Following more than six months of intensive work, the Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) delivered their report and recommendations to the Ridgefield School Board at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 24.
The CFAC is recommending the district place a bond on the February 2017 ballot for between $95 and $100 million.
Ridgefield is one of the fastest-growing school districts in the state. All four schools are currently over capacity, and the district will be adding 11 modular buildings this fall to keep up with the immediate needs.
“We just need more space for the students coming in. I don’t know if anyone is ever thrilled about a bond, but they are thrilled that the district is looking around and trying to keep our schools great,” said Amy Draper, co-chair of the CFAC. “Ridgefield School District is in a great position right now. People are moving to Ridgefield because of the great schools.”
The recommendations include the construction of a new fifth and sixth-grade intermediate school and seventh and eighth-grade middle school at the district-owned property across South Hillhurst Road from Ridgefield High School. The two schools would share certain core facilities, such as food service, library-media center, and a black box theater to increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The CFAC also recommends continuing to pursue the partnership with the city of Ridgefield to develop an outdoor recreation complex on the same property to be used by the school district, area athletic organizations, and the general public. The joint project has the potential to save taxpayers $5 million by constructing shared spaces.
Additionally, the CFAC proposes expanding Ridgefield High School to accommodate an additional 500 students. This project would focus on spaces for the fine arts, special education, science, a new library-media center, and more general education classrooms.
Both Union Ridge Elementary and South Ridge Elementary would receive safety and security upgrades, and a portion of the existing View Ridge Middle School would be repurposed for an expanded community education program and the consolidation of district administration and support services.
The estimated cost breakdowns by project are:
Facility Need Cost Range
New 5-6 and 7-8 School Campuses $70,447,279-$73,969,643
New Addition at RHS $22,051,180-$23,153,739
Safety/Security Upgrades at South Ridge $493,482-$542,830
Safety/Security Upgrades at Union Ridge $510,325-$561,357
Repurpose View Ridge Middle School $1,894,981-$2,084,247
Total Cost Range $95,397,247-$100,311,816
The CFAC, which consisted of approximately 30 members, was comprised of parents, retirees, business leaders, elected leaders, faculty and staff from across the district. The group worked with professionals in architecture, planning, construction, municipal financing, and security to broaden their knowledge and more thoroughly explore all options.
“On behalf of our entire board, I wish to extend a huge thank you to the CFAC. This is the culmination of countless hours of volunteer work and we appreciate and admire their passion for Ridgefield Schools, our kids, and our community,” said Scott Gullickson, president of the school board of directors.
A unique feature of the CFAC’s process was their purposeful engagement of the whole community. They hosted a community forum in March, held staff presentations at the school sites, provided updates to area business groups, and utilized a subcommittee structure to survey and interview parents, staff, and other stakeholders.
Dennis Bell, a retiree and vice-chair, emphasized that a primary goal of the CFAC was to respond effectively to near-term needs while maintaining the flexibility required for longer-range planning. The district projects student enrollment to be approximately 7,200 students in 2035.
“The joint campus complex recommendation allows the district to prepare adequately for our anticipated growth while still maintaining flexibility should we grow at a slower rate. It is a creative solution that protects tax dollars long-term,” said Dr. Nathan McCann, the district’s superintendent.
“The CFAC’s ability to look at our needs from all angles and be completely objective will serve us well as we continue down the road to making these dreams reality,” said Gullickson.
You can view the CFAC’s report in its entirety along with their presentation materials at www.ridgefieldsd.org/about-us/capital-facilities-advisory-committee.
