Proposals for two projects designed to involve students, enrich learning opportunities and improve the school grounds were presented to the Suttons Bay Board of Education this week.

Dana Hoensheid, representing the sports boosters and the Field of Dreams committee, appeared before the school board with plans to construct a 20-by-16-foot concession stand at the northwest corner of the soccer pitch behind the school. The structure would replace a facility at the northeast corner of the field, which she said has “met its life.”

“It is small, inaccessible to the spectators (who sit on the west side of the field) and is not ‘friendly’ to those with disabilities,” Hoensheid said. “It’s a major source of income for the boosters.”

Prior to his departure earlier this year, athletic director Cody Inglis listed the replacement of the facility at the top of his priorities for the school sports complex, which has undergone major changes in recent years. The changes have included replacement of bleachers, an overhaul of the football field, replacement of the track and field facilities, and the installation of overhead lights over the soccer field.

Most recently, when Suttons Bay has hosted post-season soccer tournaments, the boosters have gone as far as pitching a tent, securing a generator and producing a make-shift concession stand closer to fans.

A $10,000 cash donation has been made to the sports boosters to upgrade the soccer facility, which could be used toward construction of the new concession stand.

“The potential is there to make it really special,” the Hoensheid said.

A student in Wayne Kalchik’s wood technologies and drafting courses has created a design for the structure. In addition, students have expressed an interest in building the structure based on their classmate’s design. Boy Scout Troop 131 of Suttons Bay has volunteered to help with excavating and landscaping the building site. Likewise, dedicated soccer families are expected to help out, Hoensheid said.

Superintendent Michael Murray said the district has received an offer from Northwestern Michigan College to provide solar panels and batteries to store energy for the building until the district can secure funding for its own equipment to provide renewable energy for the stand.

“They’ll provide the equipment and the technical assistance to the students so they can learn the renewable energy process,” Murray said.

Overall, board members were supportive of the project conceptually and forwarded it to its building and grounds committee for further study.

“It would provide the ‘real life’ experience we always want for our students,” board President Sue Corbin said.

In addition to the soccer field improvements, Montessori teacher Shawn Kreider presented the board with plans to plant for a food-producing children’s garden near the playground west of the school. With a goal of helping students “connect with plant science,” Kreider would like to plant a “three sisters” garden to include corn, beans and squash.

“The corn provides a natural trellis for bean runners and the squash is a natural ground cover,” he explained.

Also planned are plantings of apple and ornamental cherry trees as well as raised beds with fruits and vegetables that could be used for the Montessori students monthly meal, which is planned and produced by students with assistance from instructors.

The estimated cost of preparing the soil and planting the garden is $3,500, though much of the funding is expected to come from grants.

Board members said they were hopeful that the garden would correlate with curriculum and would be something carried from one year to the next and not just a “one year deal”.

Kreider said that Laurie Sohasky, director of Suttons Bay 4-H Kids Club, is also interested in the project as it would provide an additional enrichment opportunity for her summer students.

No action was taken on either proposal Monday night.