Fayetteville School District officials on Monday unveiled their 2026 facility master plan and described the district’s strategy for securing state cost‑sharing funds for systems and renovations.

"The master plan is a comprehensive six‑year plan that defines the district's vision and facility projects," a district presenter told the board. Dr. Stein, a consultant who previously worked for the state, described how the master plan is submitted in tabs, inspected by state teams and scored based on system replacement percentages.

Officials said the district’s position has improved relative to prior cycles. Dr. Stein and staff reported that this cycle shows nearly $10,000,000 in potential state funds tied to system replacements and renovations, including an expected $1,000,000 on an Owl Creek system and a large HVAC system on the order of $6,000,000 appearing in the plan. Final approval letters from the state are expected next summer; the district said selected awards could flow in May of the following year contingent on approvals.

The presentation reviewed submission milestones, the non‑rolling nature of the application cycle, and the requirement that system replacement costs reach a 65% threshold of replacement vs. new construction to qualify a project as a system replacement rather than a full replacement.

Board members praised the grant work, with one member noting the district had gone from securing no state funds in early cycles to receiving millions in approved funds. The district credited the combination of internal staff and outside expertise (including Steve Flickinger and Dr. Stein) for improving the district’s success in the state review process.

No formal vote was taken on the master plan at this meeting; staff said the master plan will be submitted by the statutory deadline and that results from the state will be shared when available.