The Madison Metropolitan School District plans to rebuild Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary School and Crestwood Elementary School as part of Phase 3 of its 2024 facilities referendum, replacing earlier plans to renovate both buildings.
The new construction will extend the schools’ expected useful life from about 25 years under the renovation plans to 70 years without increasing the referendum’s total cost, according ot a press release from MMSD. The district plans to use interest earnings from referendum funds to cover the additional expense.
The proposal was presented to the Board of Education’s Operations Work Group as planning revealed more extensive needs at both schools, including additional programming space, major plumbing and stormwater system replacements, improved accessibility and other building upgrades.
“At both schools, we’ve identified needs that go beyond the original renovation plans and expand accessibility, programming opportunity, sustainability and community spaces,” said Scott Chehak, MMSD’s senior executive director of building services, in a press release. “Rebuilding allows us to address those needs comprehensively and create learning environments that will better serve students, staff and families for decades to come.”
The new buildings would provide improved space for arts, special education and collaborative learning, as well as full-day, five-day-a-week 4-year-old kindergarten classes, which neither school currently offers. The designs would also improve accessibility, circulation, safety and traffic flow.
At Crestwood, officials also cited a failing section of the building’s southern foundation wall as a concern. Both schools need improvements to windows, building systems, communications and furniture.
The plan would draw an estimated $13.25 million from approximately $24 million in projected interest earnings on referendum funds, leaving about $11.32 million. The estimates account for anticipated Inflation Reduction Act credits for eligible building projects.
“Using the interest earned on referendum funds allows us to consider a more durable solution for Anana and Crestwood without changing the original voter-approved referendum amount,” said Bob Soldner, assistant superintendent of financial services.
