The Process
Facility needs are not a new topic for GFW Public Schools. The school board directed the superintendent to work towards the eventual transition to a single-site facility in a centralized location in the district. The process has included a facilities assessment that found facility conditions to be in poor condition with some sections approaching critical. The GFW School board considered options before ultimately approving a capital improvement plan that will address current facilities with phased projects, while also giving voters the option to consider new facilities that will require less maintenance as a long-term solution.
Throughout numerous community listening sessions over the past two years with students, staff, and community members, the issue of facilities has continually come up as the next priority for the district to address. GFW receives approximately $270,000 annually for Long Term Facilities Maintenance funds from the state to address maintenance needs.
2022 Facilities Assessment
Kraus-Anderson completed a Facility Condition Assessment for the GFW Elementary and Middle/High School Facilities. The FCA was a review of depreciable assets associated with the construction of the current facilities. All deferred maintenance and upcoming facility expenditures were estimated based upon current market value of those items to replace, repair or renovate. Based upon the IFMA (International Facility Manager Association) measurements of the Facility Condition Index (deferred maintenance totals/building replacement costs)- places the school district in the “Poor” range and approaching “Critical.”
The assessment also reviewed educational inadequacies in the ability to meet the needs of today’s educational standards and found a substantial need in the area of Educational Adequacy.
There are no immediate impacts to student safety upon the time of the report. There are potential issues that could impact operations which would cause school closures. Deferred maintenance items include roof replacement, interior and system’s needs, HVAC modifications, exterior enclosure needs, as well as many other items. Based on the assessment, best practices, and recommendations from the Minnesota of Department Education, the district should pursue a PreK-12 facility.
At GFW Elementary, identified needs included HVAC, re-bricking and insulation, roof replacements, site work for areas that flood in heavy rain, renovations, and window replacement.
At GFW Middle School and High School, identified needs included renovation and HVAC, full plumbing replacement, roof replacement, window replacement, and replacement of all unit ventilators throughout the school.
Photos were taken during the assessment process.
Parts of our facilities have been around a long time!
History of Addressing Facilities in GFW
The district continues to follow the guiding principles of keeping students safe, exceeding area schools with excellent programming that students deserve, and maintaining facilities while preparing for an eventual transition to a PreK-12 facility.
Milestones of this process include:
In 2017, a bond referendum proposed to improve all three school buildings and was soundly defeated with 81% of voters voting no.
A facilities process was initiated with a task force ultimately recommending the solution of a PreK-12 single site resulting in a 2019 ballot question that was supported by 45% of voters, a significant improvement over the previous proposal.
In 2020, the community passed an operating levy referendum with 63% voting yes. The levy resulted in an increase of programming for students and a strong fund balance.
Facilities planning is part of the community-created strategic plan established in 2021.