Flint Community Schools will begin demolition of the former Central High School building on Thursday, September 10, at 10:00 a.m., marking another major milestone in the district’s new high school project.
Community members are invited to join Flint Community Schools in front of the former Central High School building at 10:00 a.m. to witness the beginning of demolition and the next chapter in the transformation of the site.
This project represents a historic investment in Flint students and the future of our community. Through the extraordinary commitment of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and state funding, Flint Community Schools is able to move forward with a vision for a new high school designed to serve generations of Flint scholars.
“This is a significant moment for Flint Community Schools and for our entire community,” said Superintendent Kevelin Jones. “Central High School holds decades of memories and represents an important part of Flint’s history. As we begin this next phase, we are honoring that history while also looking forward.”
“This moment represents both reflection and renewal for Flint,” said Dr. Joyce Ellis-McNeal, President of the Flint Community Schools Board of Education. “We recognize the generations of scholars, families and educators who built memories and a legacy within the walls of Central High School. At the same time, we are looking ahead to a new high school that belongs to the entire Flint community. This is an opportunity to honor where we have been while creating a school that will serve and inspire generations to come.”
For generations of Flint families, Central High School has been more than a school building. It has been a place where students learned, friendships were formed, traditions were created and memories were made.
“Flint Central High School was so much more than a building for many of us alumni. For generations, it was a place filled with history, tradition, pride, friendships, and memories that continue to mean so much to our alumni and the Flint community. As a proud member of the Class of 1997, seeing the building come down is bittersweet, but I’m excited and hopeful about what the future holds. Flint Central was here. Flint Central will always matter, and its legacy will always be a part of Flint, Michigan,” said LaShaunda Warren, Flint Central High School Class of 1997.
The beginning of demolition marks the transition from remembering what Central High School was to building what the next generation of Flint scholars will experience.
“The new high school will be great for us because it will be spacious, and we will have all of the newest equipment to be able to help us reach our full potential,” said De’Ajah Green, a current 8th grader at Holmes STEM Middle School Academy.
“I am excited about attending the new high school because it will be brand new, and I will be a part of the first class to make history,” said Mae’son Townsend, a current 8th grader at Holmes STEM Middle School Academy.
The demolition of the former Central High School is an important step in the district’s vision for a new, state-of-the-art high school campus serving Flint scholars. The project will transform the former Central-Whittier site into a modern educational environment designed to support academic achievement, innovation, collaboration and the evolving needs of Flint students.
While the former Central High School building may be coming down, the legacy of the students, educators, families and community members who have called Central High School home will live on.
“This is not an ending—it is the beginning of a new chapter,” said Superintendent Jones. “We are grateful to everyone who has helped bring us to this moment, and we look forward to seeing what we can build together for Flint.”
Safety Information for the Public
A secure perimeter has been established around the site. Members of the community and media who wish to view the demolition are required to remain in designated public viewing areas outside the construction fence for their safety. Heavy machinery and dust mitigation protocols will be in place throughout the demolition process.
For continuous updates on the project, please visit the Flint Community Schools New High School Project webpage: flintschools.org/page/new-high-school.
Press Release PDF link: https://aptg.co/7bhdrk