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District presents $1.1 billion draft facilities master plan and priority list; board to review in January
Summary
District staff presented a draft facilities master plan estimating $1.1 billion in needs for modernization, portable replacement and upgrades; the plan highlights immediate priorities, eligibility for about $55 million in state matching funds, and proposed project bundles and timelines for a potential future bond.
District facilities leaders on Dec. 11 presented a draft facilities master plan that estimates roughly $1.1 billion of district‑wide needs and identifies priorities the board will consider before any bond measure.
"Our overall need is $1,100,000,000," said Amy Ruppa, the district's executive director of facilities and construction, describing a plan that treats the document as a "needs list" rather than a fixed project schedule. The plan, developed with community input across the district's 22 campuses, ranks projects by health and safety, universal design and equity, and recommends bundling work to improve fiscal efficiency.
Staff told trustees the plan includes immediate priorities and longer‑range needs and clarified that about half the district will become eligible for state matching funds; staff estimate the district could qualify for approximately $55 million in state match by 2027 for eligible projects. The plan also flags increased special education spending and the need to bring more services in‑house to reduce contracted costs.
Trustees asked detailed questions about how the plan will guide decisions on individual campuses — including Bayside, Abbott and Bowditch — and how new housing developments (e.g., Reimagine Hillsdale) could affect enrollment and facilities planning. Staff said an in‑depth enrollment forecast and demographic analysis will be returned in January to help identify which sites should be prioritized for modernization or additional classrooms.
The master plan also proposes efficiency measures such as energy‑related investments and a reconciliation of solar arrays; staff said energy projects could demonstrate multi‑year savings and help offset operating costs. Workforce housing (a placeholder to explore approximately 80–100 units) was also named among site planning priorities.
Next steps: staff will solicit additional feedback, incorporate final cost estimates and return a revised plan and recommendation for board approval in January. Any decision to pursue a bond would follow that approval and additional public outreach.
