Proposed Facilities Plan to launch
community conversation on Ames Schools.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 22, 2011

For more information contact:
Kathy Hanson     
Ames Community Schools           
515.268.6651
kathy.hanson@ames.k12.ia.us

AMES— The Ames School Board accepted a working draft of a long-range facilities plan on Monday, Nov. 21.

The proposal, based on the foundation of several years of facilities planning with input from consultants and the community, is designed to launch a conversation with District residents, says the Facilities Subcommittee, comprising Board and staff members, who drafted it.

          The proposal does not represent the Board’s final decision on facilities. The Board will garner community input before putting the finishing touches on a facilities plan— including provisions for the high school and its aquatic and sports facilities, and District administration and maintenance facilities—that will frame a bond referendum on April 3, 2012.

          Since several details within the plan hinge on where a newly constructed Fellows Elementary School would be located, the Board voted to accept the proposal with a revision that would keep Fellows at its current site. The original draft presented a choice between the current site and the property on George W. Carver Avenue in north Ames.

          Superintendent Tim Taylor said the elementary phase of the proposal accepted on Monday includes features that would provide capacity and flexibility for current and future elementary enrollment. Each building would incorporate up to four extra classrooms to buffer enrollment fluctuations, and would also be designed so extra sections could be added to accommodate enrollment growth, he said.

          “The proposal represents the District’s best strategies for providing an environment that will support teaching and learning for all students in the District for years to come,” Taylor said.  “It’s time to bring our facilities in line with the clarity and focus we’ve applied to our education plan.”
Proposed elementary schools:

• A new school on the current Fellows site between McKinley Avenue and 20th Street with four sections per grade level;
• A new school on the Miller Avenue property in southwest Ames with three sections per grade level;
• Renovations to Sawyer Elementary School on Ontario Street with three sections per grade level;
• Renovations to Mitchell Elementary School on Jewell Avenue with two sections per grade level;
• A new school built on the current Meeker site on 20th Street with three sections per grade level.

The Board encourages the community to follow its next steps:

• A community input session concerning the Fellows site with Fellows PTO and community members at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29 in the Fellows Elementary School Gymnasium;

• The formation of a Facilities Community Committee that will present the proposal to the public for feedback and input. The Board plans to approve the committee’s charter on Dec. 5, 2011;
• Board discussion and approval of any adjustments to the facilities plan based on community input, on Jan. 9, 2012;
• Concurrent work by the Facilities Subcommittee on financing and phasing the facilities plan, with a presentation on Jan. 23;
• Board approval of referendum language by Feb. 6;
• A bond referendum on April 3.

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