Thank You for Joining Session 2 with Building 73.5 – Join Us This Fall!

Thank you to the more than 70 neighbors, parents, and staff members who participated in our second Building 73.5 Community Engagement Session on Tuesday, May 20. It was another evening filled with thoughtful conversation and a shared commitment to the future of our schools.

During this session, participants heard from educators and architects about how school design affects teaching and learning, and how classroom spaces can either support or limit student success. A lot has changed since our buildings were first built, and the group explored what those changes mean for students today and in the years to come. In small groups, participants shared insights, discussed what resonated most, and worked together to identify values and priorities that should guide the future of our school facilities.

The presentation from the session is available at SD735.org/Building735, and a summary of input from the small group discussions will soon be posted there.

Our next session will be held in September (be on the lookout for specific dates and details this summer) at the beginning of the 2025–26 school year. Whether you’ve attended one or both of the first sessions or are joining for the first time, we welcome your voice. Every session is designed to give you the opportunity to learn, collaborate with fellow community members, and help shape a long-term plan for our schools.

These engagement opportunities are part of the Building 73.5 initiative, a community-led process to help develop a long-range facility plan for our district. The sessions are open to all and created and led by the Building 73.5 Facilitating Team—a group of parents, staff, and community members working alongside district leadership. Each session includes a brief presentation, small group discussions, and a summary report to capture ideas and perspectives from all of the groups. The small group format and structured report-outs are designed to ensure everyone’s voice is heard and to encourage focused conversation.

Over the summer, the architects will use feedback from the two spring sessions to create a set of possible options for the future of our schools. These options will outline what could be done at each building and the associated costs. In the fall, we’ll reconvene for two additional sessions, beginning with a community review of those options. A public opinion survey will also be conducted to understand broader community perspectives.
While the district has reviewed several possibilities, the community will ultimately help determine the path forward through the Building 73.5 process. A final report will be shared with the Board of Education by the end of 2025.

Thank you for being part of this important conversation. Our schools are at the heart of our community, and your voice plays a vital role in shaping their future.