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District feasibility study flags aging buildings, capacity strains and $100M—300M+ capital scenarios
Summary
Consultants presented a district-wide feasibility study update on April 8 showing aging systems (generators, windows, envelopes), ADA access issues, a high school with the highest energy use intensity (EUI 89) and enrollment projections that indicate growth; preliminary capital scenarios range roughly $100 million to $300 million-plus.
Consultants for the district's long-range facility plan presented initial findings to the board on April 8, describing building-by-building "report cards," an energy benchmark and demographic projections that will feed options for a 10-year capital plan.
The team from ICS, joined by Alloy 5 architects, said they performed thorough building assessments, utility-data analysis and a third-party demographic study by Sundance Associates. "We spent the last two plus months just focusing on that," ICS's Tim Geiter told the board, describing data gathering, roof analysis and stakeholder interviews.
Energy and costs: The team presented an energy use intensity (EUI) comparison across buildings and said the high school registered the district's highest EUI (89). Presenters noted the high school's combined gas and electricity spend is roughly a quarter of a million dollars a year and identified energy-efficiency opportunities as part of potential capital investments.
Enrollment and capacity: A demographer's slides showed a multi-year historical decline followed by a recent shift toward modest growth. The presentation said the five-year projections are relatively reliable but become less certain farther out; the demographer noted a typical sensitivity of about —% per year for projections. ICS said the district currently has buildings that are over capacity and that future options could include adding square footage or new construction.
Building conditions: Alloy 5 presented summary report cards for each facility. Common findings included outdated or nonfunctional emergency generators, ADA access deficiencies (ramps, bathroom access), window and envelope deterioration, and mechanical systems approaching end of life in older buildings. Presenters characterized State Street as the district's baseline (newer, relatively efficient), noted the middle school's recent mechanical upgrades, and said the high school has the most deferred-maintenance needs.
Scope and next steps: Replacement-cost estimates and facility condition indexes are still being completed. Geiter said the team and the district's financial advisor (FSL) are reviewing funding scenarios and that the options being considered so far range from about $100 million to more than $300 million, to address the district's identified needs. He told the board the team expects to provide a draft of the feasibility study in May for administrative review and board feedback, with iterative refinement to follow.
"We're going to be working through a lot of different options and alternatives for you folks," Geiter said, and noted the project is intended to develop a financially viable plan that aligns educational goals with facility investments.
What it means for the district: The presentation warns that several facilities require immediate attention for accessibility and life-safety systems, while other needs are part of longer-term capital planning. The study's cost scenarios and recommended options will determine whether the district pursues incremental repairs, targeted projects, or larger-scale reconstruction in the coming years.
The consultants said materials and a PDF of presentation slides would be shared with the administration and posted on the district website for public review.
