Operations committee highlights buildings and grounds needs; outdoor classrooms, playgrounds and athletic fields discussed

Director Lingle summarized the Operations Committee discussion on buildings and grounds, emphasizing the district’s scope of responsibility and upcoming facilities work.

Director Lingle said the district maintains roughly 630 acres and at least 28 buildings; nine grounds workers cover that inventory. She noted Facilities Director Jeff will leave district employment with a last day of Feb. 15; “Ben and Jared will be filling in his void,” Lingle said.

Committee members reviewed maintenance levels that guide which sites receive attention and shared a slide presentation showing examples of maintenance priorities. The committee discussed playgrounds: the playground lifecycle work began in 2014, with phase 2 upgrades starting in 2024, and attention to universal design features so playgrounds serve a wide range of students.

Directors also discussed outdoor classrooms funded through the district’s 2021 facilities master plan (FMP). The committee reported outdoor classrooms are part of the FMP work and are expected to be completed in 2028 or 2029. Committee members said students and career-technical-education programs are involved in planning and construction of some outdoor structures.

Athletic facilities drew special attention: the committee noted high school fields—including Bates Field at City High—have aging drainage and infrastructure dating to the 1970s–1980s that require modernization. Prairie plantings and native landscaping were discussed; staff said dry summers have slowed prairie establishment. The board highlighted that district grounds recently received a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award in 2023.

The discussion remained at the committee-report level; no facilities projects were authorized or funded at this meeting and directors did not take formal action on specific capital work.