Dear CBSD Community,

We are writing to update you on ongoing conversations our administration and Board are having regarding the capital needs at eight of our elementary schools: Barclay, Buckingham, Doyle, Gayman, Kutz, Linden, Titus and Warwick. These discussions continued last night at the monthly meeting of the Board’s Business and Operational Support Services Committee.

This message contains two parts. The first part reviews the “Update the Eight” options and shares immediate next steps. The second part of the message provides greater context about last night’s committee meeting.

Part 1: “Update the Eight” Options and Immediate Next Steps

At last evening’s meeting, our Leadership Team shared a presentation that reiterated the options to “Update the Eight” that were first presented at the committee’s September 25 meeting. The options are:

• Construct a new school on the site of Doyle that combines Doyle, Kutz and Linden and renovate the remaining five schools
• Renovate all eight schools
• Construct a new school on the site of Doyle that combines Doyle and Linden and renovate the remaining six schools
• Construct a new school on the site of Doyle that combines Doyle, Kutz and Linden; construct a new Warwick; renovate the remaining four schools

The presentation delved deeper into the logistical, financial, regulatory, architectural, and operational considerations related to updating these eight schools. The meeting concluded as follows:

• Our Board and Leadership Team decided to move forward with preparing the necessary design, construction, and financial processes for renovations at Barclay, Buckingham, Gayman, Titus, and Warwick. Our Leadership Team will seek formal authorization to forge ahead with preparations for these projects no later than our January Board meeting.
• Conversations about Doyle, Kutz, and Linden will continue this winter. Final decisions about these schools will need to be made by the end of this school year.

Part 2: Recapping Last Evening’s Presentation about Doyle, Kutz, and Linden

We heard from parents, guardians and community members who live near Doyle, Kutz and Linden during public comment, several of whom no longer have children in CBSD but still expressed their admiration of small school communities. We truly appreciate all the neighbors and friends of our schools for coming out to share their sincere thoughts and feelings. We understand the deep connections people have with their community schools; that is why we will spend time this winter having additional conversations and hearing from our community before formulating recommendations for these three schools.

Following public comment, we shared a presentation that focused on the previously discussed option of building a new elementary school that would welcome the students from Doyle, Kutz, and Linden. Our Board and Leadership Team have NOT made any formal recommendations to move forward with this option. This option was the focal point because it is currently the most efficient from a cost and construction standpoint out of the four options, and rebuilding these schools is complicated by a state law known as Act 34.

You can watch the presentation here beginning at 50:14. As mentioned earlier in this message, there will be more conversations about these schools this winter.

At the conclusion of the meeting there was a discussion among the Board and Leadership Team about how to proceed. Our Board and Leadership Team will continue to review the options, which include renovating these schools, rebuilding these schools, and combining these schools. Much more conversation will follow this winter.

Sincerely,

Steve Yanni, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Tara B.G. Houser
Chief Operating Officer

This message was originally emailed to all CBSD families and community members on the district's mailing list on Nov. 21, 2024