What are the district’s enrollment projections?

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Ballard currently projects that our enrollment will increase by more than 200 students in the next decade. This will place more pressure on our facilities, as some buildings are already approaching capacity. Future enrollment growth will likely lead to space challenges as we serve more students across grade levels.

 

We believe that we must start the planning process now to ensure we are prepared for the future growth of our school district.

 

What are the goals of the master facilities planning process?

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Starting in January 2023, Ballard will build a facilities master plan to guide the district for the next decade. Below are the key goals the Board of Education has established for this effort:

• Ensure building capacity is adequate for current and future enrollment

• Address current deficiencies and maintain facilities at a high standard

• Ensure the vision of our community aligns with the district regarding current and future facility needs

• Maintain fiscal responsibility

• Prioritize career readiness throughout the planning and design of all school facilities

 

What is the role of the Steering Committee?

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The Steering Committee consists of community members, the Board of Education, and district administration. Together, they will use multiple data sources to determine district needs, including: 

• A comprehensive enrollment projection

• A building capacity study

• Revenue projections, debt payment schedules, and bonding scenarios

• A district-generated list of maintenance projects at all facilities

• Community and staff input forums and survey, which will give district residents and staff an opportunity to review the district’s needs and provide input on potential solutions

 

Will the broader community have an opportunity to provide input?

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Yes! In January 2023, district residents and staff were able to provide their input and feedback through a community-wide survey. The results of this survey will help drive the work of the Steering Committee and the recommendation it ultimately makes to the Board of Education in May 2023. View the survey report here.

 

What will the completed Facilities Master Plan provide to the district?

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The Facilities Master Plan will help ensure that preventative maintenance and scheduled improvements are proactive and cost effective for the district. It will also forecast the need for new construction and the expansion of existing so that there is adequate time to finance these projects.

 

The plan will be student focused. Forecasting new construction and expansion enables all district stakeholders to ensure learning spaces are designed to meet the current and future needs of our students and realize Ballard’s vision to Empower All Learners.

 

Will the community vote on a bond issue sometime in the future?

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We are still very early in the master planning process, and it is not yet clear if or when community members may be asked to vote on a potential bond issue. While this remains a possibility, the Board of Education has not yet discussed or considered a bond vote.

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