• ACSD Facilities Master Plan

    "Building Our Future"
  • Report to the Community 2022
  • Timeline
  • Facilities Master Plan FAQs
  • E-Chat Videos
  • Our Facilities Master Plan Journey

  • The Facilities Master Plan (FMP) was formed out of the 2017 inquiry into moving the 6th grade to MUMS, and the realization that we need to pursue long-term planning to make well-informed decisions about the ACSD’s collective resources.  The FMP process was initially guided by the ACSD 2016 Strategic Plan and the District’s transition to becoming an International Baccalaureate World District. Ongoing work in the FMP process is further guided by the ACSD 2021 Strategic Plan for Equity, and is intended to set priorities for future capital improvements and provide a map for the use of District resources over the next 10 years.

     

    Why a Facilities Master Plan

    • Many of the ACSD’s school buildings are under-utilized and have suffered deferred maintenance over the years. A longer range analysis of our collective facilities will allow the District to be thoughtful about prioritizing projects and investing in a potential long-term bond.
    • Our current financial and enrollment realities do not support continuing the status quo -- increasing per pupil costs jeopardize our ability to fully staff schools and provide consistent, equitable services and opportunities to all students across the District.
    • Pro-active long-term planning will encourage stability in staffing and resources at ACSD schools, as opposed to making last-minute cuts in reaction to annual budget shortfalls. 
    • A Facilities Master Plan will allow the District to align investment in facilities with the ACSD Board’s vision for equity of access to education programming and resources across the ACSD learning community.

     

    Our Facilities Master Plan Journey 

    The Facilities Master Planning process has involved four years of data collection and analysis, professional study and recommendation, public engagement, and Board/Committee deliberation -- all to help identify the best configuration of District resources to ensure student success, equitable opportunities across the entire ACSD learning community, and fiscal responsibility to ASCD taxpayers. Links to pertinent meetings, presentations, reports, and other information are embedded in this document.

     

    Where we are in the process

    The ACSD Board paused the Facilities Master Planning process in January 2021, in light of the uncertainty around the pandemic, questions arising around Ripton’s secession, and the strain it was placing on ACSD in addition to other work the District was working to accomplish -- including final IB authorizations, transitioning 6th-graders to MUMS, and filling key leadership positions. Adding to the challenges are significant uncertainties around how the State will restructure its education funding formula, and the impact of proposed changes to pupil weighting factors on the ACSD’s long-term financial outlook. 

    The Facilities Committee returned to the work in September 2021, and is currently examining the final elements in the FMP process, including identification of facility investment priorities, solidifying a vision for sustainability, and outlining some guiding principles for bonding. Once that work is complete, the Committee will issue a final Facilities Master Plan report, anticipated in early 2022. 

    The final report will provide a summary of the Board’s findings from data compiled and analyzed during the FMP process. It will outline the Board’s values and priorities regarding student equity, guiding principles for a model school, sustainability and energy efficiency, and responsible investment in shared resources to provide the programming and services that all ACSD students deserve. The FMP will serve as a supporting document for implementing the District’s 2021 Strategic Plan for Equity, so that when circumstances clarify the ACSD’s financial forecast, the Board can use the plan to guide efficient decision making about its resources.

     

    E-Chat Videos

    The ACSD School Board has recorded this series of E-Chat videos to provide our community with an opportunity to gain greater understanding of why we are doing this work and address questions you may have about this work.  The videos can be viewed by following this link.

Upcoming Opportunities for Community Engagement

  • Attend Board and Committee Meetings

  •  Join our email list

    Join our email list by sending an email to communityevents@acsdvt.org.  We will send updates about other opportunities to learn more and participate in the conversation.  (Note: We will also be using the ACSD school email list to share updates.)