Board hears facilities master plan kickoff and KAI construction update; EV buses expected Q1 2026

The Normandy Schools Collaborative board received a facilities master-plan update and construction briefing from KAI on Aug. 12, with developers and district representatives describing the process and timeline for district-wide capital work.

Jossy Haynes, vice president of KAI, told the board the master-plan kickoff took place and that workshops to gather community input are scheduled through September, with RFPs for consulting and trade work to be released in November and December. “All we’re doing is preparing for the process,” Haynes said, adding that consultant selection is planned for 2026 and that the district will prioritize which buildings need attention first.

Director William Humphrey summarized the work so far and the district’s property inventory, saying the district has 15 properties used for education and two additional owned parcels — on Bermuda and St. Louis Avenue — that will be folded into the master-plan discussion. Humphrey said the process will analyze enrollment and facility needs to determine which buildings require immediate work.

District and KAI staff also described specific projects underway. Haynes said Highland Fleet is completing work on the bus lot and that the football field turf installation is on schedule for the fall; interior upgrades to Viking Hall and athletic facilities are under design and ready for contractor selection. On EV buses, KAI said electric buses are in production and currently projected to arrive by the first quarter of 2026, though that timing could shift earlier or later depending on market factors.

Financial implications were discussed. Administration noted ESSER III funds are being applied to capital projects and that the e-buses have a higher per-unit cost: “These e-buses are roughly $350,000 a piece,” a finance presenter said, contrasting that with $80,000–$100,000 for a conventional bus and underscoring the need to secure the depot and charging infrastructure.

Board members pressed KAI on community engagement and representation on smaller planning committees. Several directors said they want more transparent, broader outreach than the small representative committees KAI favors; Haynes said meeting minutes and documents will be shared and that the firm expects to nominate board representatives to chair smaller planning committees.

Haynes and Humphrey committed to posting handouts and meeting minutes publicly and to scheduling community forums after the smaller committee work to broaden input. The board did not take a formal vote on the master plan itself during the meeting; directors asked staff to return with more documentation and opportunities to participate in upcoming workshops.