Overall, SDFA facilities are well maintained and smaller projects have consistently been addressed due to investments made from the annual operating budget, the 2006 referendum for geothermal in four (4) buildings, and utilization of reserve funds. Phase 1 work is currently in progress and Phase 2 of the strategic facilities plan is currently under consideration.

Phase 1 - School Board approved in April 2021 and includes: 

• Upgrades to lighting, boilers, HVAC equipment, plumbing, pool equipment, clocks, and addresses urgent maintenance items outlined in the facilities study. 
• Work is being completed without an increase to taxpayers through leveraging energy savings and the annual operating budget.

Phase 2 - New Middle School, secure entrances at ALL district buildings, and urgent maintenance at elementary schools:

• The facilities needs study indicated more than $10 million would need to be spent on maintenance at the current middle school over the next 10-plus years just to keep it open. 
• Current middle school was originally built in 1911 and serves approximately 650 students. 
• Current middle school lacks collaboration spaces, flexible areas, and small group spaces. Schools today need a variety of learning environments to best support our students' needs.

The District is considering building a new middle school on property it owns that is between the current high school and MATC. This would result in cost-savings to taxpayers as we would not be purchasing new land, and a sharing of specialty educational facilities (tech ed, autos, theater, etc.). The land where the current middle school is located would be returned to a natural state and would remain in district ownership.

In addition, shared resources, facilities, and teachers between the high school and middle school would be extremely beneficial for our students. This campus approach would also open doors to extended community partnerships to help improve teaching and learning within our schools, and our community.

Schools today need the flexibility to provide a variety of learning environments while maintaining supervision to hands-on work areas, small group instruction, and large-group collaboration areas. These spaces also help prepare students for the real-life environments they will experience beyond graduation and in the workforce.  

Besides safety and security upgrades at every building, each of the four elementary schools would have urgent needs addressed, such as ADA accessibility, along with exterior repairs such as persistent roof leaks and rusted doors and frames.

• Realize the master planning process will be running parallel with an operating referendum 
• Determine an approach for each building and the district that satisfies the community 
• Consider all factors during the decision-making process (i.e. academic, financial, and social) 
• Ensure building equity amongst all district schools 
• Maintain manageably-sized schools 
• Reinforce safety and security at all district buildings 
• Consider district ongoing continuous improvement efforts 
• Address short and long-term deferred maintenance items at all schools

The FAC will identify viable facility solutions to present to the community for feedback, which will be narrowed through community engagement sessions with the final options being tested via a community-wide survey.

The Facilities Assessment Report was completed on April 24, 2019, which outlines the deferred maintenance needs to be completed by educational facility consultants CG Schmidt (CGS) and Plunkett Raysich Architects (PRA). 

The consultants reviewed the physical characteristics of each building including the appearance, condition, and current use, in addition to exploring building capacity, educational space adequacy, accessibility standards, and security. The data collected is used to determine the feasibility and cost of space reallocation, developing new spaces, remodeling, consolidation, or expanding the buildings.

The Facilities Advisory Committee (FAC) is charged by the Board of Education with developing a master plan that will guide the investment into district facilities to support future academic programs and create safe and vibrant learning environments. 

This requires the FAC to explore every possible solution taking into account the academic needs, student and staff requirements, condition of existing buildings, and the fiscal challenges facing the district. The FAC will explore all short and long-term solutions based on the Facilities Assessment Report that was completed on April 24, 2019.