District staff updated the board on a multi-step facilities assessment and related projects including the Millburn entry redesign, an auditorium evaluation and the district’s solar project timeline.
The facilities assessment provides a planning baseline the board will use for budgeting and retreat discussions later in the year.
Staff reported the facilities assessment process is underway: a staff survey and interviews were completed in spring, and the district has been documenting current floor plans and room usage. Program verification is scheduled for August when department chairs and FGM (the district’s consultant/architect) will review findings "to make sure we heard it correctly" before plans are drafted. Staff tours and site visits are tentatively scheduled for August 22 (the district said it may move an early-release date to accommodate staff tours and the OTHS Connects student event). A final layout and cost analysis is expected in late fall with a final report to the board in November or December so the board can review financial implications ahead of its February retreat and planning session.
The Millburn entry redesign was paused after an initial cost estimate arrived about three times higher than anticipated; FGM is redesigning the plan to meet safety and security goals at a lower cost, and staff said they hope to include the work in future facilities planning and a possible grant.
An audit/evaluation of the Millburn auditorium arrived from an out-of-state firm; the district said the original evaluation priced professional-level improvements at a high figure, but the district and its staff (including Jared and the architect) worked with the vendor to scale scope for a high-school environment and saved significant costs. The district intends to bring a proposal to the board at a future meeting.
On the solar project, staff said they want to take advantage of incentive deadlines but need to resolve controller problems at Millburn (ongoing since construction), and that the architects are communicating with Schneider Electric; once hardware issues are resolved the district hopes to present a recommendation (staff indicated a goal to have something by the September meeting).
Other summer facilities work noted to the board: cafeteria flooring replacement (to be completed before school starts), new free weights and racks in the Smiley weight room, landscaping at Millburn and custodial floor wax work across classrooms. The district also reminded the board that online registration began July 7, in-person registration is scheduled for July 22 and July 29, family walk-throughs start July 30, Walkapalooza is July 31, teacher institute is Aug. 11 and the first student day is Aug. 12.