April 5, 2022 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Special Meeting

Discussion: 

• Board President Desh called the Special Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
• Board President Desh led the board and the patrons in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Discussion: 

• Board President Desh identified the location of the Open Meetings Act poster in the media center and declared the meeting a public meeting. 

Discussion: 
Summary of Information:

• Representatives from Clark Enersen presented information to board members regarding possible "draft" options for facility enhancements to the elementary and high school buildings.
• Various options (listed below) highlighted possible expansion ideas at the elementary school and the high school. This information was a culmination of previous ideas and prior community input aligned with our NASB strategic planning "needs analysis" and comprehensive enrollment study results.
• The information was presented for the purpose of discussion, problem-solving, and questions.
• No action was taken on any item.

Highlights of the Bennet Elementary School possible expansion project include:

• The addition of new / renovated classrooms and student learning areas
• Expanded kitchen area and student commons area
• Expanded office area to include a conference room, expanded nurse’s office, and main office area
• Expanded student commons / indoor activity space near the southeast edge of the gym
• Remodeling and enhancing the current gymnasium and stage area
• Enhancement of the current outdoor classroom 
• Playground renovations
• Future possibilities include adding more gym space to the east of the current gymnasium

Additional Bennet Elementary School discussion included HVAC capacities, bus, traffic, and pedestrian traffic flow, width of bus lanes and parking, green space availability, and potential impact on neighboring properties. 

Highlights of possible Palmyra High School expansion options: Please note:There were 2 possible options discussed: 

Option # 1:

• Additional classrooms, to include space for content area classes, specialized educational programs, and a "common use" conference room /meeting space 
• Enhanced elevator access and additional restrooms
• Expanded student commons and main office areas
• Development of a new Career Technical Education (CTE) Area
• Repurpose the current IT "shop area" into a new student weight room and community-based fitness center with secure public accessibility
• Repurpose the current weight deck into a wrestling/ fitness room
• Expand the current music classroom area

Discussion: High School Option # 2:

• This "draft" option included information about adding new classrooms and student commons space with the development of a separate school structure across the street west of the high school building on the football field.
• Longer range planning discussions included the possibility of the reconfiguration of village streets west of the high school, traffic and safety challenges associated with the road immediately west of the building, and the addition of additional activity areas. 

A Piper Sandler representative provided financial information related to estimated project costs and timeline parameters regarding a possible bond election sometime in the near future (Fall 2022). Costs were reviewed for various dollar amounts, estimated interest rates, and financing terms.

• Additional discussion centered around what other information was needed to move forward with a decision on facility expansion, opportunities to gather more community input, collaboration with local village boards, and additional patron survey feedback.
• A "draft" schedule of possible community engagement meeting dates and survey questions was discussed and will be finalized at the April regular board meeting.

Discussion:  Identified Guiding Principles Contained within the "draft" Strategic Plan:

• Guiding Principle I: Culture and Connectedness

• Guiding Principle II: Facilities

• Guiding Principle III: Student Learning Experiences

• Guiding Principle IV:  Personnel Effectiveness and Staffing

• Guiding Principle V:  Board Governance

Additional Discussion: 

• Board members were reminded to compete their NASB Board Governance prioritization link by the end of the day on Friday, April 8th. 
• No further discussion. More information on the Strategic Planning process will be discussed the next regular board meeting.  

Discussion: 

• The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 p.m.