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Trustees review facilities needs; committee recommends demolishing aging pool and advancing several capital projects
Summary
The district’s infrastructure committee reported on enrollment and building conditions, recommended options for the closed Woods Elementary property, advanced capital projects including a $750,000 laundry relocation and a $350,000 equipment shelter, and recommended demolition of an aging community pool with an estimated cost of $940,000.
Trustee True Wells, chair of the infrastructure planning committee, reported committee findings and project recommendations on behalf of Natrona County School District #1.
The committee reviewed current pre‑fall registration (845 students) and capacity across 24 schools and noted eight schools are at 95% capacity or higher while two are below 50%. Staff use both the state's FCI audit and an internal condition score to prioritize repairs under the district's major maintenance grant. (Speaker: Trustee True Wells)
On the closed Woods Elementary site, the committee outlined four options: sell both the building and adjacent property together, sell separately, repurpose the building (as at University Park), mothball the site, or lease it (as at Fairdale). No immediate decision was made; further staff consultation with the state was requested to assess district needs and the laundry function currently housed at Woods.
The committee recommended capital moves including relocating laundry operations to the McKinley annex (estimated cost $750,000, 12 months), designing and building a replacement equipment shelter (≈$350,000, six months), and replacing pebbles and chicken wire at the tennis complex with concrete (estimated $75,000, targeted completion Aug. 15, 2026). The district also plans to add acoustic panels to the NCHS pool area (≈$200,000, by winter break 2026).
Regarding the Midwest pool and its building, committee members said the structure—originally built in the early 1980s—needs nearly $3 million in building repairs to meet code, and a prior $1 million repair only extended life for about two years. Given the estimated scope and safety concerns, the committee recommended demolition with an estimated cost of $940,000 and a projected four‑month timeline; trustees acknowledged community disappointment but said the condition and cost formed the basis of the recommendation. (Speaker: Trustee True Wells)
The district said roughly $12.1 million remained in the state's major maintenance allocation as of April and that a $750,000 donation agreement to support the Hogadon ski lift with the city is being finalized. Trustees said they will share details once agreements are signed.
The board did not take final decisions on Woods or the pool at the meeting; recommendations will proceed through staff analysis and future board actions.
