Overview
Overview
Part of providing a future-ready, student-centered learning experience for every single child is envisioning what our schools and classrooms need to look like in five, 10 or 20 years.
Will our current spaces meet the future educational needs of our students?
With this in mind, Lakota’s strategic plan calls for an in-depth assessment of our facilities. Our end goal is to build a plan that protects our district’s most important physical assets and supports the type of learning that will carry our schools into the future.
A master facilities plan is much like a five-year financial forecast - it’s a current snapshot of a long-term blueprint. That's why a planning committee - made up of the school board members, VSWC Architects, an educational visioning expert and district leaders - started this process with an in-depth analysis of the current condition of Lakota buildings as well as a thorough examination of Lakota's current and projected enrollment. Of course, all of this must be reviewed with consideration toward the future of education and how to best serve our students.
The last time Lakota completed a modified MFP was in 2008. The last comprehensive plan was completed in the early 2000s.
Carrying an average age of 35 years, Lakota’s aging schools are showing some signs of deterioration and are not equipped to provide students with the learning spaces that match today’s educational model. Furthermore, Lakota's enrollment has already surpassed projections and continues to increase in the district’s northern schools, which are already becoming overcrowded.
Facilities Committee
The Master Facilities Committee meets twice a month and includes school board members, district leaders and members of the District's architecture team.
The community is invited to attend committee meetings, which are held at Lakota's Central Office. Please view the committee's calendar for specific dates and time.
Community Input
The schools belong to our community, which is why we are committed to including their voices throughout this entire process. A combination of community meetings, focus groups and ThoughtExchanges will be used to share information and gather feedback at critical points throughout this process. In addition, all Facilities Committee meetings are open to the public.
Check the MFP calendar regularly for a list of upcoming meetings and other opportunities to learn more and share your thoughts. You can also participate in any of our live ThoughtExchanges, a new online engagement tool we are using to regularly gather feedback and help prioritize what's important to our community.