We have a SPACE problem! The four Grand Rapids area Elementary - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

We have a SPACE problem!

• The four Grand Rapids area Elementary schools were originally built for 44 sections of K-5
• Students. They currently house 55 sections of K-4 and will house 56 sections of K-4 next year.
• In 2007, the 5th grade was moved to the RJE Middle School because of space shortage at the

elementary school level. In 2014, six more classrooms were added to the middle school. It was originally designed for 33 sections and now has 45 sections of classes in it. Now, the middle school is over-crowded.

• 14 portable/temporary classrooms are in use at 3 of our Elementary’s. Pre-K classes are in 16

leased classrooms. The Alternative Learning Center is in leased space.

• Even with the addition of these portable classrooms, the Gyms, Cafeterias, Library/Media

areas and common spaces are too small for current enrollment, as they were built to service 300 students per school (and we are at 360 and growing).

• The space we have is not all ADA compliant. Making it conform to federal law is expensive

and in Cohasset extremely expensive due to the buildings design.

The Elementary Facilities Taskforce (EFT) was formed to find solutions to our critical space problem

We have a SPACE problem!

✓Too much money ✓How were the dollars to be used ✓900 student schools too large ✓Cohasset losing community school ✓No plan for sites ✓Riverview history ❑How would be teachers impacted? ❑What are the new boundaries for kids? ❑Community didn’t see need ❑Lack of communication ❑Unanswered questions ❑Community doesn’t see value in tax investment

Why did last referendum fail? What we have heard

The District to work on Important for the School District to work on this. Communications and Outreach here to assist The voters will decide

Minnesota Department of Education

GUIDE FOR PLANNING SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN MINNESOTA

What are important considerations when locating site options?

• Current Zoning – In what zoning districts are elementary schools a permitted land use?
• Future Land Use Plans – Where does the City’s Comprehensive Plan intend growth of

land use types to occur? (In this situation, planned residential land use growth is particularly relevant)

• Location of Utilities – Do prospective sites have reasonable access to sanitary sewer,

water, electric, natural gas and telecommunication infrastructure?

• Location of Transportation Infrastructure – Do prospective sites have access to

roads/highways that are adequately designed to carry traffic to and from the site?

• Site Size – What area is needed for the development? (In this case, MDE standards)
• Current Use or Level of Existing Development – Are the sites that meet the preceding

requirements currently developed? What are the prospects of having willing sellers?

• Limiting Physical Features – Are there features of the site that would add complexity or

cost, such as; extreme topography, wetlands, or the potential need for environmental remediation?

6

Forest Lake Example: 36 properties within green area to equal 17 Acres

Estimated Property Acquisition costs for Existing Elementary Schools to meet Minimum MDE Standards

Cohasset site CAN be expanded to meet MDE Guidelines Murphy site CANNOT be expanded to meet MDE guidelines Forest Lake site CANNOT be expanded to meet MDE guidelines Southwest site CAN be expanded to meet MDE guidelines

Determining what would solve space issues:

▪ Group determined we would need 12 sections of K-5 (72 sections with 300 students/class) based on recent county birth rates and projected class size (schools were originally build for 44 sections of K-5; there are 66 sections in 2017-2018). ▪ 20 different options were developed and reviewed

▪ 1 option was to remodel the 4 existing schools ▪ 5 Options were for new schools only ▪ 14 options had combinations of remodeling and new construction

▪ Most people were comfortable with schools of smaller than 6 sections or 900

• students. Teachers and Administration prefer K-5 schools instead of K-2 and

3-5 schools. ▪ Keeping a community school in Cohasset was seen as valuable by the majority of the committee. ▪ Any new schools will need the ability to expand, if required.

EFT’s Recommended Plan

• Recommended two new K-5, 750 student schools with capability to

expand to 900 in the future if needed, and a K-5 300 student school in Cohasset.

• Recommend Southwest school be retained and used for mandated

programs and elimination of leased space.

• Recommend Forest Lake and Riverview properties be redeveloped

for housing.

• Recommend keeping costs less than $70M
• Recommend further study of Murphy school use. Hold for 4 yr olds,

repurpose, demo… $20M+ if new building(s) for 4 yr olds

Grand Rapids High School Grades 9-12 RJEMS Grades 6-8

Option 18

New construction plus rebuild Cohasset

Existing Building New Building

900 Kids 1200 Kids

Total Students HS = 1200 MS = 900 K-5 = 1800 Total= 3900

300 Kids

New Cohasset K-5 School

Rebuild Building

New site Grades K-5

750 Kids 750 Kids

New site Grades K-5

$74M

Preferred

• ption

77%

Land Acquisition Budget for Sports Complex Site Private Land budget = $555,840 Demo in budget = $75,000 Budget for purchasing city land = $301,530

Land Acquisition Budget for Hospital Site Land cost = $0 Land swap of Forest Lake and Riverview Properties with the City of Grand Rapids

750 Student School Layout

CONCEPTUAL FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY

Preliminary Cohasset Design Concept

Land Acquisition Complete (and verified with Mn Dept. of Education)

Cohasset School Layout with potential City of Cohasset paid for enhancements

PLANS FOR EXISTING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS/SITES

Demo Building and trade 5.7 acres to the City for Land by the Hospital Land swap with the City for Riverview Property Cost of land by Hospital from the City = $0

Forest Lake Murphy Southwest Riverview

• Repurpose to reduce lease levy
• Repurpose for community use
• Hold for possible reuse for Early Childhood

education

• Explore community & state mandated programs in

2021

Additional Recommendations

• A priority needs to be placed on security and adequate parent drop-off and pick-up.
• The bus transportation plan needs review with more weight given to time children

are spending in transit. In part, this is what is driving high parent drop-off/pick-up

• rates. This is a good time to review transportation plan.
• A process to bring teachers and fiscally conservative community members together

to ensure buildings are adequately sized, but not overbuilt, is needed.

• Teachers/union should participate in re-alignment of teaching assignments.
• School Board should create a process for public input into determining new school

boundaries.

• The EFT process was significantly impacted by current sites being inadequate based
• n MDE guidelines and few site options. Future projects need site options

determined before starting.

• Inside and outside athletic spaces should be sized for community/multiple use.

Ballot Question 1 & Financial Summary:

Ballot Question 2: Contingent on Question 1 Passing!

• Bigfork locker room & weight

room improvements

• Turf Noble Field and Practice

Field

• Acquire Legion Field from the

City of Grand Rapids and install artificial turf with a removeable mound on Legion Field

• Would gain 1.9 Football field’s

worth of space

Ballot 2 scope of work

Noble = $1.549 million Legion = $1.454 million Practice Field = $1.265 million Bigfork Locker room and weight room = $888K

Total Cost = $5,157,405 million

$900K locker room addition and weight room remodel to Bigfork Relocate existing scoreboard

Bigfork School Activities Improvements

Current Reality

Future Opportunity

Tax Impact

Financial Summary comparison on Question 1 vs 2015 Elementary Plan

Bonding amount = 14% less Requested Bond amount = $11 million less Builds smaller neighborhood schools for less money

Comparisons 2015 Bond Referendum April 10 Bond Referendum Q 1

Bonding Amount $80,135,000 $68,910,000 Average Interest Rate used 4.15% 4.25% Term 22 Years 19 Years

Tax payers save $15,000,000 in interest Debt Paid off 3 years early Enhances economic development (forest lake/riverview/land by hospital)

Thank you!! Questions?

For more information, visit isd318.org and click the Facility Plan tab. A full recording of our June presentation to the School Board is available on watchictv.org under Streaming - > Government Meetings.

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