Facilities assessment shows Smiley campus space and science lab shortfalls; Millburn generally adequate

The district’s facilities assessment, presented by staff and consultant FGM, identified notable space shortages at the Smiley campus and found the Millburn campus largely meets modern space recommendations.

The assessment compared square feet per student against multiple professional guidelines. Presenters said the Illinois State Board of Education guidance (2009) recommends about 160 square feet per student but noted that guidance is dated and excludes some spaces; the Smiley campus measured about 165 square feet per student while Millburn measured higher (examples cited included 217 and 200 for neighboring districts used for comparison). Presenters said Smiley classrooms and lab spaces are smaller than current recommended sizes.

On science labs the presenter said the recommended best-practice lab size is about 1,440 square feet; Smiley’s average lab size was described as just over 1,000 square feet, a roughly 27% deficiency, with lab stations doubling as student desks and no separate prep rooms. Classroom sizes at Smiley were described as averaging roughly 10% below recommended size (example smallest classroom 690 sq. ft.; recommended practice nearer 840 sq. ft.). Presenters described Smiley’s departmental spaces as fragmented across the campus with many instructional rooms lacking direct sunlight.

Millburn, which opened in February 2009, showed more cohesive departmental groupings and mostly green (“adequate”) results in the heat-map analysis; identified Millburn needs included a stressed band room and SOAR classrooms that require creative use of hallway space.

Process and next steps: FGM met with department chairs and will compile department-level needs against best-practice standards. Staff said they will finish additional site visits and provide options based on the facility assessment and department feedback. The district noted set-aside amounts in the current budget for facilities: $230,000 remaining in Fund 20 for operations and maintenance, $1,000,000 remaining in the Health Life Safety fund (Fund 90) for prior projects, and $1,400,000 set aside for projects that may be needed this year pending the facilities process. Presenters said an additional $150,000 was identified for auditorium repairs in the current agenda and that other facility needs may be prioritized after the assessment.

Discussion distinctions: the presentation was informational; no construction contract was approved within the campuses presentation. Staff will bring options and cost estimates to the board after the consultant consolidates department feedback.