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Ithaca board unanimously approves study with Cornell to guide enrollment and facilities planning
Summary
The Ithaca City School District board voted unanimously on May 27 to enter a standard research agreement with Cornell University's Brooks School of Public Policy to produce demographic, enrollment and facility optimization analysis. The contract is budgeted at about $93,384 and is expected to inform long-term capital and operational decisions.
The Ithaca City School District Board of Education on May 27 approved a standard research agreement with Cornell University’s Brooks School of Public Policy to perform demographic and enrollment projections and a facilities/asset review to inform long-term planning.
Zach (district staff) described the RFP timeline and said the winning bid will undertake demographic projections (5–15 year horizon), enrollment impact analysis and a facilities/asset review that could include consolidation options and condition assessments. The district requested a presentation to the board in November; staff said there is some schedule flexibility depending on data turnaround.
Board members asked for cost and scope details. The Cornell proposal’s cost is $93,384, according to district documents presented at the meeting. Zach said the amount was consistent with the district’s budget for the project. The proposal is from Cornell’s Brooks School of Public Policy; staff said portions of the work would draw on multiple specialty groups within Cornell.
Board member Jill moved the motion and Todd seconded; the motion passed unanimously. Board members and staff discussed how the study’s timing could overlap with a planned capital project and that recommendations might inform future capital decisions, sales or consolidation of underused properties. No immediate facility changes were authorized; the vote authorizes the district to enter the agreement and begin the research.
The district described the study as a long-term planning tool intended to provide data-driven options on enrollment, building use, and potential asset decisions such as repurposing or selling underused properties.
