Facilities Update 2007

FACILITIES NEWS

Facilities Master Planning is Underway (November 2007)

The Board of Trustees and staff have been hard at work developing a comprehensive facilities master plan that will guide the development of our facilities for the next ten years.

There has been a lot of information shared over the past months that the District may run a bond measure in February 2008. At its October meeting, the Board decided to await the completion of the facilities master plan prior to considering a comprehensive bond measure to address modernization, remodeling, enrollment, and energy efficiency. The Board has been assured by our consultant, Vanir Construction and Management, as well as Maintenance and Operations Director Tim Ryan that while we will need to make more repairs through the use of other capital project funds, our schools are "safe, warm, and dry" and great education is taking place. A comprehensive bond measure built off of a long range master plan would most likely occur in calendar year 2009.

For now, the facilities master planning process will continue through each of our schools and by way of a district level staff and citizen Facilities Master Plan Committee.

Defining the Future of our Facilities (October 2007)

The public is encouraged to attend the October 10 School Board meeting where the Board will receive an update on the facilities master plan. The facilities master plan is a collaborative process that includes school staff, parents, administrator, and school board participation and will shape the future of district facilities for the next ten years.

Following the completion of a facilities conditions assessment and enrollment study, a district-wide education specifications committee was formed in September 2007 along with school site committees to look at the long range needs for our facilities that consider the District's primary mission and student learning goals.

Board Commissions Facilities Master Plan (August 2007)

With results of a conditions assessment that identified over $19 million dollars in ‘basic repairs’ and a concern about meeting future enrollment growth, the Board of Trustees authorized District staff to conduct a Facilities master plan that will shape the future of school district facilities for at least the next ten years. Vanir Construction Management, Inc. will conduct the development of the plan and report to the Board in February of 2008. The master plan will evaluate needs at each site and at the district office and will involve staff and parents in the process.

Facilities Needs Assessment Findings (February 2007)

At the February 26, 2007 Board of Trustees Study Session, Vanir Construction Management, Inc. presented the the Board with a Facilities Needs Assessment Report (pdf) that reports the condition of our school facilities and potential related costs that may need to be considered to address those conditions. The assessment is a basic evaluation of such things as roofs, heating and plumbing, windows, and building exteriors, to name a few. The assessment also provided some basic options the District may want to consider that could increase student capacity at its buildings.

The work done by Vanir occurred as a result of a recommendation by the District’s Facilities Task Force, a committee of staff, parents and community that conducted its work during school year 2005-2006. As you may know, the District has experienced two consecutive years of enrollment growth, with a third consecutive year of enrollment growth anticipated for school year 2007-2008. Capacity concerns and the general need to plan for the long term quality of our facilities were two significant factors that led to this report.

Vanir Construction Management, Inc. representatives were also in attendance at the March 13th Board Meeting to discuss next steps and to answer questions from the Board.

February Study Session on Facilities (January 2007)

Vanir Construction and Management will present its findings and recommendations regarding District facilities on Monday, February 26. This very important session occurs as a result of the recommendations of the District Facilities Task force and will assist the Board in establishing priorities for future facilities needs.