CHARLESTON R-I SCHOOL DISTRICT | LONG RANGE FACILITY PLAN

Location: cHARLESTON r-i School District

iDS was hired in 2019 to complete a long range facility plan for the Charleston School District. The goal was to listen to community needs, identify immediate and future improvements to facilities, create a multi-phase improvement plan, incorporate recommendations and changes in enrollment. After community and district meetings, iDS developed a plan for district improvement projects.

Over the past few decades, the district enrollment has seen a sizeable decline, creating under-utilized spaces across the campuses. With safety concerns in schools on the rise, the existing facilities no longer meet the current safety guidelines. The current schools do not have secured main entries, have multiple non-secure entrance points throughout the buildings, and often provide classrooms in separate buildings outside of the secure main structure. Parking and traffic flows are less than ideal for day to day operation. These and other issues create district wide safety concerns that need to be addressed. In addition, the buildings, roofs, electrical and mechanical systems are out of date and are in major need of upgrades.

Additionally, iDS worked with the district on bond support for that passed in April of 2020.