June 2014
Excellence. For each and every student.
Communicator T
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS MOVING FORWARD
hanks to voters approving the February 25 referendum, planning is underway on the new addition to Wayzata High School and a new eighth elementary school. In addition, safety, security and technology infrastructure updates and improvements approved by voters will begin this summer. The following is a summary of our progress to date and next steps.
High School & Elementary Core Planning Teams Two Core Planning Groups, one for the high school addition and the other for the new elementary school, have begun meeting. These groups are made up of 1215 individuals including representatives from: Wold Architects and Engineers, Kraus Anderson, district staff, parents and students. To date, these groups have toured other schools throughout the metro area for ideas and will continue to meet this summer and fall to provide big picture guidance and conceptual organization to each of the project designs. Get Involved and Provide Input to Construction Process As design concepts begin to be developed, a number of user groups will be brought together for one or two-time discussions to share input on specific aspects of the high school and elementary projects. This input will be shared with the appropriate Core Planning Group to guide and inform their work. High school user group meetings are tentatively scheduled for September 9, 10 and 11, 2014. Elementary user group meetings are tentatively scheduled for October 7, 8 and 9, 2014. Specific dates will be shared with those who sign up as they are finalized. Send an email to construction@wayzata.k12.mn.us if you would like to participate in a user group discussion and have not already signed up. Opportunities to provide input online will also be shared later this summer and fall. Construction Timelines and Next Steps • Design of the high school addition and improvements will proceed during summer 2014;
Planning is underway for the new addition to Wayzata High School, as well as for a new eighth elementary school and districtwide safety, security and technology infrastructure updates and improvements.
construction will likely start late fall 2014 and continue for nearly two years. The new addition is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2016. • Elementary school design will start after a final site is determined; construction is expected to begin by the summer of 2015. The new elementary will be located somewhere north of Highway 55 and west of the future expansion of Peony Lane to Lawndale Lane. With the addition of an eighth elementary school, a process to reconfigure school attendance areas to balance enrollment at all elementary schools will be determined and shared with the community this fall. The new elementary school is scheduled to be open in fall 2016. Safety, Security and Technology Infrastructure Improvements In addition to the new high school addition and eighth elementary school, infrastructure improvements
approved in the referendum are also being planned. For example, work will be underway soon at Central Middle School to relocate the main office to the front of the building. The new secure entrance at Central is scheduled to be completed this summer. New secure entrances at East and West Middle Schools are anticipated to begin in the spring of 2015 and be completed sometime during the summer or fall of 2015. In addition, a multi-year fiber optic infrastructure update will begin this summer to update, modernize and increase connectivity to meet our growing and evolving technology needs. Updates will continue to be shared as the construction projects proceed. For more information, visit our website at www.wayzata.k12.mn.us, call and leave your questions on the Construction Hotline at 763-745-5050, or send an email to construction@wayzata.k12.mn.us.
Wayzata Public Schools Maintains “AAA” Bond Rating
W
ayzata Public Schools recently had its “AAA” bond rating affirmed by Moody’s Investors Service and Standard and Poor’s Financial Services. The following strengths were cited as reasons for the continued positive rating: • Large, diverse and affluent tax base favorably located in the Twin Cities metro area; • Strong and sophisticated management team; • Consistent levy history for voter-approved operating levies; and • Positive enrollment trends. 1
Wayzata received its first “AAA” bond rating in September 2008 as evidence of the district’s strong financial health. According to Jim Westrum, executive director of finance and business, there are many advantages associated with having a “AAA” bond rating, including access to lower interest rates and borrowing costs, and greater stability to deal with the unpredictability of school funding from the State. For example, the tax impact of the recent bond issue approved by voters on February 25 will be less than the estimates provided prior to the election thanks to the “AAA” bond rating.