As the Iowa City Community School District grappled with the challenges of rapid enrollment growth, aging facilities, equity concerns, and a desire for future-focused learning environments, they turned to the BLDD/Unicom•ARC team. The mission: conduct a comprehensive community engagement planning process to shape a long-term facilities master plan.
The resulting "ONE VISION" facilities master planning process brought the community together to create a transformative 10-year roadmap. This plan will serve as the district's guiding light for facilities decision-making, shaping a brighter future for generations of students.
The district faced a myriad of challenges that threatened to impede progress. With 27 facilities spread across 5 competitive communities, aging infrastructures cried out for renewal. Decades of mistrust stemming from past planning missteps hung over the community, fueling high expectations for change. At the same time, rapid enrollment growth strained already inequitable facilities, while safety concerns loomed large. Amidst this complex landscape, the need for a unifying, future-focused plan had never been more urgent.
The collaborative planning process laid the foundation for a resoundingly successful $200 million bond referendum, securing vital funds for the district's future."
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:
- 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.
This $33 million project, which received strong community support with a 70% approval rate, continues to move forward on schedule. The new facility will be located on the Junior/Senior High School campus, creating a more unified educational environment for the district.
Through a $100 million bond referendum, the Edwardsville School District can provide 21st century learning environments throughout their facilities.
Expanding the junior high into a 5-8 facility, a 5th grade wing will be added to the junior high to accommodate growing enrollment, adding five highly functioning learning spaces and a new unit office. New lockers will be added to the 6th grade wing, which will also be the new home of the enhanced junior high weight room.