Oakland Schools ISD center program FAQ
Q: What was the primary factor in deciding to close the Oakland County center programs for ASD and EI at Pine Tree Center?
A: The current building status was not sustainable and appropriate for the students moving forward. The costs for the necessary substantial renovation/rebuild were not realistic in the LOCS budget. The decision was financial, not an evaluation of the programming.
Q: Why was this decision made in January and not May, near the end of the school year?
A: The LOCS contract with the county stipulates that, if a status change is to be made for the following school year, the notice must be provided to the students’ resident district by the end of January to allow for planning. The LOCS administration conducted months of advance research, including weighing its options, before landing on the only financially viable decision.
Q: What will happen with the PHASES program?
A: The PHASES program (post-high school adult special education students, ages 18-26) will continue to be supported by LOCS. Its location for the 2025-26 school year will be determined by the LOCS Administration as the next steps are determined for the Pine Tree Center facility.
Q: What were the costs needed to make the building appropriate for the center programs?
A: Significant renovations or a rebuild are necessary to properly operate as a center moving forward. The current bond renovations of Stadium Drive Elementary, which was built as a mirror image of Pine Tree in 1972, was over $8.3 million. A rebuild of the most recent LOCS elementary school, Blanche Sims Elementary, was $26.6 million. Renovations or a rebuild of Pine Tree to a center would be significantly more than each of those for two reasons: 1- Construction costs have increased significantly since each was completed. 2- A center requires specialized design, equipment, and accessories.
Q: Can these funds be provided by the district?
A: Due to the substantial costs of construction, nearly all school renovation and construction is handled through a bond issue with the community. In 2018, LOCS voters approved a $160 million bond and the projects within the 10-year bond were outlined at that time. New projects cannot be added to the 2018 bond, due to the state Treasury oversight. The bond projects outlined in 2018 are nearly complete, with only a few remaining. Additional/future bond work/renovation would have to be supported by the community in a future bond proposal.
Q: What funds have been contributed during the previous seven years?
A: Oakland Schools provided minor updates at the opening of the center in 2018 to make it safe for center-based students. Staff salaries and programming costs have been covered by Oakland Schools for those seven years. All building repairs were the responsibility of LOCS as the PTC building is the property of LOCS.
Q: Why was it announced and determined at one Board of Education meeting?
A: The LOCS Administration follows a consistent process in its decision-making and the center-program decision was along the usual path. The yearly evaluation of facilities and programming arose in the usual order, the status was presented and the options were created. The research with experts followed, including in-person, on-site visits to comparable facilities across the county, and the options were evaluated by the administration. The finances were considered and the decision followed. As with many of the items presented to the Board of Education, it was placed on the agenda as required and posted for the community to see.
Q: What are the next steps?
A: The LOCS staff will work with the other Oakland County districts to share information and allow those districts to place the returning students in the best possible environment. The LOCS Administration will discuss and evaluate options for the Pine Tree Center building moving forward and the location of the PHASES program.
Q: How many resident students do we have in the program that is closing?
A: LOCS was expecting to have one resident student (out of the program maximum of 41) in the ASD and EI center-based programs in the 2025-26 school year.