Francis Howell R-III reviews facility master plan identifying roughly $134 million in near-term needs and considers April 2027 bond

Hollis & Miller Architects presented a draft facility master plan to the Francis Howell R-III Board of Education at a Nov. 6 work session, identifying about $275,000,000 in districtwide facility needs at 2025 prices and showing roughly $303,000,000 when costs are escalated to a 2027 implementation starting point.

The consultants and district staff framed projects into three buckets—ongoing maintenance, safety and security, and learning-environment improvements—and recommended prioritizing immediate (0–3 year) needs, which the consultants estimated at about $121,000,000 in 2025 dollars (approximately $134,000,000 when escalated to 2027 dollars). No formal board vote was taken on the master plan; staff said they will refine budgets and return with recommendations in December.

Why this matters: the district’s facilities fund teaching and safety spaces across thousands of classrooms and support areas; the plan identifies aging roofs, mechanical systems and site work alongside classroom- and program-level improvements. Board discussion covered how to fund a multi‑phase program, the timing of any bond question, and how capital decisions intersect with operating budgets and staffing.

The consultants presented seven planning priorities to guide projects: safe, secure facilities; high-quality infrastructure and long-term investment; equitable learning environments through staffing and support; inclusive…