Several large projects are on schedule for completion by the end of the calendar year, including the additions at North High School and a major portion of the addition at North Middle School. Additions at Pheasant Point Elementary and the Mike Clemens Center for Adaptive Learning were completed and ready when students arrived for the first day of class Aug. 19.
Each of these additions provides spaces that improve the learning environment, including additional classrooms or large meeting spaces such as libraries and cafeterias as well as more modern office spaces that better meet the needs of today’s staff and students. They all also serve as shelters during severe weather, designed to support each school’s entire population in such an event.
“The law only requires that new construction include a storm shelter for the population of the new space,” says Lisa Koester, Director of Construction, Systems and Renovations. “But in the design phases of these projects we quickly realized it isn’t equitable to construct such a space for only part of a school’s population. We made the decision that storm shelters would be built to serve the entire school population.”
The Board of Education approved the design for the next major project at the August meeting. Site work should be underway soon for the new Transportation Center near Salt River and Iffrig roads in St. Peters. The department currently operates from a 53-year-old main facility and a satellite facility with a temporary office trailer. Bringing it under one roof will improve communication, service, and the work environment. The Transportation Center is scheduled for completion in late 2025. Once the department has moved into its new facility, work on the district swimming pool can begin on their current site next to North High.
“These are our big projects,” Koester says. “They are very visible to the community. But there has also been a lot of work we have done behind the scenes in the past two years that has really made it better for students and staff on a daily basis.”
That work includes:
HVAC system replacements at North High, Dardenne, Hawthorn, Lewis & Clark, St. Peters, and Twin Chimneys. The new systems, replacing some that are about 25 years old, are more efficient and quieter, improving the classroom climate in many ways.
Upgraded security measures at all schools, including camera upgrades, glass-strengthening film and modified vestibules.
Updated football fields and tracks at the high schools
Auditorium updates at the high schools
About $2 million in new instruments for middle and high school musicians
Upgraded hardware for our computer network
Large touch-screens for classrooms to replace aging projectors
Interior renovations at multiple schools including new flooring, painting, ceiling work, etc.
Voters approved FZ Prop 4, a $125-million no-tax-levy increase, in April 2022. This is the permission for the district to borrow money. It does not all have to be borrowed at the same time. Since 2022, the district has sold (borrowed) $75 million.
At their April meeting, the Board of Education approved the refinance of bonds sold from 2015-2016. Much like refinancing a home loan, this saves the district payments on interest, and increases funds available for capital improvements.
You can always see updates on the district's projects on our website. You can see Prop 4 by School so far at go.FZSD.us/FZProp4.