District 303 has been preparing a new Facility Master Plan to ensure the
long-term functionality of its buildings and the educational support systems
within that serve students and staff. A facility master plan establishes
a framework for structural maintenance, improvements and growth
and is responsive to an organization’s current and projected needs.

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Background

Background Timeline of Facility Master Planning Process. Details of graphic are listed below.

Winter 2019

New Facility Master Plan launches

District 303 commissions Wold Architects to facilitate the Facility Master Plan process. Data is gathered on facility usage and physical conditions.

Fall 2020

Educational Facility Planning Committee formed

The Educational Facility Planning Committee (an extension of the Citizen Advisory Committee) is formed. They are tasked with working alongside District Administration and Wold Architects to develop a financially sustainable, comprehensive long-range Facility Master Plan that would accommodate enrollment, instruction, programs and support systems over the next 10 years.

Summer 2021

Committee presents report to Board

The Committee presented a report to the Board with recommendations. It included feedback from focus groups and findings ranging from space equity and grade configuration to accessibility and safety and security.

Winter 2021-2022

Review Findings

District Administration worked with Wold Architects to review the committee’s findings and recommendations.


Space Comparison to Industry Standards

District Administration worked with Wold Architects to evaluate current District spaces in comparison to industry standards.

Fall 2022

Board Approves RSP Contract

The Board approved a contract with RSP & Associates to complete a detailed enrollment study and facility capacity study to assess future growth and how the District is utilizing its current buildings.


Board Approves Facility Guiding Principles

The Board approved 13 guiding principles from which the District will follow with regard to facility planning.


Listen Learn Return launched

The District begins a series of listening sessions, called Listen Learn Return, with follow up meetings to share feedback and action steps from the prominent themes that emerged.


Strategic Plan Committee formed

The Strategic Plan Development Committee is formed to begin developing the District’s 5-year plan to guide its long-term vision for students and employees. Priorities include effective collaboration, instructional coherence and culture of dignity.

Winter 2022-2023

Return Meeting on Operations

Return meetings were held to review the Operations Theme, which included concerns on overcrowding in schools, and preview next steps in the Facility Master Plan process.


RSP Presents Findings

RSP presented findings of its enrollment and capacity studies. Among its key findings: Overall enrollment is expected to remain stable over the next 5 years, and across the district there is the functional capacity to support elementary enrollment (the capacity study did not include early childhood services).

Watch RSP's presentation.


Development of Minimum Space Standards

Based on the RSP studies, Administration and the Board determined that minimum space standards need to be established to meet optimal functional capacity and ensure equitable learning experiences for each student. The District values and priorities within its Strategic Plan should be used to establish the standards.

Spring 2023

Administration Presents on Early Childhood

During a Learning and Teaching Committee meeting, Administration presented on early childhood, including required services and how the District provides those services.


Administration Presents Minimum Space Standards to Board

Administration presented to the Board on Elementary Space Utilization and received consensus to share these with RSP, which will use the standards to provide functional capacity numbers this summer. The standards set space minimums for building classrooms, offices and program space. The standards align with the District’s values and strategic priorities, with impacts including more equitable learning spaces, a more inclusive learning model, and collaboration for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Based on current building structures, some schools don't meet all standards.


Lincoln & Fox Ridge usage presented to Board

The District anticipates that the functional capacity numbers to be provided by RSP will suggest repurposing Lincoln Elementary and Fox Ridge Early Childhood Center. At the May 8 Board meeting, Administration provided additional information on projected space utilization for Lincoln Elementary and Fox Ridge Early Childhood Center, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year.


Administration Presents on Compass Academy

During a Business Services Committee meeting, Administration presented on Compass Academy, including required services and how the District provides those services.


Lincoln & Fox Ridge cost analysis, Haines Center space utilization presented to Board

On May 25, Administration presented a cost analysis of Lincoln and Fox Ridge, along with space utilization at Haines Center. Administration was joined by Wold Architects to discuss current use, future building scenarios and funding options. The Board also requested Administration explore additional scenarios. From these options, one scenario and one funding model will be brought before the Board to consider at its June 12 meeting.

Future Timeline

Future Timeline of Facility Master Plan. Details of this graphic are listed below.

Summer 2023

Updated Capacity Numbers from RSP

At the June 12 Board meeting, the Administration will present updated functional capacity numbers from RSP, and will present a recommendation for repurposing buildings using one of the scenarios and one of the funding models discussed at the May 25 Business Services meeting.

Fall 2023

Administration will begin reviewing boundaries

Administration will engage the community regarding boundaries for the 2024-2025 school year.


Board considers construction bids

Construction bid recommendations will be brought for Board approval in order to make functional capacity building modifications next summer.

Winter 2023-2024

Action Taken on Revised School Boundaries

Board takes action on revised school boundaries.

Summer 2024

Building construction begins

Construction begins on District buildings to make small to moderate functional capacity modifications. This is to be completed prior to the start of fall classes.

Fall 2024

Modified buildings and new boundaries open for school year

Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, modified District buildings with new functional capacities open, space utilization changes for Lincoln Elementary and Fox Ridge Early Childhood Center begin and new building boundaries are in place.

Key Terms

Facility Master Plan: A long-term plan that establishes a framework for structural maintenance, improvements and growth and is responsive to an organization’s current and projected needs.

Functional Capacity: Proper utilization of space within a building to ensure appropriate learning and working environments.

Minimum Space Standards: The minimum requirements for how space is utilized consistently across all school buildings, including number of classrooms, offices, size of certain spaces, and program capacity.

Boundaries: The attendance area that determines the school assignment for each student. 

Frequently Asked Questions

As part of the Facility Master Plan process, the Board and Administration identified the need for a detailed enrollment study across the District, as well as a facility capacity study to ensure the District is utilizing its current buildings efficiently. Administration solicited proposals for this work, and on August 8, 2022 approved the proposal from RSP & Associates.

Added on May 11, 2023

RSP shared the results of its enrollment and capacity studies at the February 23 Business Services Committee meeting. In summary, it found that the population and enrollment trend is expected to remain stable over the next 5 years. While the District currently has the capacity to support the population, utilization is unevenly distributed across schools, causing inequitable learning experiences, particularly in art and music. The capacity study did not include early childhood services. Read RSP’s full report.

Added on May 11, 2023

Given RSP’s report noting that utilization is unevenly distributed and there are inequitable learning experiences, Administration and the Board determined that minimum space standards need to be established to ensure equitable learning experiences for each student.

Added on May 11, 2023

Administration developed minimum elementary space standards to support the implementation of curriculum, instruction and district programs in an equitable manner. These standards were presented to RSP in April. RSP will use these standards to create functional capacity numbers and will present them to the Board in June.

Added on May 11, 2023

Yes. Minimum standards for middle and high school buildings will be presented to the Board in the fall.

Added on May 11, 2023

The standards set space minimums for building classrooms, office and program space in elementary schools. They were presented on April 10 and shared with RSP, which will use the standards to provide functional capacity numbers. The capacity numbers will be brought to the Board at its June 12 meeting. District 303 anticipates that the capacity numbers from RSP will suggest repurposing Lincoln Elementary and Fox Ridge Early Childhood Center. In anticipation of the functional capacity numbers, Administration presented a cost analysis of Lincoln and Fox Ridge on May 25, along with space utilization at Haines Center. In addition, it revealed scenarios and funding models for repurposing district buildings and the Board requested Administration explore additional scenarios. A recommendation for one scenario and one funding model will be presented to the Board on June 12. Any approved changes will require the awarding of construction bids, with work taking place during summer 2024 and modified buildings ready for use for the 2024-2025 school year.

Added on May 11, 2023

Based on the variety of current building structures, some elementary schools don't meet all minimum standards. Notably, Lincoln has only 12 classroom spaces, which does not meet the minimum standard of 18 core classrooms, space for non-core/elective classes, and the need for 2 repurposed classrooms. At Richmond Intermediate, there are only 21 total core classrooms, short of the 22 needed to allow for growth. These are further detailed in the Administration’s report to the Board on May 8. While all schools meet a large number of standards, the number of standards met and not met varies across the District.

Added on May 11, 2023

The Board will review functional capacity building numbers from RSP at its June 12 meeting. In order to meet the elementary minimum standards, small to moderate physical modifications to certain buildings may be needed. District 303 anticipates that the capacity recommendations from RSP will suggest repurposing Lincoln Elementary and Fox Ridge Early Childhood Center. On May 25, Administration presented a cost analysis of Lincoln and Fox Ridge, along with space utilization at Haines Center. In addition, it revealed scenarios and funding models for repurposing district buildings and the Board also requested Administration explore additional scenarios. A recommendation for one scenario and one funding model will be presented to the Board on June 12. Board action at this time will enable Wold Architects to prepare construction bids, with work to begin during summer 2024 and be completed in time for the 2024-2025 school year.

Added on May 11, 2023

District Administration recognizes the challenges posed to Lincoln with its building not being able to meet several minimum standards, as well as the capability at Fox Ridge to meet several minimum standards. As RSP noted in its February report, the District possesses the functional capacity to support elementary enrollment. The data sets from the District’s April report, and further explained in its report in May, imply that repurposing Lincoln Elementary and Fox Ridge Early Childhood Center can help to achieve equitable learning experiences for each student in accordance with the minimum standards. Therefore, we anticipate the RSP functional capacity numbers provided in June will show a similar conclusion, and Administration is preparing the necessary options leading up to that meeting.

Added on May 11, 2023

If approved by the Board over the course of the Facility Master Plan timeline, the following changes could take place beginning in the 2024-2025 school year: Small to moderate building modifications to meet functional capacity, reopen Fox Ridge as an elementary school, repurpose Lincoln Elementary, and implement boundary changes. Regardless of how these buildings may be repurposed, the District will maintain its current number of 11 elementary buildings. The District will also maintain early childhood services. Should Fox Ridge revert back to an elementary school, the District will need to determine where early childhood services will be relocated. On May 25, Administrators presented scenarios and funding models for repurposing district buildings and the Board also requested Administration explore additional scenarios. A recommendation for one scenario and one funding model will be presented to the Board on June 12.

Added on May 11, 2023

Regardless of how these buildings may be repurposed, the District will maintain its current number of 11 elementary buildings.

Added on May 11, 2023

District 303 staff will be assigned to positions based on the needs of the District and building utilization in the 2024-2025 school year.

Edited on May 24, 2023

Administration and the Board are continuing to review how possible building modifications for early childhood and elementary may impact other District buildings while effectively maintaining services. This includes the possibility of moving certain programs. On May 25, Administrators and the Board discussed scenarios and funding models for repurposing district buildings. A recommendation for one scenario and one funding model will be presented to the Board on June 12.

Added on May 11, 2023

Administrations presented five scenarios at the May 25 Business Services meeting, and the Board also requested Administration to explore three additional scenarios. Each scenario assumes Fox Ridge will be repurposed as an elementary school, and outlines options for how this impacts other buildings, programs and office space. The five presented scenarios can be found on slides 20-41 of the presentation. The eight total scenarios to be considered are:
•A-1. Relocate EC to Lincoln.
•B-1. Repurpose Lincoln for offices and professional learning space.
•B-2. Maintain Transition and Compass Academy at Haines; and either: Relocate EC Services to Haines and repurpose gym, OR Relocate EC Services to Haines and build an addition.
•C-1. Build Early Childhood Center; and maintain Transition and Compass Academy at Haines.
•D-1. Relocate Transition, L&T office spaces and PL space to Lincoln, and
•D-2. Relocate EC to Haines; and Maintain Compass at Haines.
•E-1. Relocate Compass and L&T offices to Lincoln, and
•E-2. Relocate EC to Haines; and maintain Transition at Haines.
•F-1. Build an Early Childhood Center that could also include space for administrative personnel.*
•G-1. Explore leasing options within the community for administrative office purposes.*
•H-1. Repurpose the existing Administration Building to accommodate more administrative personnel.*

*Requested to review by Board

Added on May 26, 2023

Estimated costs for the scenarios presented at the May 25 meeting can be found on slides 25, 26, 31 and 34. Administration will explore identifying estimated costs for the additional scenarios that the Board requested at the meeting.

Added on May 26, 2023

Administrations presented three funding models at the May 25 Business Services meeting. They include:
•Fund balance
•Long-term debt
•Combination of fund balance and debt.

Added on May 26, 2023

Administration will recommend one scenario and funding model based on the following evaluation criteria:
•Supports implementation of strategic priorities.
•Facility guiding principles.
•Considers future needs/growth and provides flexibility to meet needs.
•Provides the least amount of disruption to students and families.
•The overall cost is within the District’s ability to raise necessary funds.

Added on May 26, 2023

The Board will consider boundary changes for all three levels of education. This decision would be considered by the Board in winter 2023-2024, and if approved would not take effect until the 2024-2025 school year.

Added on May 11, 2023

Any boundary changes would take effect beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. There will not be any boundary adjustments for the 2023-2024 school year.

Added on May 11, 2023

Until the Board takes action boundary changes - which it will consider in winter 2023-2024 - we will not know the impact this will have on students.

Added on May 11, 2023

The District is not anticipating needing a referendum vote at this time.

Added on May 11, 2023

By reviewing these facility numbers and having conversations now, the District can ensure our staff, students and community are well informed of discussions on this topic and in advance of any possible changes, plus execute the construction bid process in a timely manner.

Added on May 11, 2023

What other questions do you have? Submit a question to this form and we’ll work to answer those in future communications.

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