District Challenges
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Facing the challenges of rapid enrollment growth, aging facilities, concerns about equity and a desire to develop future-focused educational environments, the Iowa City Community School District commissioned the BLDD/Unicom•ARC team to conduct a community engagement planning process to develop a long-term facilities master plan. The “ONE VISION” facilities master planning process created a 10 year master plan that serves as the District’s roadmap for future facilities decision making.
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The community was given the responsibility to investigate the issues facing the school district, recommend solutions for a long range plan, and select the strongest plan for implementation.
Finding the best plan.
A citizens’ led community engagement planning process was undertaken. Citizens brainstormed three different “big picture” approaches: consider expanding existing facilities; consider reconfiguring existing grade level configurations, and consider changing the existing mix of elementary, junior high, and high school facilities.
Examples of proposed solutions:
All approaches were modeled using our cost-benefit analysis software (QLEO) to determine the best plan for moving forward.
Examples of proposed solutions:
- Future-focused upgrades and security upgrades to all facilities
- Various combinations of new elementary and junior high facilities and retired elementary facilities
- Historic renovations of elementary facilities
- Change high school configurations
- Build third high school
- Build additions to existing high schools
- Build additions and move 9th grade to middle schools, make high schools 10-12
All approaches were modeled using our cost-benefit analysis software (QLEO) to determine the best plan for moving forward.
Process Result: Passage of $200 Million Bond Referendum