Process

The long-range facility planning process for South Washington County Schools focuses on three major phases:

  1. Plan development
  2. Feedback
  3. Decision-making
  • Plan development: Collect and analyze the data required to define the issues driving the District’s need for additional facilities. Data includes enrollment projections, community growth plans and building capacities. Multiple alternative plans to address these issues were created with projected costs.
  • Feedback: A variety of internal and external stakeholders provided input on several alternative plans to narrow the options for consideration. Feedback began with targeted groups and included advisory groups, school staff and the community. 
  • Decision-making: Upon completion of the feedback stage, the Steering Committee will evaluate all data, rationale and feedback to create a recommendation to the Superintendent to present to the school board for discussion and adoption.

View the document that is guiding the work throughout the facility planning process.

Guiding Principles 

  • Include internal and external stakeholders in the development and evaluation of plan proposals and provide regular communication about progress.
  • Protect the taxpayer’s investment by weighing the merits of improvements and renovations, and the long-term cost of new construction.
  • Provide equitable access to academic programming and technology across schools and grade levels within the district’s financial limitations.
  • Review building capacities, enrollment projections, community demographics and growth projections to support plan proposals and recommendations.
  • Understand that schools are centers of the community and may provide a mix of community uses in collaboration with other public entities.

 

The Purpose

  • To achieve the best possible learning environment for students.
  • Ensure adequate classroom space at all grade levels and appropriate space for early learning, Pre-K and adult education.
  • Design equitable learning spaces and consistent programming at the elementary, middle and high school level.
  • Determine facility modifications to existing school buildings to address changes in curriculum or advancements in personalized learning methods.