Recommended Facilities Projects

A Facilities Task Force has been meeting since June 2023 to recommend much needed facility improvements in Meridian School District. The task force, comprised of staff, families and community members, met monthly to learn more about the facilities needs of the district. After careful consideration, the task force is recommending the following projects. Pending School Board approval of the Facilities Task Force recommendation and a future board resolution, voters could see these recommended projects on a ballot measure no earlier than November 2024.

Build a New Meridian Middle School

The task force unanimously recommends that a new Meridian Middle School be built. Meridian Middle School was built in 1938. Though it has been well maintained, signs of wear are evident throughout and expenses to maintain the school continue to grow. In addition, there are safety concerns at the current middle school.

The exterior walls are constructed with non-reinforced concrete meaning that there is no rebar inside and the school is not to current seismic code. The campus consists of several unconnected buildings with outdoor entries and walkways. This makes it difficult to keep track of students and safely secure the campus in the event of an emergency. The current campus also lacks accessible entries and restrooms for our students and visitors who use wheelchairs or have limited mobility.

The layout is not designed for 21st Century Learning. There are no collaboration spaces and specialists, such as nurses, counselors, psychologists, and occupation and physical therapists, currently work in offices that were once closets, storage rooms or converted classrooms.

The estimated cost to build a new middle school was $71.2 million and the cost to renovate/modernize the middle school was estimated to cost $71.2 million. Because of this the task force chose to recommend new construction. The new middle school would be built on the same property. (Supplemental Documentation for Study and Survey, page 16). The cost to expand a new middle school to include fifth grade would be $5.4 million (Oct. 2 presentation slide 4).

Space
Addressing overcrowding at Irene Reither Elementary:

Aside from the physical condition of the building, our community is growing. Meridian Middle School is designed for 380 students. By 2030, projected enrollment is 500. This growth is happening everywhere in our district. Irene Reither Elementary School (IRE) was designed for 506 students and the Ten Mile building has a capacity of 220. Between the two buildings this year, there are 750 students. Based on enrollment projects, by 2030, over 1,000 students could attend IRE. More information about enrollment projects (page 5).

The study and survey recommended either an expansion of the Ten Mile building or build a new elementary school to accommodate the growth. However, the cost of each project in addition to a new middle school would surpass our overall bond capacity for our district. Because of this, the task force see this as a possible solution to overcrowding at IRE. The task force recommends a new elementary school as part of long-term planning for the district to be added to a future bond (10+ years).

Middle schools are designed to guide students through the transition from childhood to adolescence. According to the Association of Middle Level Educators (AMLE), middle schools best suit ages 10 to 15, which aligns with a proposed grade range. If we introduce 5th graders to middle school a year earlier than we currently do, it can aid in a more seamless transition into adolescence. This early entry allows students to cultivate vital social and emotional skills like resilience, empathy, and conflict resolution, all within a nurturing environment led by experienced educators who specialize in working with adolescents. This change could create a more balanced K-12 experience, allowing students to spend a similar number of years in each building. It would also reduce capacity issues related to parking, drop-offs, pick-ups, and classroom overcrowding at the elementary level by moving approximately 160 students to the middle school campus.

In order to alleviate overcrowding already occurring at IRE, the task force is recommending the new Meridian Middle School be built for grades 5-8.

Estimated cost: $76.6 million

Meridian High School Safety Improvements and Repairs

Performing Arts Center

The performing arts center was built in 1991. The task force recommends repairs to the exterior faces and a new roof for the performing arts center. The performing arts center is used by our community and students for performances and events.

As part of these improvements, the band/choir room would be moved from an exterior campus building to inside the performing arts center. This would improve school safety because all classes would be on the closed campus.

Estimated cost: $2.03 million

New Generator

The task force recommends the installation of a generator, in order to provide emergency power and heat to prevent freezing pipes in the event of inclement weather. The generator would allow for the office, library, main building, CTE building, north gym and locker rooms to have emergency power in the event of a power outage. This is separate from the generator for emergency power to the district’s main network and server room that voters approved in the capital projects levy in 2020.

Estimated cost: $367,000

Stadium Repairs and Lighting Replacement

The task force recommends new lighting for the varsity athletic field. The current lighting was installed in 1987 and is beyond its useful life expectancy. Some of the light fixtures are not functional. The poles are leaning and rotting. The existing stadium structure is in need of repair as some of the beams are rotting. Our athletic events are a big draw for our community and both the field and stadium are frequently used.

Estimated cost: $1.4 million

Space

Additional Projects

While not currently part of their recommendation, the task force is interested in gathering community feedback on two additional projects. Both of these spaces could be used as additional classroom space for PE.

Tennis Courts at MHS
The task force is seeking feedback on installing four new tennis courts. There currently are no tennis courts available on campus and will provide a much desired and needed amenity. The plan would provide lighted courts for evening use. The tennis courts would be available for all students and our community to use.

Estimated cost: $326,000

Synthetic Turf Field
The synthetic turf field would replace our existing varsity football/soccer field. This would increase the usability of this field for year-round use.

Estimated cost: $4.3 million

Potential Future Financial Impact

The approximate total cost of the projects included in this draft recommendation is $80.5 million. If presented as a future bond measure it would be an increase tax rate of $1.69 per $1,000 of assessed value. The tax rate for our community would increase by $70.42/month or $845/year in 2025 for a median homeowner ($500,000 home) in our community. The district is eligible for up to $10.2 million in state match funding. This could potentially bring the tax rate down.

* Example Graph as of Nov. 21, 2023

Next Steps

The task force will review all feedback received and use that information to either make updates to their recommendation or to reaffirm their decision. The task force presented their work to the school board at on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. This recommendation may be presented to the community as a bond measure in the future (no earlier than November 2024).