Members of the USD 383 board of education held a special meeting on Wednesday evening focused on long range facilities planning. The board spent time this summer discussing future needs and decided to open up the application process to architects and engineering firms who can help the board better plan for future needs.
Eric Reid, assistant superintendent, said five different firms were allotted time to make their pitch at the open meeting. Board members were then able to ask the firms questions and help the different applicants understand what the expected outcome of long range facilities planning would be.
“It could mean putting a price tag together that we could potentially use to work a bond issue, or to work our maintenance schedule and see what we could do out of capital outlay,” Reid said. He said the focus is on the next ten years and beyond.
Board members will vote on their pick at the next regular meeting on Sept. 7. Reid said many of the firms have local ties, and community input will play into the districts’ decision.
