Grand Island Public Schools Superintendent Matt Fisher gave a presentation about a 3-phase facility plan at the Feb. 12 Board of Education meeting. (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Grand Island Public Schools Superintendent Matt Fisher gave a presentation Feb. 12 about a three-phase facility plan that addresses construction projects at elementary schools, middle schools, and Grand Island Senior High School.
The plan describes what the district’s schools will look like 10, 25, and 50 years from now.
The total costs for the three phases of the project are: Phase 1 ($22,233,997), Phase 2 ($90 million), and Phase 3 ($175 million) for a total cost of approximately $287.2 million. Phase 2 and Phase 3 would need to be funded through bond elections.
The plan is preliminary, and the school district wants to get feedback from the public about it.
The school district has a current enrollment of 716 preschool students, 4,246 elementary school students, 2,112 middle school students, and 2,649 high school students. Enrollment estimates were given for 2050 population estimates of 60,075 residents, 73,196 residents, and 66,635 residents with a current population of 53,151 residents.
The school district could see an enrollment increase of 7,000 to 20,000 students in the next two decades.
Phase 1
The first project in Phase 1 is an addition to Gates Elementary School. The total cost id $5,710,938. It includes an administrative addition, work room renovation, classroom addition, corridor finish upgrades, lighting upgrades, classroom finish upgrades, and classroom lighting upgrades. Board Member Lisa Albers said that the addition to Gates is overdue. Gates Principal Bianca Ayala described what has happened to Gates’ enrollment. It was 309 students in 2024 but has decreased. Because of the age of the school building, students have transferred to Grand Island Central Catholic, Stolley Park Elementary School, and Starr Elementary School, all which have newer buildings. She hopes with the upgrades to Gates that the school’s enrollment would increase.
The second project in Phase 1 is an addition to Westridge Middle School. The school was built with plans that it could be expanded and is currently pushing an enrollment of 600 students. Barr and Walnut Middle Schools have enrollments of approximately 800 students. Westridge would be enlarged so that it could accommodate 800 students. The total project cost is $12,380,211. Plans call for classroom additions, an addition to the commons area, building renovation, furnishing, and sitework such as new practice fields.
The next project is at Walnut Middle School, which currently has one gym. Barr Middle School has two gyms. The total cost of the gym addition is $4,142,848.
The last portion of Phase 1 is potential land purchase for future facilities.
The total cost for Phase 1 is $22,233,997.
The funding source would be the district’s building fund, which has a current balance of $2.5 million. In 2026, there would be an addition to the building fund of $7 million. From 2027 to 2013, there would be annual increases of $3 million per year for a total of $24.5 million. Tax Anticipation Notes (TANS) could be used to provide some funding before all of the money is collected.
The timeline for Phase 1 is:
*Fall 2026: Begin Gates Elementary renovation.
*Spring 2028: Begin Westridge expansion.
*Spring 2029: Begin Walnut gym expansion.
*Land purchase: May happen at any time.
Phase 2
The first project for Phase 2 is for Westridge Middle School. The original project is for additions to classrooms and the commons area, an additional gym, and building renovation for a cost of $22,800,266. A second option does not include a gym or fine arts addition. It would include addition of classrooms and commons area and building renovation. Total cost would be $12,380,211.
The second project for Phase 2 is a new “Greenfield” Elementary School. Greenfield would not be the name for the school but is being used as a school name for now. The total cost is $32,549,850 with a projected cost of $35 million.
The next project for Phase 2 is for Grand Island Senior High School. The cost for building additions and renovation is $11,917,692, with a projected cost of $15 million.
For Phase 2, sometime in the next five to 10 years, a bond election would need to be considered to fund the following: Addition to Westridge Middle School ($12 million), additions to Grand Island Senior High School ($15 million), a fieldhouse in the stadium area at the high school ($5 million), a new “Greenfield” Elementary School ($35 million), and renovation of other buildings ($23 million) for a total cost of $90 million.
Phase 3
Sometime in 15 to 20 years from now, a bond election would need to be considered to fund these projects: second high school ($120 million), renovation in other buildings ($20 million), and other potential projects ($35 million) for a total cost of $175 million.
Board member Lisa Albers said that she would like to see consideration given to expanding the counseling/medical area at Grand Island Senior High School. She said that there is a need for space for additional mental health services.
“We’ve needed to do it for a decade,” she said.
Fisher said a commitment needed to be made so that construction at Gates Elementary School could begin in the Fall of 2026.
Board member Carlos Barcenas said, “I like the conversation we’re having. This really sets a good starting point.”
