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Germantown board reviews $5 million plan to upgrade schools; Riverdale, Farmington, Houston highlighted
Summary
Board members reviewed a package of capital-improvement projects including Riverdale classroom reconfigurations, a Farmington permanent addition to replace modulars, and phased ceiling/lighting work at Houston High. No project contracts were approved; staff sought direction and signaled a plan to use reserves and county capital funds.
Superintendent Manuel opened the Germantown Municipal School District work session by asking the board for direction on a set of capital projects and the district’s fiscal approach.
The projects under discussion included smaller interior reconfigurations at Riverdale Elementary, a multi-room addition at Farmington Elementary to replace leased modular classrooms, and a phased ceiling-tile and LED lighting upgrade at Houston High School. The superintendent told the board the district has been saving conservatively and “Our current total reserve balance is $24,204,000,” and proposed using $5,000,000 of reserves plus anticipated county capital funds to pay for the near-term projects.
Why it matters: the projects are intended to address classroom space and instructional needs identified in the district’s five-year master facility plan and by school tours and parent feedback. Several items are intended to replace temporary modular classrooms and to create small instructional spaces and a music/orchestra room that planners and parents said the schools lack.
What the board heard and what staff recommended - Riverdale Elementary: staff proposed two separate bids. One would remove lower banks of lockers and convert them into four clerical offices and two small instructional rooms for RTI, speech and therapy services. Staff provided a pre-bid cost estimate of about $200,000 and said the work could be paid from this fiscal year’s project budget if the board directs staff to proceed to bid. Superintendent Manuel described tight, improvised instructional uses currently occurring near the teacher lounge and gym storage.
- Riverdale orchestra and music space: staff proposed an approximately 1,200-square-foot addition or reconfiguration (pre-schematic) to move orchestra instruction out of the multipurpose room and hallway; architects flagged sidewalk relocation as a likely civil issue. Board members stressed the program growth and parent advocacy for a dedicated music space.
- Farmington Elementary: staff recommended a brick-and-mortar addition on the school’s south drive to provide three fine-arts spaces (art/music), three classrooms including two preschool rooms, counselor offices and space for the district’s online academy to centralize testing and assessments. Staff described the need to add a rear drive to meet fire-marshall access requirements and cited a pre-bid construction estimate of $5,500,000 and $100,000 estimated cost to remove the existing modulars and associated site hookups. The superintendent and operations staff noted Farmington currently leases six modular classrooms and the district’s annual modular lease cost is budgeted at $180,000 (Dogwood $100,000; Farmington $80,000).
- Dogwood Elementary: staff said Dogwood’s modulars are the next priority in later fiscal years and that Farmington’s replacement would not immediately free the full modular lease budget but would reduce ongoing costs.
- Houston High School: staff reported a two-phase ceiling tile, grid replacement and LED lighting project. The first-phase pre-bid work would cover the second floor, main entry and public-facing spaces and an annex; staff said a bid opening that day produced favorable pricing and that the work could improve energy use and the teaching environment. Board members and the superintendent emphasized classroom and auditorium/common-area improvements as “high-impact, visible” projects for students and the community.
Financing and next steps Staff proposed using $5,000,000 from district reserves, plus an expected county capital contribution (staff described an annual county contribution averaging $2.0–$2.5 million) to fund the set of projects that would span fiscal years. Superintendent Manuel said the board would not approve any contract until each project is taken to bid and returned for formal board approval; the work session was a request for direction on priorities and affordability. Several board members asked for detailed bid-level estimates and traffic/utility impacts for Farmington prior to final approval.
Ending: staff said they would bring each project back to the board after bids are received and that Riverdale was the item the district intended to take to bid first because of immediate instructional space needs.
