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 5 th 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!
Why did last referendum fail? What we have heard ✓ 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? The District to work on ❑ What are the new boundaries for kids? ❑ Community didn’t see need Important for the School District ❑ Lack of communication to work on this. Communications and Outreach ❑ Unanswered questions here to assist ❑ Community doesn’t see value in tax investment 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?
Forest Lake Example: 36 properties within green area to equal 17 Acres 6
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
Total 1200 Kids Students Option 18 HS = 1200 Existing Building MS = 900 New Building K-5 = 1800 New construction Total= 3900 Rebuild Building Grand Rapids High School plus rebuild Grades 9-12 Cohasset 900 Kids $74M RJEMS Grades 6-8 Preferred option 750 Kids 750 Kids 300 Kids 77% New site New Cohasset New site K-5 School Grades K-5 Grades K-5
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 Forest Murphy Southwest Lake Demo Building and trade 5.7 acres to the City for Land by the Hospital • Hold for possible reuse for Early Childhood education Riverview • Explore community & state mandated programs in 2021 Land swap with the City for Riverview Property • Repurpose to reduce lease levy Cost of land by Hospital from the City = $0 • Repurpose for community use
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 on 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!
Ballot 2 scope of work Total Cost = $5,157,405 million Bigfork Locker room and weight room = $888K • 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 Legion = • Would gain 1.9 Football field’s Noble = $1.454 million Practice $1.549 million worth of space Field = $1.265 million
Bigfork School Activities Improvements Relocate existing scoreboard $900K locker room addition and weight room remodel to Bigfork
Current Reality
Future Opportunity
Tax Impact
Financial Summary comparison on Question 1 vs 2015 Elementary Plan 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 Requested Bond Tax payers save Enhances economic development amount = $11 $15,000,000 in (forest lake/riverview/land by million less interest hospital) Debt Paid off 3 Bonding amount = Builds smaller neighborhood years early 14% less schools for less money
Thank you!! Questions? 3,000 volunteer hours to-date 200+ volunteers and counting!! 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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