Sheboygan Area School District previews Farnsworth, Urban and Irvin middle‑school designs; board to weigh geothermal, solar

The Sheboygan Area School District Committee of the Whole received a preliminary update on designs and budget considerations for the Farnsworth, Urban and Irvin middle‑school projects during a committee meeting that included schematic floor plans, parking and turf proposals, and early cost questions.

District staff said the presentation was intentionally tentative and that a fuller presentation, including bid results, will return to the board in May. The update covered interior layouts, classroom sizes, parking, a proposed turf field at Farnsworth, accessibility and multiuse design at Urban, and expanded special‑services space including sensory rooms. Staff also reported they are investigating geothermal and solar as possible additions but said those systems were not included in the original referendum budget and would require a later board funding decision.

At Farnsworth, the schematic shown emphasized a central gymnasium and cafeteria, classrooms grouped for team or content organization, collaborative "resource" areas adjacent to classrooms, sliding partitions to combine or separate rooms, first‑floor science labs with outdoor access, and nearly universal natural light. Staff said the site plan includes nearly 100 parking spaces and a smaller turf soccer field intended to accommodate youth (described in the meeting as a U‑10 field) that district staff said could also benefit…