staff, the work will shape the school’s facilities as construction proceeds.

The next steps involve carrying out the approved construction work and making any additional district decisions about the hybrid HVAC system and possible outside funding. The July 13 action establishes the renovation contracts while leaving the potential HVAC increase as a separate question.