Fennville Public Schools

Fennville Public Schools
Address
5 Memorial Drive[1]
, Allegan County, Michigan, 49408
United States
District information
GradesPre-Kindergarten-12
SuperintendentAlbert Lombard[2]
Schools4[1]
Budget$20,393,000 2021-2022 expenditures[3]
NCES District ID2614230[3]
Students and staff
Students1,219 (2024-2025)[3]
Teachers83.75 (on an FTE basis) (2024-2025)[3]
Staff185.25 FTE (2024-2025)[3]
Student–teacher ratio14.56 (2024-2025)[3]
Other information
Websitewww.fennville.org

Fennville Public Schools is a public school district in West Michigan. It serves Fennville, Clyde Township, and parts of the townships of Casco, Ganges, Lee, Manlius, Saugatuck, and Valley.[4]

History

One of Fennville's early schools was a brick building originally built in 1894 and expanded several times.[5] It was the only school in the district until Anna Michen Elementary was built in 1957.[6]

A new high school was dedicated on May 11, 1963. The architect was G.E. Diekema of Kalamazoo.[7] The 1894 building then became the junior high school.[6]

After voters rejected a bond issue in 1971 to replace the antiquated junior high, the building began falling apart. Collapsing plaster and unstable floors made the district close certain rooms in October 1972.[6] With the recommendation from the Michigan Department of Education to close the building, students were sent home early on October 8 for an emergency meeting of district staff.[8] The school was then abandoned, and the junior high students began sharing the high school building, with each student body attending on a half-day basis.[9]

The crisis ended when the present high school opened for classes on March 17, 1975. The previous high school then became the district's middle school.[10]

Fennville Elementary opened in fall 2006, replacing Michen Elementary.[11]

Schools and buildings

Fennville schools share a campus on Memorial Drive, north of downtown Fennville.[1]

Schools in Fennville Public Schools district[1][3]
School Address Notes
Fennville High School 4 Memorial Drive, Fennville Grades 9-12. Built 1975.[10]
Fennville Middle School 1 Memorial Drive, Fennville Grades 6-8. Built 1963.[5]
Fennville Elementary 8 Memorial Drive, Fennville Grades PreK-5. Opened fall 2006.[12]
Fennville Alternative High School 4 Memorial Drive, Fennville Alternative high school within Fennville High School, grades 9-12
Fennville Community Recreation 515 North Maple St., Fennville Stand-alone recreation center open to the public. Opened spring 2007.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Fennville Public Schools. "Fennville Public Schools". Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  2. ^ Fennville Public Schools. "Central Office". Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Fennville Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
  4. ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Allegan County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Editorial staff of Fennville High School yearbook. 1963 Reflector (Fennville High School 1963 yearbook). p. 2.
  6. ^ a b c Prosch-Jensen, Joan (October 8, 1972). "Fennville school to bite the dust". Grand Rapids Press. p. 2D.
  7. ^ "Romney to dedicate high school". The Herald-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Mich.). May 4, 1963. p. 13.
  8. ^ Barton, Curt (October 9, 1972). "Junior high school is closed". The Herald Press (St. Joseph, Mich). p. 4.
  9. ^ "Fennville seeks new site for bond vote". The Herald-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Mich.). November 10, 1972. p. 22.
  10. ^ a b "New Fennville High School open". The Herald-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Mich.). April 5, 1975. p. 13.
  11. ^ "Take a peek at new Fennville school". Grand Rapids Press. March 30, 2006. p. B5.
  12. ^ a b Jacobs, Jennifer (May 31, 2007). "Fennville pays homage to past with Alumni Hall". Grand Rapids Press. p. L2.