District consultant progressing on 10-year capital plan; public meeting set for April 8

ICS, the district's consultant on the 10-year capital plan, is compiling building assessments, updated floor plans and capacity analyses and expects to complete the demographic update by the end of March, district staff said at the March 19 facilities committee meeting. A public meeting to review preliminary findings is scheduled for April 8 in the middle school auditorium.

Why it matters: The ICS assessment and demographic update will shape the district's planning for building renovations, capacity changes and long-term borrowing. Committee members said the work is intended to inform the 10-year capital plan and help prioritize repairs and renovation phases.

At the meeting, a district staff member identified as Bob, facilities staff member, said ICS had met with high-school principals for more than five hours to review floor plans and collect each principal's top five renovation priorities. Bob said ICS had received internal staff surveys and marked-up floor plans, completed an initial capacity analysis, and scheduled building walkthroughs with principals and facilities staff.

Bob said the demographic consultant (Pell) had asked for additional inputs — including school- and grade-level breakdowns — to refine projections. He reported that preliminary demographic data “is showing that there is not gonna be much growth,” and that the new study likely will be similar to the district’s 2022 projections, with only “a percentage or two” difference.

Committee members asked about outreach for the April 8 meeting. Rachel Riley, a staff member present during planning, was identified as coordinating communications to publicize the session through district channels and the SwapMore community forum. The committee discussed using the district website and social media to post project materials and allow the public to follow progress.

The facilities director also said ICS has established weekly Thursday Zoom meetings and that the consultant will import assessment information into its asset-management software. Next steps listed by staff include ICS walk-throughs of each building with facilities staff and principals and incorporation of updated facility-assessment information into the consultant report.

Ending: The committee scheduled the April 8 public review and asked administration to circulate details and a concise site where residents can follow project updates. No formal vote or budget decision was taken at the March 19 meeting on the capital plan itself.