Andover has long been a leader in excellence as it relates to facilities, classroom technology, athletic facilities, and overall property maintenance. In 2019, the current bond payments will be paid in full and at that time, the district will need to make a decision for the future. As detailed in the 2015-16 district goals of Student Achievement and Fiscal Responsibility, we are committed to providing facilities for our students to learn successfully. We have a history of proactive, thorough planning to meet the facility needs of our community. After gathering data on the current facilities’ condition, the board approved to proceed with a comprehensive facilities study. This study will analyze each building, collect demographic data and actively engage the community to develop a new vision for Andover’s facilities and student learning environments. 

The Board of Education selected Schaefer, Johnson, Cox, Frey (SJCF) architecture firm to partner with Andover and lead this process. They have completed facility projects for Wichita USD 259, Maize USD 266, Derby USD 260 and other districts in the area.

Between four Education Specification Teams, four Planning Teams and the Steering Committee, there have been approximately 170 district staff, administration, community members and parents involved in the facilities study process.

The district has necessary facility improvements totaling over $20 million. These include roofs, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, parking lots, concrete work, drainage issues, playground maintenance, etc. 

• Roofs at AHS, CES, MES and AMS are nearing life expectancies. 
• The same buildings have HVAC units already past their life expectancy.

The Community Feedback meetings are helping define a direction to identify a final cost of the Master Facilities Plan.

At this time there has been no discussion of changing school boundaries. Because of changing demographics and future enrollment patterns, we can not rule that out, but it is the Board's intention to not change boundaries at this time.

The current mill levy for bond & interest is 26.08. The current outstanding bonds will be paid in full Sept. 2019

Each plan presented to the Steering Committee addresses the need for an early childhood program on the north side; options include potential additions to one of the north side elementary schools to equal early childhood enrollment at Prairie Creek Elementary.

5-years: 

• AMS - 709; ACMS - 625
• AHS - 913; ACHS - 837

The demographic study shows a “steady” growth but nothing that would support a third high school. It shows an increase of 309 students over 5 years, with 57 at the elementary level, 78 at the middle school level, and 174 at the high school level. With reduction in funding for schools and the student growth rate between 0.5 and 2 percent, the growth does not justify an additional high and middle school.

Middle schools will have capacity issues in 2-3 years. Elementary schools are not projected to grow at a rate to cause concern at present. The buildings will not reach capacity in the next 5 years.

There are arguments for both sides on this one. 

• SPORTS: We’ll use football as an example: In sub-varsity sports, the larger the student population, the better chance of participating/playing. A larger 5A school could field a 9th grade team, JV team and Varsity team. More opportunities exist for students in the 9th and 10th grades to participate in those programs. The Varsity level becomes more competitive when this occurs and then participation becomes harder at the 11th and 12th grades.
   
• ACTIVITIES: This is an area that just “grows” with a school. You see 6A schools with very large bands, not limiting a student’s ability to participate.
   
• AP (Advanced Placement) classes: The argument tends to be that with “larger” enrollment, comes more academic enrichment potential. Small schools have schedules dictated by the “certified teachers” available to teach courses. The larger the school, the more teachers they employ, thus enabling the larger district to offer a better variety of courses to meet the needs of students.

No. Butler Community College rents the space in AHS to the sum of $180,000 a year.

Butler Community College has expressed an interest in vacating AHS. They would like to consolidate into one building to become more efficient.

In all the plans that have been presented, updates to the south stadium are included in these conversations. The purpose is so Andover Central High School and Andover Central Middle school could host their own activities, leaving the current district stadium for Andover High School and Andover Middle School to host their activities.

USD 385 currently has 3. They are located at Prairie Creek, Meadowlark & Wheatland Elementarys.

eCademy and RME currently have electronic access control at their main entrances.

Monies that are issued for a bond can only be used for bond projects. Any revenue from mills generated from the bond and interest levy can only be used to pay principal and interest on bond debt. Teacher salaries can only come from the school district General Fund and the Local Option Budget. 

The current district stadium would have added parking lots, which would take the space of the throwng events. New space would be provided across the street (behind Andover High School) for throwing events. The enhancement of the south athletic complex would have throwing space provided (not shown on drawings). The south complex would have the 8-lane track and would be the location of district track meets. 

In the case of new construction or remodeling, temporary parking may have to be made in the rear of the building. If a new building was placed on the current site, parking would end up behind the new building (which is the current footprint of the existing building). Phases in a remodel would be complicated and need “swing” space for kids to have class. Although we have ideas, nothing has been defined at this time. 

Two to three years

The YMCA has not expressed an interest in partnering with the district on a new pool within the next two years. They have expressed interest in discussing it after that time.

On Nov. 29, the Steering Committee will discuss all options and also discuss the feedback from the community meetings. On Dec. 12, the Master Facilities Plan will be recommended to the USD 385 Board of Education. 

Kansas is in an earthquake zone and all constructions are designed to meet required codes. However, Kansas codes are not as stringent as codes in states like California. 

There are less FEMA funds available than in previous years, and the probability of receiving funds is very slim. 

IF the Board of Education accepts a Master Facilities Plan and approves to begin the bond process in January, a bond would take place in late Spring 2017. IF the bond passes, projects would begin Summer 2017 after project bidding has begun.