The key thing is, we really want community input. We want to do this right.”

Denise Hoffstatter, School Board member

The next facilities advisory committee meeting is September 18, with the public invited. 

Potentially big investments and a voter referendum await at Stanley-Boyd, but first the district would like stakeholder input on what they consider as priorities.

“The key thing is, we really want community input,” Denise Hoffstatter said Monday July 17 at the first meeting of the Facilities Advisory Committee for Stanley-Boyd Schools. “We want to do this right.”

Do what right, you ask? Planning for future projects and drafting bond referendum questions.

So far and to date the district has been paying for projects with funds saved up.  With the official state budget just passed with a slight bump but savings drying up, any future projects will depend on what district residents consider a priority, and obtaining voter approval at referendum. The amount of referendum in turn will also depend on what projects are deemed a priority in the survey, with a difference of several million dollars between a two station (two court) gym and a three station (three court) gym, as one example. The last referendum asking money was for $2.5 million in the early 2000s, for the pool. With construction costs changing quite a bit since then, the present projects under consideration could impact the mill rate by $4 per $100,000 in home value, amounting to a true generational investment. More details for the different possible projects to come were on display July 17 at the Facilities Advisory Committee meeting.

Starting with a welcome from district superintendent Jeff Koenig, the meeting of the Facilities Advisory Committee as composed of area residents heard about district needs and projected cost.

Following a tour and basic update, attendees were asked to choose three priorities from seven projects in the district’s long-term facility plan, with the short list as follows:

Relocate district office - $631,000-$632,500

Construct a two station gym - $6,992,000 - $7,004,000

Construct a three station gym - $10,081,000 to $10,108,500

Replace kitchen equipment - $585,000 to $1,052,500

Expand Fitness Center - $1,068,500

One Central Cafeteria - $1,176,200 to $5,242,500

Build Locker Rooms - $613,200 to $1,552,000

All dollar estimates are approximate and subject to change.

As to the big ticket gym items, the main difference between options has to do with size (number of “stations”) and orientation of the structure. Option 1 would see the gym with a tilt to the south off the current library and enclose part of the present outside entrance. It would take some of the parking spaces and necessitate moving these.

With several projects to choose among, Option 1 would also see a kitchen space remodel in an L shape on the west and district office work on the south, among other highlights. The present lobby would become a central cafeteria while the present cafeteria would become a locker room off the high school gym.

Option 2, turn, would see a kitchen remodel in rectangular fashion east of a new gym and district office with irregular sides, as opposed to a rectangular space. The present entrance lobby would become a commons along with enclosing outside space and making a new entrance, while the present cafeteria would remain as is, but centralized.

Both options would improve fire suppression and enclose portions of the current south entrance for a new south face, while Option 2 would take up more parking spaces.

An expansion of the weight room and fitness center would also be included in the plans.

The next facilities advisory committee meeting is September 18, with the public invited.