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O'Fallon board advances Milbourne additions and OKs $30,000 community survey for long‑term facilities plan
Summary
The board approved moving the Milbourne additions project toward design and authorized up to $30,000 for Discovery Works to run a statistically valid community survey to inform a longer‑term facilities plan and potential bond steps.
The O'Fallon Township High School District 203 Board of Education moved forward on facilities planning Tuesday, advancing a Milbourne additions project intended to add alternative‑education and special‑education space, relocate district offices, and address HVAC upgrades while freeing classrooms at the Smiley campus.
Administrators outlined phase one as construction that would create dedicated alternative‑education space, expand self‑contained special‑education rooms (SOAR and RISE), relocate some administrative offices to Milbourne and include HVAC work to replace units struck by lightning. The design phase would begin after board approval and the district expects construction to start in spring 2027 with potential occupancy in summer 2028 for the 2028–29 school year.
The administration also described a phase‑two process intended to shape long‑range options using broader community engagement. The board approved up to $30,000 to hire Discovery Works to conduct a random‑sample telephone/text/web survey this summer to measure community awareness and sentiment about facilities needs and taxpayer impacts. The administration said the survey is the first, statistically valid step and that additional engagement or strategic communications would require separate approvals.
Board members said they want the outreach coordinated with city and regional partners and noted next steps would include securing a construction manager, bond resolutions and hearings should the district pursue indebtedness. Administrators said they had briefed finance and facilities committees in recent months and framed the Discovery Works contract as a way to reach households that do not engage via district email or social media.
The vote to authorize Discovery Works followed questions about vendor selection and timing; the administrator said Discovery Works has worked with nearby districts and would run the initial survey this summer if approved. The board also approved a separate health/life/safety amendment to replace HVAC units at the Smiley campus damaged by lightning.
The board may consider formal project approval and bond‑related actions at the June meeting; design and procurement tasks are expected to follow then.
