PC #535 Long-Range Facilities Analysis
Community
Info Sessions
Saturday, October 19th
10:00am-12:00pm
Putnam County
Elementary School
Monday, October 21st
6:00pm-8:00pm
Putnam County
Junior High School
WHAT IS ON THE NOVEMBER 5TH BALLOT?
On July 16th, 2024, the Board of Education adopted a resolution to proceed to referendum. The November 5th election ballot language will read:
Shall the Board of Education of Putnam County Community Unit School District Number 535, Putnam, LaSalle and Marshall Counties, Illinois, alter, repair and equip school buildings, including constructing security and health/life safety improvements, increasing classroom, cafeteria and gymnasium space and replacing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, improve school sites and issue its bonds to the amount of $34,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?
WHY PROPOSE A REFERENDUM NOW?
Strategic Planning Goals
Our PC#535 buildings are aging, require critical safety enhancements, need updated teaching and learning environments, and are inefficient to operate. Significant investments are needed to update the existing facilities, which would require the District to eventually increase taxes. Through multiple years of district-led strategic planning, facility studies, and community feedback, the district has developed a long-range facilities master plan. This vision for the future is guided by critical pillars of the district’s strategic plan: ensuring environments conducive to teaching and learning, and maximizing the district’s operational efficiency. The proposed long-range plan aims to achieve these goals through consolidating all district resources, energy, and identity to a single educational campus.
Strategic Planning Goals
Our PC#535 buildings are aging, require critical safety enhancements, need updated teaching and learning environments, and are inefficient to operate. Significant investments are needed to update the existing facilities, which would require the District to eventually increase taxes. Through multiple years of district-led strategic planning, facility studies, and community feedback, the district has developed a long-range facilities master plan. This vision for the future is guided by critical pillars of the district’s strategic plan: ensuring environments conducive to teaching and learning, and maximizing the district’s operational efficiency. The proposed long-range plan aims to achieve these goals through consolidating all district resources, energy, and identity to a single educational campus.
In the spring of 2022, a group of Board of Education members and community stakeholders met to set a vision for the District, focusing on building and facility improvements. Cadence Consulting was hired to conduct a Long-Range Facilities Analysis, and throughout the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years, the Board regularly reviewed facility reports and studies.
SEDAC from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign compiled reports recommending energy efficiency projects, and Cadence Consulting completed a summary of the district’s facility needs. Healy Bender Patton & Been developed a Master Facilities Plan outlining capital projects and costs for the next 15 years.
In fall 2023, School Perceptions conducted a survey of all district households to assess whether to invest in existing buildings or close and expand schools. The survey results were shared with the community.
On March 6th, 2024, the Board of Education held a Community Engagement Session to present the district’s master plan and gather community feedback, with a video of the presentation available. Survey results indicated a need to reduce the number of schools to save money and improve education, leading to a community-wide survey in spring 2024 and a subsequent Board vote to proceed with a referendum.
Needs
The most significant investments are needed at Putnam County Elementary School and Putnam County Junior High School.
Needs
The most significant investments are needed at Putnam County Elementary School and Putnam County Junior High School.
AGING BUILDING SYSTEMS
Putnam County Elementary School (3rd–5th Grade) in Hennepin originally built in 1923. Putnam County Junior High School (6th–8th Grade) in McNabb originally built in 1976.
SAFETY AND
SECURITY
Critical improvements needed for building code compliance, and improvements for life safety and security. Emergency response times impacted by the remote isolation of school sites.
OUTDATED LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
Special education spaces, libraries, collaboration spaces, art and music rooms, and science labs need updating.
EFFICIENCY OF OPERATIONS
Operating multiple aging buildings in remote locations has led to increased expenses. Significant travel times between school locations impacts staff, students, and families.
Key Points
Aging building systems, finishes and facilities are leading to significant ongoing maintenance costs.
Critical improvements to needed to correct building code compliance, life safety, and security concerns.
Distance between school building locations leads to emergency response challenges, significant travel times for staff, students, and families, staffing inefficiencies.
The most significant investments are needed at the elementary school and junior high school sites.
Elementary School
Major building systems (such as plumbing, lighting, and electrical) need to be updated / replaced.
Areas of the school cannot be used because they do not comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) codes and fire safety regulations.
Additions over time created an inefficient layout with crowded hallways and common spaces.
Classrooms are too small, outdated, and lack appropriate technology access.
Some classrooms need to be remodeled to better serve students in special education.
Buses, cars, and pedestrians need to be better separated to improve safety and traffic flow.
Junior High School
Major building systems (such as plumbing, lighting, and electrical) need to be updated / replaced.
Because the site is remote, the building has its own utilities, which increases costs and decreases efficiencies.
The entrance needs to be renovated to better monitor and control visitor access.
Classrooms and labs need to be updated to improve and better support science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) course offerings.
Solution
One Campus
SOLUTION
One Campus
Create Single Putnam County #535 Educational Campus
Campus would become the center for teaching and learning, competing and collaborating, growing and succeeding within the county.
Average student’s daily bus ride time reduced by 25 minutes.
Provide junior high students with access to higher-level courses on the shared campus.
The solution will result in a net reduction of overall district square footage.
Close Putnam County Elementary School and Putnam County Junior High School
Avoid significant building code compliance, life safety requirements, and building maintenance costs.
Relocate all students and staff to Putnam County Pre-K–8 School.
District to seek community enhancing reuse of both sites.
Additions to Putnam County Primary School
Build 3rd-5th grade classroom addition.
Build 6th-8th grade classroom addition.
Build separate, dedicated gymnasium and cafeteria spaces to accommodate additional students.
Provide special education space, library, art and music classrooms, science labs and breakout spaces for student collaboration and small group instruction.
Modify the office to better monitor and control visitor access.
Expand parking and redesign vehicle traffic flow and student drop-off / pick-up to improve staff and student safety.
Cost
Estimated Tax Impact of Debt
Cost
Estimated Impact of Debt
The District takes pride in maintaining a responsible tax rate that effectively supports our schools. We are committed to ensuring this balance continues, providing quality education while being mindful of our community’s financial responsibilities. We will keep the community informed as we explore opportunities to offset costs and reduce the financial impact.
Project Amount: $34,000,000
- Estimated bonding calculations provided by Bernardi Securities.
- Due to increased property valuations, the estimated bond tax rate has dropped from a previously estimated $1.07, to a maximum of $0.88 in addition to the annual tax levy.
- Estimated duration to maturity: 20 years
Spring 2024 Community Survey - Results
The results from the Spring 2024 Community Survey were presented by School Perceptions to the Board of Education during the regular meeting on Tuesday, June 18th, 2024. The report of these results is provided for review:
Background
In June 2022, the Board of Education approved an agreement with Cadence Consulting to provide consultation and direction with a Long-Range Facilities Analysis. The purpose is to develop analyses of existing facilities (see Analysis Reports), execute process for community engagement, and identify next steps for improvement. Throughout the 2022-2023 school year and beyond, the Board of Education regularly met to tour the facilities, approve studies, and review reports on the buildings.
Through this analysis, the Board of Education identified the schools need significant improvements to building systems, safety and security, and learning spaces. We are now at a crossroads and must consider if we should continue to invest in existing buildings or begin closing schools while expanding onto or replacing others. We understood that planning for our schools must reflect the priorities of the community and collected feedback using the Fall 2023 Community Survey.
Analysis Reports
The following reports are being provided for community review. These reports were completed and reviewed by the Board of Education as part of the Long-Range Facilities Analysis.
SEDAC Reports
These reports were compiled by the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. These reports include recommended projects to improve energy efficiency and operational cost reduction.
Master Facilities Plan
This plan was compiled and updated by the District’s architectural firm, Healy Bender Patton & Been Architects. The document includes a list of all capital investment projects and associated costs over the next 15 years.
Facilities Needs Summary – This document created by Cadence Consulting summarizes all current PC #535 facilities, including size, enrollment, and needs.
TAX CALCULATOR
Using your most recent tax bill, enter the “Total Assessed Value” and “Exemptions” and then click “Calculate.” The “Estimated Property Tax Increase” will be the anticipated increase to your taxes if a bond was issued at a 0.88 rate.
Community Engagement Session
March 6th, 2024
HOW WE GOT HERE
The master facilities plan identifies infrastructure improvements for the schools. It does not provide estimates for needs beyond general improvement of existing building systems. Preliminary option development includes considering improvements beyond infrastructure in order to develop a scale of magnitude. Examples of other improvements include rerouting of traffic patterns at Putnam County Primary School, updating entrances for security at Putnam County High School and Putnam County Junior High, and updating classrooms.
The elementary school (PCES) and junior high (PCJH) are both unique schools. PCES has a section of its building that is 100 years old this year. This section is not used for students because of accessibility and code compliance. PCJH is in a remote setting and has its own well, storage tank, and wastewater treatment plant. These systems make the school more difficult to operate.
The District has not yet determined that buildings will be closed. At this time, the District is seeking input from the community to determine a long-range plan for facilities.
The District has not yet determined that buildings will be closed. At this time, the District is seeking input from the community to determine a long-range plan for facilities. Planning will be based on survey results and include opportunities for community input.
The District would utilize the master facilities plan, SEDAC reports, and other findings to create a timeline for improvements of building systems. Along with these improvements, the District would identify priority updates based on survey results. For example, if school safety and security is identified as a priority then updates will be made in that area of the schools.
The District has a very complicated bus system due to its rural setting with four schools. Some students experience long bus times and multiple transfers. Transportation will be analyzed as part of any long-range planning.
The District has not yet determined that buildings will be closed. At this time, the District is seeking input from the community to determine a long-range plan for facilities.
The District currently has strong financial responsibility and recognizes there is potential future revenue from community development. This revenue will be taken into consideration for all planning. However, due to the scope of needed investments, the District will need to consider a long-range plan for financing since payment for any plan cannot happen at one time.