Three Lakes School District staff to mail survey seeking community input on long-range facilities plan

A staff member for the Three Lakes School District told residents the district will mail a survey in the coming weeks to gather community input on a long-range facilities plan that could identify safety, mechanical, classroom and outdoor projects to prioritize.

The district has spent about two and a half years conducting a comprehensive study of its buildings and grounds, the presenter said, including a facilities review by Nexus LLC. "You will soon be seeing a survey come to you in the mail," the staff member said, adding that respondents will also be able to complete the questionnaire electronically.

The survey is designed to test what the community would support and will include financial information and an estimate of tax implications for any proposed capital work. "We passed the operational referendum in 2022 for 5 years," the staff member said, explaining that the operational referendum covers everyday expenses such as utilities, food and staff salaries, while a separate capital referendum is the mechanism the district would use to borrow for larger projects.

District officials outlined several candidate priorities the survey will seek community feedback on. On safety and security, the presenter noted the high school and fitness center have received controlled-entry upgrades, but Three Lakes Elementary and Sugar Camp currently require visitors to enter the building before reaching the office; the district said it wants to explore solutions to tighten those entry points.

Mechanical systems such as boilers, heating, cooling and HVAC also drew attention as high-cost items with aging components. The staff member said the study identified needs across roofs, mechanical systems and other infrastructure and recommended planning now for replacement or major repairs.

The district described classroom‑level needs as well: officials said demand for special‑education spaces and private counseling rooms has increased and current arrangements are makeshift. The presenter said one likely area of work is to expand or repurpose spaces to provide dedicated special‑education and mental‑health counseling areas.

Sugar Camp was singled out for several specific constraints: it lacks a dedicated cafeteria and relies on the gym for meals while that space is also used daily for physical education and frequent community events. The staff member said the district will ask whether the community supports kitchen or cafeteria upgrades and possible reconfiguration so the gym is less constrained. Full‑day 4K also changed space needs, the presenter added, noting a desire to provide a 4K classroom with a designated in‑class bathroom.

Outdoor facilities and athletics are on the list too. The presenter said the outdoor arena and track are heavily used and approaching the end of their useful life; the study considered options including track repair or replacement, permanent restrooms, concession upgrades and additional parking to improve accessibility for elderly and disabled visitors. The district also noted the fitness center is heavily used and could be a candidate for expansion depending on community priorities.

The presenter said a community planning committee is being formed immediately and residents can apply via the district website; committee members are expected to tour Three Lakes and Sugar Camp facilities and help advise priorities. A summary letter describing the outreach and next steps will be mailed in about two weeks as a precursor to the survey.

No formal decisions or votes were announced at the presentation. The staff member emphasized that nothing has been predetermined and that the district seeks resident input before advancing potential capital work. For questions or to apply for the planning committee, the presenter said to contact the school district business office.

The district provided a video of the earlier Board presentation (Jan. 24) on its YouTube channel for residents seeking additional background.