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MMSD outlines three-phase plan to rebuild or replace 10 schools under $507M referendum
Summary
District staff described schedule and design work for the $507 million facilities referendum: three phases, two sites per year initially, construction expected to begin in 2026, and final occupancy targeted for school year 2029; public input sessions are planned for March.
District facilities staff briefed the operations work group on Jan. 13 about early design, site surveys and a three-phase construction schedule for the $507 million facilities referendum passed by voters in November.
Scott Chien (presenting as facilities lead) said the program covers 10 schools across three phases. Staff described a phased approach with two sites per year in the early phases and an increase to three sites in the final phase. Construction manager selection was underway (request-for-proposal evaluations and interviews had been completed) and architects are field-scanning buildings to create baseline inventories and to support demolition, abatement and design planning.
Key timing details presented: staff said construction is expected to begin in 2026 after roughly a 13-month design period for the first phase; the district’s target is final occupancy for all referendum schools by the start of the 2029 school year. Facilities staff described multiple upcoming workshops with teaching-and-learning staff, associate principals and community stakeholders to define program elements (classroom types, special-education spaces, MEP/technology needs) and to test new mechanical concepts including geothermal and electrification options.
Board members asked about site-specific issues and community engagement: how decommissioned-school footprints will be converted to green space or other uses; accessibility and building finishes for students with disabilities; how to preserve and document building history for the community; and whether schools will be occupied during construction or moved to temporary sites. Staff said the district will prioritize minimizing student disruption and expects to provide detailed plans and public input sessions in March; in some cases temporary relocation of students will be necessary while a new building is constructed.
Staff also said the referendum program will coordinate sustainability goals, materials selection and waste-stream planning (for recycling and composting at cafeterias), and that the district is planning for procurement strategies that seek cost efficiencies by standardizing systems and bulk-buying repetitive components across sites.
Facilities staff committed to monthly public progress reporting and to further brief the operations group on transportation and long-range facility-maintenance planning in February.
