Deshler Public Schools�Public Information Meeting�Capital Project Planning

August 17, 2023

History of DPS, 1889-1965

First Public School

Built with a $1500 bond

1889

Second Public School

North of the Presbyterian Church

1909 with a $25,000 bond

Increased Facilities

$280,000 school bond

Increased facilities

October 1959

​

FB Field & Track Complex

New facilities added

1965

History of DPS,

1980 - Now

New K-12 Building

$2.465 million bond

Industrial Shop connected to Gym

11/18/1980 voters approved

Competition Track

Approved $771,000 in 2015

Updated Facilities

Estimated at $5 to $7 million bond to include:

• Additional Classrooms
• Growing Programs = Growing Needs
• Commons Area
• Intermediate Gym
• Additional Parking

​

• Completed projects from 2022-2023:
• Elem. bathroom renovations
• Locker room renovations
• Ventilation in Industrial Tech rm
• HVAC in the gym

​

Where Are We Now?

• The board has researched options and statutes regarding capital facilities projects and has decided to investigate the Design-Build methodology
• In accordance with State statute, a Performance Criteria Developer (Project Control) has been hired to assist the Board in developing project criteria, soliciting potential Design-Build partners, and selecting an eventual firm for this project.
• The purpose of this public meeting, as well as the surveys that were sent out, are to seek input from the DPS community on what the project will be, as well as the needs and wants in terms of what can be provided.
• Survey results supporting these facility upgrades are included on the next slides.

Top Areas of Student Needs Identified:

• Additional Classrooms/Service Areas
• Industrial Tech & Dual Credit Needs
• Commons Area
• Intermediate Gym
• Additional Parking

ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM NEEDS

• OT/PT service classrooms are currently being served in the hallway/stair area
• Meeting location for mental health therapist (currently uses administrative offices)
• Testing of students for verification of services (currently uses the guidance counselor’s office or administrative offices)
• Classrooms for our students receiving resource ed and our staff to be able to work in an area with less distractions

​

Survey Support Comments For: CLASSROOMS

“I like the idea of a separate space for PT/ OT services as using the hallway can get complicated when we are testing students, etc. I currently share my classroom with the OT assistant on Fridays which works well but we have to use additional space if we are both serving students at the same time. I also like the idea of an additional gym space for more activities along with more parking to help host those activities.”

​

“Please consider putting up more "permanent" type walls in my speech corner of the library. While my walls visually provide a space to work with students, the fact that they don't reach to the ceiling, make it challenging to provide both speech services and have others utilize the library at the same time. This becomes particularly concerning when trying to test a child, working with a student who struggles with distractions and regulation or when having private phone calls/conversations with students, etc. I wanted to offer this as a suggestion of something to consider when looking at options for our building.”

​

“Thank you for noting the need to improve space for special education and related services classroom space. Speech needs more permanent walls and psychologist/OT/PT need private space for testing and working with students. I appreciate my classroom, but often wish for a larger classroom so I could have more options for different kinds of work spaces.”

​

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY & DUAL CREDIT NEEDS

​

Growing dual credit programs, CNC and Industrial Arts pathways, as well as JH exploratory programs,including the addition of a STEM program in 23-24 and health sciences program

​

Increasing number of students taking Health Science for dual credit, as well as CNA certifications, welding certifications, and other areas of career interests being served. Those students are displaced in other classrooms, in the library or at times, three classes at a time going on in Industrial Tech area or “shop” including HS Welding or CNC by Reinkes, JH Exploratory classes in Solidworks or Irrigation/Electricity, regular agricultural education classes, including welding/woodworking classes).

​

Updates and revisions to our Industrial Tech classroom (including ventilation of the existing facilities, updated technology, and continued growth in our on the job training programs) have been undertaken already in some areas.

​

​

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY & DUAL CREDIT NEEDS

​

​

THE PARTS OF THIS PROJECT THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED INCLUDE:

​

• Ventilation updates ($100,000)
• New laptops (grant received) and desktops (purchased in 2022) with CNC/SolidWorks software purchase for these machines, including new wiring in Business Education Rm
• New Greenhouse (fundraising & grant writing to reach goal; $75K match from DPS)

​

Survey Support Comments For: IND TECH & DUAL CREDIT

“Connecting the shop building with the school building. This could be an area for storage, maybe a small open area for students to have "parties", game days, or a science lab for elementary and the junior high and high school students could safely go between buildings without having to worry about weather or safety.”

​

“A separate area for all college classes to be held. The library gets too loud when trying to test. Too many people in and out…Plus the office is storage area for most everything "health-wise" i.e. extra clothing, personal hygiene items, which is fine, just run out of room quickly.”

​

“Bathrooms in the ag room are in need of updating.” “Greenhouse is needed.”

​

COMMONS AREA TO HOST EVENTS

​

• A commons area is needed to host events (currently using an area that serves as the lunchroom, smaller practice area, storage area, and concession stand where food is carried in/out of classrooms to serve) before/after sports practices or meetings are held.
• When we host any event, we must avoid any of these activities, as well as disinfect, prepare, set up and take down prior to the next activity/event/meal to be served.
• Current area has no AC, and during our fall sporting events and our spring musical and concerts/programs that we host, it is very warm in the commons area.

​

“I would ask to explore the cost and feasibility of updating or repairing HVAC systems to current rooms.”

​

“Concession stand room that is dedicated to that purpose.”

​

“Clean up the entrance… It seems unfinished.”

​

“Having a separate common / lunch area that is not in the current multipurpose room would free up that space for normal PE use…”

​

Survey Support Comments For: COMMONS AREA

​

“I would ask to explore the cost and feasibility of updating or repairing HVAC systems to current rooms.”

​

“Concession stand room that is dedicated to that purpose.”

​

“Clean up the entrance… It seems unfinished.”

​

“Having a separate common / lunch area that is not in the current multipurpose room would free up that space for normal PE use…”

​

INTERMEDIATE GYM/FINE ARTS’ NEEDS

Intermediate gym is needed because:

​

• When there are PE classes going on or indoor recesses is being held, we currently have nowhere to go with the students.
• The lunchroom has to be set up prior to the four different lunch periods, cleaned between lunches, and then cleaned again before it can be used as a PE/recess/practice area; as well as all extracurricular activities, all sharing one gym.
• The area must then be cleaned again after any type of activity and tables set back up so that breakfast/lunch can be served. This is done multiple times daily as the gym/commons area are continuously in use for very different needs.
• Provide more opportunities for community sponsors to host events and practices for youth activities and bring business to our community.

​

Survey Support Comments For: ADDITIONAL GYM

“We need to be able to host events.”

​

“PLEASE DON’T just go the cheap route —especially on a gym—this is a once in a lifetime project—get it right!!”

​

“We have needed a new gym for such a long time…It will be so nice to be able to host youth and high school sport tournaments at our facility for once. This is [time to] better our facility so let’s do it right and make it happen.”

​

“To continue to try to use one gym in conjunction with a lunch room that also doubles as a PE area and storage area is not feasible. As more and more activities are added at younger ages, it is not feasible to continue to use one gym and a commons area/lunchroom/meeting room/storage area to meet the needs of our PreK-12th grade students.”

ADDITIONAL PARKING NEEDS

• Additional parking for school events is needed as we become able to host more youth activities with two gyms.
• We have sporting activities for students in grades 3-12 that require a parking lot able to hold the number of people who attend instead of parking in the street.
• We need to be able to open up parking to the public in an actual lot, instead of on the street, especially when there is bad weather or the streets are impassable due to traffic.

​

​

Survey Support Comments For:

ADDITIONAL PARKING

“I think our parking lot could use improvement and [a] concessions stand area (including the bathrooms) at the football field [which] need paint/updating. But 100% on board for the facility improvements stated above.”

​

“I think additional classrooms, another gym, and more parking spots would be beneficial.”

​

“It is nearly impossible to park in an actual parking spot for one of our activities. I especially worry about the elderly or those with kids who are parking on the streets and then walking for quite some distance to get into our events, especially when it is basketball season or holiday concerts, and the roads/sidewalks are slick and it is dark out.

What Is Design Build?

• Design-Build is a contracting methodology permitted by State statute for public entities to use for capital construction projects.
• Design team and construction contractor are under a single contract with the School.
• It can allow for more closely integrated design and construction efforts if managed correctly, and can lead to accelerated project delivery.

​

​

​

What is Next in this Process?

• School to issue a Request for Letters of Interest
• Work with the community and Performance Criteria Developer to develop future Request for Proposals (RFPs) which will include the developed performance criteria (Design-Build Project Initial Scope)
• School to evaluate Letters of Interest received from prospective Design-Build firms. A future RFP would be issued to those Design-Builders who meet qualifications
• Review of proposal responses and interviews
• Board to formally approve the selected Design-Builder

​

​

​

Next Steps in the Design-Build Process

• Design-Builder works with the School to develop a design concept which meets the criteria outlined by the School
• Voter decision on financing
• Completion of design and construction begins 
• Board will continue seeking public input on potential project criteria through public meetings and surveys
• Letter of Interest for prospective Design-Build partners

Project Financials

• Based on previous staff input on facility needs, estimating a project in the range of $5-7 million. Number could adjust based on community input regarding facility needs.
• New property valuations will be released August 20th.
• Intent will be to maximize the impact to the greatest number of students possible, while being fiscally responsible and aware of the project’s impacts to taxpayers.

While other areas were mentioned, the below areas all focus on �Student Needs:

• Additional Classrooms/Service Areas
• Industrial Tech & Dual Credit Needs
• Commons Area
• Intermediate Gym
• Additional Parking

Questions

​

How can I provide additional input?

​

Complete the online form here: https://bit.ly/DPSBUILDING