SSD work study reviews 10‑year facilities plan, prioritizes safety and predictable spending

The Special School District of St. Louis County Board of Education at an April work study heard a presentation on a proposed cascading 10‑year facilities plan focused on safety, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, student‑facing spaces and predictable annual capital spending.

District staff said the plan, developed from functional and physical needs assessments plus school requests, aims to keep spending in an approximate 3¢ capital levy envelope and to roll forward one year each year so the board always views a 10‑year horizon.

The plan matters because SSD operates many buildings built in the 1960s and 1970s and a smaller set constructed after 2000; aging roofs, mechanical systems and electrical infrastructure at several sites — particularly the two career and technical centers — are driving near‑term repair needs and larger multi‑year costs.

Kevin Andrew, Chief of Career and Technical Education Operations, told the board “students must Maslow before they can bloom,” saying the district centered the plan on basic needs — warm, cool and dry spaces — followed by ADA access and student‑utilized spaces. Andrew said the team used three main inputs: a 96‑question functional assessment completed with principals and facilities…