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District says early learning center is financially close after large private gift and state request; federal funds still pending
Summary
Superintendent reported the early learning center building is estimated at $12 million; the district has about $10.6 million secured, an anonymous donor indicated willingness to increase a $200,000 gift by about $800,000, and a $1.1 million governor's-budget request is pending; federal HUD-linked funding and an environmental study still affect timeline.
During the Dec. 18 superintendent's report the district outlined near-term funding progress for an early learning center and explained remaining dependencies that could affect schedule and costs.
The superintendent said the building itself is estimated at $12,000,000. "We have 10,600,000 already secured, if not in our hand, already obligated," the superintendent said. An anonymous donor who had previously committed $200,000 indicated willingness to increase that support by about $800,000, which the superintendent said would bring private support closer to $1,000,000.
In addition, the superintendent said a $1,100,000 request has been moved forward into the governor's budget. Taken together — the $10.6 million already secured, the possible private-donor increase, and the $1.1 million governor-budget request — the superintendent said the district expects to reach about $12.5 million by next May, which would provide a margin to outfit the building in addition to constructing it.
The superintendent cautioned, however, that federal funding tied to another project (a skill center and district-office relocation) requires paperwork and an environmental study through HUD and remains uncertain. "We don't want to have anything start till we know we have the funding," the superintendent said, noting that federal timing and legislative approval for governor-budget items will determine whether the district can accelerate construction.
Board members asked whether private or local actions could solidify funding sooner; the superintendent said planning and design work could move forward with obligated funds but emphasized the district will avoid starting construction until funding for the full project is secured to avoid partial projects that linger while awaiting additional dollars.
The superintendent also asked the board for volunteers to attend facilities/bond planning meetings in early January to support outreach and campaign work tied to facility needs.
