MMSD shows 95% design, sustainability plans and schedule for phase‑1 referendum schools; finance office previews tax impact

Madison Metropolitan School District presented near‑final designs and schedules for the first phase of its 2024 referendum projects and outlined the expected construction timeline and budget implications.

Senior executive director Scott Chiock told the board the district has reached roughly 95% completion of the design scheme for Phase 1 and is finishing design development. Architects and construction managers showed plans for combined campus buildings (Sherman/Shabazz and Blackhawk/Gompers) that keep separate school identities while sharing community rooms, gyms configured for performances, small‑group “colab” rooms and accessible playgrounds. Scott said the design emphasizes sustainability features, including geothermal heating and cooling and roof areas planned for photovoltaic (PV) panels.

Design and capacities

- Sherman/Shabazz: presenters described an arrangement where Shabazz (the smaller program) occupies a defined portion of a shared building and Sherman is larger; Shabazz operational classroom capacity was described at about 160 students on its side of the building, while Sherman’s core capacity was shown around 504 students in the plans. Designers said…