Introduction

• Previous surveys and studies conducted by the community and the school system.
• Enrollment projections.
• Local demographic and educational facility data and information.
• Preferences identified during the first community meeting.

Some of the major preferences identified by the community during the first community meeting were:

• Support for an academically strong educational program at all educational levels.
• Preference for class sizes of 15 to 20 for Pre K-2 and 20 to 25 for grades 3 through 12.
• Desire to provide flexibility in order to meet the space needs of students in the future.
• Preference for a K-5, 6-8, 9-12 grade grouping.
• Limited support for K-6, 7-8, 9-12 grade grouping.
• Responded with a preference for new construction at the high school level.
• Preference for expansion of existing facilities at the middle or junior high level.
• Preference for expansion of existing facilities at the elementary level.
• Expressed a strong emphasis for taking modular units out of use and replace with permanent construction.
• Preference for increased use of technology in the delivery of instruction.
• Supported a performing arts/auditorium complex.
• Expressed a moderate interest in year-round schools.
• Supports an increased emphasis on computer literacy.
• Preference for additions and renovations to improve the facilities which would respond to program changes and potential growth.

Elementary School Level

The results of the first community meeting indicates that the participants of the workshop prefer the following program changes:

• Strong support for computer literacy.
• Preference for a Pre-K - 5 grade grouping.
• Limited interest in a Pre-K - 6 grade grouping.
• Preference for 15 to 20 class size at the Pre-K - 2 level.
• Preference for 20 - 25 class size at the 3 - 5 or 3 - 6 level.
• Preference for expansion of existing schools to solve facility needs.

In addition to above projections, pre-kindergarten mandated programs could generate an additional 100 students or more.

Conditions of Existing Elementary Buildings

The school system needs space to accommodate approximately 3,375 students at the K-5 level or 3,965 students at the K-6 level. The needed capacity with a 25:1 studentIteacher ratio would be 135 rooms for K-5 or 160 rooms for K-6. There are 127 permanent classrooms now available.

The qualitative evaluation of current school facilities suggest:

• Although in need of some upgrading, the quality of the physical environment for learning at all elementary schools is satisfactory.
• The quality (size and development) of some specialized facilities for art, music, library/media, computers, food service, and physical education at some elementary schools is restrictive to the delivery of the desired programs.
• The size of the sites at most elementary schools are adequate to serve program needs. Due to use by the central administration, the Main site is congested.
• The school size at all schools approach the maximum which is considered good practice. Hence, additions should be held to a minimum. Additional enrollments at the schools may create capacity problems for some of the specialized facilities.

Middle School Level

The results of the first community meeting indicates that the participants of the workshop prefer the following program changes:

• Preference for a comprehensive educational program which, in addition to the core curriculum subjects, includes physical education, foreign language, and computer literacy.
• Preference for a 6 - 8 grade grouping.
• Preference for an average class size of 20 - 25 students.
• High interest in support for academic clubs and teams, band, and intramural sports.
• Preference for expansion of existing facilities rather than construction of new schools.
• Preference for expansion of existing schools to solve facility needs.

Condition of Existing Junior High Schools

The qualitative evaluation of the existing school facilities suggest:

• The estimated capacities at both junior highs appear to be adequate for the projected enrollments.
• The estimated capacities for Ferguson and the high school as a middle or junior high may be excess to the projected enrollment need.
• The estimated capacities for either both junior highs or Ferguson and the high school far exceed the projected 7th and 8th grade enrollment need.
• The quality and size of some specialized facilities in the middle or junior high schools for science, library, art, physical education and computers are restrictive to the delivery of these programs.
• The estimated capacity for both Ankeney and Ferguson is 1,768.
• The estimated capacity for Ferguson and the high school as a middle or junior high school is 2,015.
• The size of the site at Ankeney is adequate for future program needs.
• The size of the site at Ferguson is limiting for future expansion of the school.
• The size of the site at the high school would be adequate for either a middle or junior high school.

High School Level

• Preference for an average class size of 20 - 25 students.
• Preference for a 9 - 12 grade grouping.
• Preference for a comprehensive educational program which in addition to the core curriculum subjects, includes art, computer literacy, science, foreign language, physical education, and speech.
• High interest was expressed for intramural programs, academic clubs and teams, band, choir, drama, and service clubs.
• Preference for theater and/or auditorium was expressed.
• Preference was expressed for new construction rather than additions to the high school.

Condition of Existing High School

The qualitative evaluation of the existing school facilities suggest:

• The quality of the facilities at the high school does serve the existing program, does have some restrictive spaces, and reflects a need for overall renovation
• The quality and size of some specialized facilities for library, food service, science, physical education, auditorium, athletic facilities, and computer's are restrictive to the delivery of these programs.
• The size of the site is less than what is necessary for the number of students.
• The design of the school building may restrict a significant amount of expansion in terms of a functional school.
• The estimated 1994 - 95 program capacity was 1,396 students.
• The projected enrollments for grades 10 - 12 is 1,583 in the year 2000.
• The projected enrollments for grades 9 - 12 is 2,144 in the 1999.

OVERALL DISTRICT OPTIONS

The options outlined below have been developed to provide comparisons for adequate educational facilities through the decade of the 1990s and into the 21st century.

The costs of the various options are based on rough estimates. More precise cost estimates should be made once the educational specifications are developed by local users and costs are made by estimators. The presented dollar amounts should be viewed as approximations for strategic planning purposes.