Goshen Local begins 16-month master facilities study; consultants will survey community, fly drones for site analysis

The Goshen Local Schools administration told the school board it has begun Phase 1 of a 16-month master facilities study with consultant SHP and the process will include a community survey, listening sessions, building and schedule analysis, and a retreat for board members and administrators.

Mr. Bailey (presenting for the administration) said SHP conducted a short survey at the district's State of the Schools event and that 122 people started the survey and 92 submitted full responses. He said the consultant recommends a broader community survey followed by listening sessions and that SHP emphasized branding the process so community members know what the study covers; Bailey relayed the consultant's phrasing that "people do not know what you guys are accomplishing at Goshen Local Schools."

Nut graf: The study will collect utilization data and community input to guide capacity and instructional-space decisions; consultants plan both short-term recommendations and longer-term options, and they requested building master schedules, floor plans and a drone policy for aerial data collection.

Bailey described next steps: SHP will gather master schedules and room layouts (administrators have provided older floor plans), conduct on-site visits that include class-period utilization checks, and fly a drone several days to capture campus pick-up and drop-off patterns and circulation. Bailey said the district does not have a drone policy and that SHP requested one for the work. He also said the consultant asked the district to assemble a roughly 40-person community team of parents, alumni, higher-education and career-tech partners and business partners for visioning. SHP proposed observers from the board be assigned to the community, staff and student subcommittees during the process.

Board members were told the study will examine traffic and capacity issues. Bailey said traffic is a challenge because campus circulation links to a through-artery and that planned housing development on Linton will increase demand. He said the team will meet again March 25 with central office and building administrators before the board retreat in April that will include visioning and discussion of teaching and learning needs.

Ending: Administrators said the study is intended to inform — not commit — the board to construction or bonding. Staff emphasized the process will produce both community input and technical recommendations for space use, congestion mitigation and potential short-term fixes.