IN South Fayette Spring 2020 | Page 42

We entered the school year implementing our Dr. Ken Lockette 2020-2022 Strategic Superintendent of Schools Plan: Small World, Big Future. In the plan were strategic and curriculum-based goals. One of the overarching strategic goals in the plan was to “address future growth in enrollment to anticipate needs and plans for possible expansion.” This work actually began two years ago when a demographic study was conducted. The results of the demographic report led to a feasibility study that was launched early in 2019 and was completed last fall. The study was led by a design team from the Hayes Design Group and Weber Murphy Fox, architectural planning firms. The process began with a visioning session where the South Fayette Township School District administration, board of directors, and community stakeholders identified key issues and goals. The design team then analyzed enrollment projections to forecast growth in student population through 2029 and assessed all current buildings, systems, and grounds. The design team also forecasted educational programming needs with building principals and conducted a survey of teachers, students, and families. 40 SOUTH FAYETTE Based on the information gathered, the design team developed 12 options for the master plan to address growth. Through a series of feedback sessions with the administration and school board, the design team narrowed the designs to two options that were blended to form a master plan. That new plan consists of a new elementary school (grades K-3), an expanded intermediate school (grades 4-6), a renovated and expanded middle school (grades 7-9), and an optimized high school (grades 10-12) by 2024. On November 26, 2019, the South Fayette Township School District Board of Directors voted to approve the master plan and proceed with work beginning in 2020. Subsequently, a community town hall meeting was held December 9, 2019, to share the plan. The master plan is necessary to meet the challenges of the District’s continued rapid growth with our enrollment projected to increase by 27% by 2029. As our community grows, so must our District. With the master plan being implemented over the next five years, the South Fayette Township School District will expand facilities to ensure that we are ready to carry our community’s tradition, pride, and excellence well into the future.