March 28, 2024
Local News | Kane County Chronicle


Local News

Dist. 303 moving foward on updating facility master plan

ST. CHARLES – St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 continues to move ahead to update its facility master plan.

School board members discussed the plan and the formation of an Educational Facility Planning Committee during Monday's Learning and Teaching Committee meeting. The last time the plan was updated was in 2008.

As proposed, the committee will study the district's facilities and develop a comprehensive, long-range educational facilities master plan. Three subcommittees – learning spaces committee, community spaces committee and physical conditions committee – will look at the district's needs.

“We want a comprehensive plan that goes beyond the current use of the buildings and considers other possibilities of the buildings and locations of programs,” board member Becky McCabe said. “We want folks to really think beyond what we have right now.”

School Board Vice-President Carolyn Waibel cautioned community members that the district is only discussing conceptual ideas at this point.

“These are hypothetical discussions,” she said. “They are not hard and fast decisions that are coming down the pike,” Waibel said.

Board member Heidi Fairgrieve said she hopes future school boards will reevaluate the 10-year plan “based on the needs and circumstances of time.”

The planning committee will report to the school board on a regular basis. Board member Michael Bryant said he thought the committee should know about the district’s property inventory.

“It’s not about what we can do on it,” Bryant said. “It’s important to be transparent and show these are the assets we have and if needed, we have access to this land. We can use it this way or that way or not use it at all.”

Residents will have the chance to voice their opinions on the plan before it goes to the board for approval.

“We want community feedback before the board votes on anything,” McCabe said.