Board approves school secure vestibules and renovation schematics after cost and safety discussions

The Millard Public Schools Board of Education approved schematic designs for secure vestibules and interior renovations at several schools during its Oct. 21 meeting, with staff and trustees focusing discussion on safety, visibility, landscaping maintenance and budget gaps.

Staff presented schematic designs for Abbott Elementary, Black Elk Elementary, Montclair Elementary and Anderson Middle School and sought approval to proceed to the next design and procurement stages. The board also approved a schematic for an interior renovation at West High School.

At Abbott Elementary, staff told trustees that schematic costs were higher than original estimates largely because controls that manage the building’s HVAC are on an older system (identified in the discussion as "INET") and are failing. Facilities staff said replacing those controls while ceilings were open added “a couple hundred thousand” dollars to the schematic estimate; they said that the construction manager-at-risk process and guaranteed maximum price (GMP) negotiations provide additional opportunities to reduce final costs.

Trustees asked about the large amount of glazing in several new vestibule designs and whether increased night visibility could create safety or vandalism concerns. District staff said the secure vestibule itself is the primary safety improvement and noted that some entries will include roller shades to control morning sun and glare. Staff also noted that at-night lighting and occupancy patterns affect visibility and that the safety audit did not flag the glazing as a problem.

On landscaping and site work, trustees raised maintenance concerns. Facilities staff said they are pursuing drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plantings and may contract annual maintenance rather than depend on limited in-house grounds staff. At Black Elk, trustees discussed signage placement and how the building’s main frontage aligns with the larger arterial (Harrison) and a residential street.

At Anderson Middle School trustees asked about constrained front-parking and drop-off circulation; staff said the schools have additional parking behind the building but agreed to review options to ensure family access and event management are addressed.

West High School’s interior renovation prompted the most extended board discussion. Several trustees said they wanted more removal of locker banks to increase usable learning space and to address line-of-sight concerns; district staff responded that locker removal and associated flooring or programmatic replacements were not included in the current bond-level budget for this “light” interior renovation. Staff agreed to provide a cost estimate for removing banks of lockers and to flag where a heavier renovation might be phased in a future bond.

Why this matters: The schematic approvals move bond-funded projects from concept into detailed design and procurement; the board’s requests for follow-up estimates, and staff’s description of control-system and fire-code scope, will shape how each project’s final budget and schedule are set.

Next steps: Facilities staff will refine schematic drawings and cost estimates ahead of GMP negotiations, provide a cost estimate for locker removal at West High, finalize low-maintenance landscaping plans for affected schools and return to the board with updates.

Key quotes from the meeting: - On higher schematic costs at Abbott: staff said replacing aged HVAC controls contributed to the increased estimate and that “we’re hoping that between schematic and guaranteed maximum price… we’ll pair this down even a little bit more.” - On locker removal at West High: trustees requested a specific price so the board and community can weigh the benefits against bond budget constraints.

Ending: Trustees approved the schematic designs but left several design and budget details to staff for refinement, ahead of contractor selection and GMP work.