The Portage Township School Board is adding more construction projects with bond money because bids for the new Aylesworth Middle School were so low.
Superintendent Amanda Alaniz said Monday the work will include moving the auto mechanics shop from the current Willowcreek Middle School, which is slated to be demolished when the new school is built, to Portage High School. Elementary school HVAC projects are planned, as well as some renovations at Fegely Middle School.
The board changed its agreement with Skillman Corp., the district’s construction management firm, on Monday to include the additional projects.
The new middle school will be the district’s first new school building since 1979, but Alaniz and the board take pride in how the buildings are maintained.
Over the holiday break, Alaniz said, the custodians and maintenance crews were busy, Alaniz told the board.
Work included new flooring in some high school classrooms, repairing drainage and plumbing issues in restrooms, installing a dishwasher at Kyle Elementary School, updating the scoreboard at the high school softball field, reorganizing the warehouse and other work.
“The buildings are all spic and span as they were first semester,” Alaniz said. “They’re very well maintained for their ages, something we’re very proud of.”
People think schools are closed during breaks, but a lot happens when students are in the buildings, Board President Andy Maletta said.
Maletta was reelected board president Monday. All the other officers remain the same as in 2025, with Wilma Vazquez as vice president and Lori Wilkie as secretary.
“I do enjoy being on the board with all of you and in this role,” Maletta said.
Monday was a busy day for the district’s staff.
The morning was the first time Alaniz met with the entire staff for a mid-year staff celebration, she said, celebrating many successes from the first district.
“We also had just time to laugh and enjoy each other’s company,” she said.
The afternoon included a leadership retreat for department heads.
“It seemed like there were probably 1,000 people there in attendance,” said Vazquez, who attended the morning celebration.
Every school, various departments and probably 50 to 100 individuals were singled out for honors, she said. “That just made them feel so valued.”
“You talked about supporting each other, and you talked about the joy they have of supporting each other,” Vazquez said.
“Things like this go a long way” in building the culture the board wants, Maletta said. “I think the culture has come a long way from where it had been in the past.”
Board member Matt Ramian gave a shout-out to the boys basketball team, which started its season with a 12-0 record, the first time since 1943-44.
“I’d like 1/16th of those boys’ energy. They’re unbelievable,” he said.
The PHS band adds to the atmosphere. “You go to those games, it’s like going to a college game,” with so much energy, Ramian said. The large band makes it difficult to hear the person next to you when it’s playing, he said with pride. “It’s amazing. I love it. I think they’re doing great.”
Maletta acknowledged members of the girls wrestling team who are going to state championships, a couple of them for the third time.
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
