Comstock Public Schools breaks ground on STEM academy

COMSTOCK TWP, Mich. (WOOD) — Shovels dug in Thursday evening as Comstock Public Schools administrators and teachers celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Comstock STEM Academy Building.

The new building will span 57,000 square feet with dedicated science and robotics labs.

“It will incorporate extended learning areas throughout the school where students are able to engage in some of those and learning methodologies like place-based learning, problem-based learning, project-based learning with their classes,” said Principal Christopher Chopp.

In the last 12 years, the STEM Academy, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math, has expanded from a K-5 program to now teaching 300 K-8 students with science, technology, engineering and math mixed into the daily course work.

It’s an approach that art teacher Jeannine Roys has seen firsthand.

“For me, it’s wonderful because I see everyone kindergarten through eighth grade,” said Roys. “Watching them grow from these excited, imaginative creative little ones, just putting all their ideas on the paper, all the way up until middle school, when they’re real focused and detailed. It’s pretty amazing to watch their growth through the years.”

Roys was also on the STEM design committee and said the building took teachers’ needs into consideration.

“It’ll be really excellent to have this space where we will be able to incorporate more of those things like having an open learning space with extended learning areas where we can do more group projects,” she said.

Current students say the academy’s structure is welcoming.

“It is very fun being here, mainly because we’re pretty much all nerds,” said Donovan Patterson, an eighth-grade student.

Patterson moved to the school in the fourth grade. It wasn’t too long until he took part in the experience-based learning.

“Fifth grade is when it really get interesting, which was also really fun because I got to dissect fish one day,” he said.

Classmate Stella Tillman said the school has been full of opportunities like a recent field trip to the Kalamazoo Pfizer location.

Tillman said the next generation of students are fortunate, not only because of the experiences but because of the newer infrastructure.

“I think the people that are going into the building are really lucky that it’s going to have air conditioning in every room, especially in the gym when it’s hot out,” Tillman said.

The building is expected to be ready in time for the 2026-2027 school year.

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