District outlines Sylvester Road central-office build; plans to relocate DAEP

Josh Simak presented the central-office update and recommended designing a new building on 40 acres the district has owned since 1997 rather than buying or heavily renovating existing properties outside district control. "We purchased 10 acres in 1997," Simak said when describing the long-term plan; he added the district later purchased an additional 30 acres for a total of 40.

Simak walked trustees through the building program, saying the new two-level central office would add nearly 61,000 square feet and, together with renovations of the existing 44,000-square-foot building, would yield almost 84,000 square feet of combined space. He highlighted expanded meeting spaces (a boardroom that would hold 192 seats), increased parking (204 confirmed spaces with an alternate up to 244), and program benefits including a test kitchen for child nutrition and an 8,600-square-foot gain for Kids Club. "We would be done, and moving into the new completion our new central office in December 2027," Simak said, then described a January 2028 remodel schedule for the current building to accommodate DAEP in August 2028.

Trustees asked about enrollment trends and the risk of added facilities amid declining student counts; board members discussed options for shifting bond funds, timing bond sales and tradeoffs between immediate needs and long-term capacity. Simak explained the procurement timeline (out to bid July 22, bid analysis in August and presentation of a guaranteed maximum price in September) and noted cost pressures from market fluctuations. The board did not take action but scheduled continued review of the GMP when bids are analyzed.