Three Lakes School Board reviews Nexus facilities assessment, asks staff for prioritized list and public outreach plan

The Three Lakes School District board reviewed a comprehensive facilities assessment prepared by Nexus at a special meeting Feb. 7, and directed administration to return with a prioritized list of needs, budget estimates and options for community outreach and funding.

The report, delivered in phase one of the district’s contract with Nexus, cataloged deferred maintenance and a range of potential projects at both Sugar Camp School and Three Lakes (the district’s elementary and junior-senior high campus). Board members and staff agreed to narrow the options before pursuing a public survey so residents would know precisely what the district might ask them to support.

“First of all, I really want to hit on the wants versus the needs,” Terry, the district administrator, told the board. “That I think is very key to this whole conversation.” She urged the board to task administrators with developing multi-year budgeting details for deferred maintenance, safety upgrades and any potential space additions before wider outreach.

At Sugar Camp, maintenance staff told trustees the existing heating system is working reliably and that routine repairs are far less expensive than full-unit replacement:…