Fairbanks Local School District

Starting in late 2021, a Master Facility Task Force began evaluating facility needs in Fairbanks. It spent 13 months evaluating needs, looking at data, and developing a plan. 

• Three areas of need were identified and focused on. They were the “3C’s of Facilities”. 

  • Capacity - Enrollment, Classroom Availability, and District Growth.

  • Curriculum - Facilities and space that meet needs of learners graduating to college, the workforce, or military.

  • Capital Improvements - HVAC, School Security and Safety, and other Physical Improvements. 

• The Board of Education voted and approved a Master Facility Plan in December of 2022. You can read the Executive Summary here: Master Facility Executive Summary

• In 2023, the district took steps to begin Phase I of the facility plan. Additionally, the district was on the ballot twice for financing. By passing the Permanent Improvement Levy, the district has been able to finance $11.4 million to begin multiple projects on the middle and high schools, safety and security upgrades, and campus site development. 

• Phase I of the Master Facility Plan is completed!

• Fairbanks Elementary School Addition - To support district and building growth, the elementary addition was completed from October 2023 through August 2024. The addition added 6 classrooms and 2 intervention spaces. It was paid with money from our General and Permanent Improvement Funds costing $3.5 million dollars. 

• High School Locker Room Renovation -  Utilizing state and federal funds, our district was able to update our high school locker rooms in the summer of 2023. This consisted of flooring replacement, painting, lockers, and general finishes. 

• Middle School Classroom Updates - During the summers of 2022 and 2023, middle school classrooms received new flooring, painting, and ceiling tiles. Ceiling tiles were also replaced through the hallways and other common spaces.

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• Our district is starting work on portions of Phase II of the facility plan. The overall plan has been prioritized to the address the 3C’s of Facilities - Capacity, Curriculum, and Capital Improvements. Please see all the work that is being scheduled for 2025. 

• The district has procured both Garmann-Miller as design professionals and Elford Construction as Construction Managers at Risk for continued construction work on our campus. 

• High School HVAC Replacement - The HVAC system will be completely replaced with a more efficient and modern system to create a better learning environment for students. 

• Secure High School Entrance - Security has been a priority under our capital improvements. The high school office will be reconfigured to create a secure entrance similar to the elementary school. 

• Updated Bathrooms - There will be renovations of the high school restrooms. In the female restrooms, there will be added capacity. Additionally, the high school staff lounge will be relocated and walls will be removed. This will allow the creation of two single use, family restrooms to add capacity during the school day, for evening events, and for families with small children. 

• Windows, Electric, and General Conditions - As part of the HVAC replacement, all windows in the middle and high school will be replaced. Electric components and general condition improvements will be part of the two year renovation plan.

• Board Office Relocation and Renovation - To create capacity for continued district growth, classrooms will need to be shared by staff. To accomplish this, a shared work space will be created in the current board offices. The board office will be moved to the bus garage allowing for a teacher work space and staff lounge area. 

• Campus Access Road - Access to our campus as well as safer traffic patterns has been a goal under the capital improvements portion of our facility plan. Our goal is to complete this access road over the next two years.

• Timeline - Exterior construction will begin in late-spring 2025 and interior construction will commence around March 2025. The anticipated completion date is August 2025. 

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• Middle School HVAC Replacement - The HVAC system replacement  will be continued into the middle school. 

• Science, Vocational Agriculture, and other Classroom Renovations - Science, vocational agricultural, and other classroom renovations are needed. These spaces will be renovated to meet today’s learning needs. Details of the renovations will be shared in the Fall of 2025.

• Softball Field, Baseball field, and other athletic site renovations -

  The varsity softball field will be relocated to campus. It will be placed where the current baseball field is allowing for capacity in the stadium for additional renovations. A new baseball field will be constructed on the back portion of campus. A new soccer practice field will be developed too. Site work will begin in summer of 2025 and be completed by the spring of 2026. Additional athletic projects are being considered as the final site plan is determined.

   

• Several prioritized items in 2027 and beyond. Financing will be the major hurdle in how quickly we can accomplish the outstanding items. These items include finalizing high school classroom renovations, classroom casework and loose furnishings, indoor multi-purpose athletic space, and remaining general finishes such as doors. 

• The district is using a combination of financing to pay for these improvements. 

• Permanent Improvement Levy - District residents approved a ballot issue that made our PI levy continuing. This allowed the district to finance $11.4 million dollars. This money is going towards the high school and middle school renovations as well as the campus access road. 

• General Fund - The district will be using general fund dollars for select projects such as the board office relocation, athletic upgrades, and classroom renovations. At this time we estimate using around $1 - 2 million dollars from the general fund. 

• New Revenue - New revenue streams will be used selectively to pay for projects over the next 2-4 years. However, these dollars will eventually be moved to the general fund to address operational costs in the late 2020's and early 2030’s. 

• Ballot Issue - In the near term, the district does not intend to have a ballot issue for operating or capital improvements.

• Please see the links below from facility planning meetings and updates since the beginning of this process: 

  • Garmann Miller - ES Assessment

  • Garmann Miller - MS/HS Assessment

  • Security and Vulnerability Assessment

  • 2022 Enrollment Study

  • 2023 OFCC Enrollment Study

  • 12/2/21 Garmann Miller Presentation

  • 1/21/22 Facilities Update

  • 2/22/22 Facilities Update

  • 5/27/22 Update

  • 9/27/22 Facilities Update

  • 10/25/22 Facilities Update

  • 12/20/22 Facilities Update

  • 2/8/2023 Update

  • 4/24/2023 Update

  • 12/17/2024 Update