Throughout the 2015-16 school year, the Sherwood School District Board of Directors and District leadership met with community members related to student enrollment and capacity of our current buildings. All Sherwood schools are either nearing or over capacity. The objective of these meetings was to develop guiding principles for a potential bond.
Key themes Identified
- Capacity
- Safety and security, including seismic upgrades and secure entry vestibules
- Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) facilities
- Technology
- Upgrades to older facilities and deferred maintenance in all buildings
- Next generation learner facilities
- Extended learning areas
Based on these guiding principles from the community, the final bond measure recommendations included projects that would:
1. Relieve existing overcrowding and meet projected enrollment needs throughout the District:
- Add approximately 2,000 additional student capacity district-wide
- Replace Sherwood High School with a new high school on a new site to accommodate future growth
- Significantly increase the number of athletic fields for school and community use
- Reduce District’s reliance on portable classroom buildings
2. Improve student safety and security district-wide:
- Secure building entry lobbies (aka safety vestibules)
- Seismic upgrades throughout the District
- Closed-circuit TV cameras
- Improved emergency alert systems
- Improved lock-down systems
3. Protect community investment in existing facilities:
Address deferred maintenance needs of school buildings to improve indoor air quality and reduce maintenance costs to improve learning environments for students and teachers.
Perform deferred maintenance projects, such as: Improving/replacing interior and exterior building components, seismic upgrades, roofing, plumbing, and heating and ventilations systems, to allow for continued efficient operations.
Convert the existing Sherwood High School to be the District’s one middle school, which will provide increased Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math (STEAM) opportunities in small learning communities.
Convert existing Sherwood Middle School and Laurel Ridge Middle School buildings to elementary schools, to provide expanded learning opportunities and increased enrollment capacity in the District for elementary learners.
Relocate district programs and departments to the current Hopkins Elementary site.
4. Create 21st Century learning opportunities:
- Purchase of curriculum offerings such as math, science and language arts for all school levels
- Upgrade technology infrastructure in all school buildings
- Purchase new and replacement technology devices for students and staff
- Create flexible learning spaces that will support current and future teaching and learning strategies that will better prepare students for college and career
As project planning and work efforts get underway on all of the above, bond-funded projects, we will expand this web site to provide more detailed information. Stay tuned!