Fairport Central School District held staff and community facilities planning meetings on March 25 and 26. These meetings focused on the progress of the strategic initiatives, facilities work suggested by the Building Condition Survey (BCS) and two possible capital project phases that could potentially go to vote in 2019 and 2022.

“Renovations to Fairport High School and other district facilities have been part of an ongoing study of the Fairport Central School District,” said Superintendent Brett Provenzano. “It is important to maintain district facilities as they are the community’s investment in the future of Fairport. It is also imperative to meet standards and work towards 21st-century learning spaces.”

The Fairport Board of Education has been evaluating the priorities outlined in the 2015 New York State Education Department Building Condition Survey. The state mandates the BCS as an evaluation of educational facilities every five years.

If the Fairport Board of Education decides to move forward with capital improvements, a first capital project vote is estimated for December 2019. The work in this project would address BCS health and safety needs, such as a high school technology space remodel, gymnasium improvements, cafeteria and kitchen reconstruction, science classroom reconstruction and mechanical/code updates.

The board will then have the opportunity to reevaluate the needs of the district prior to a suggested capital project phase two vote in 2022. This capital project phase could include facility modifications necessary for a merger of Minerva DeLand and FHS.

“The work of this second phase wouldn’t be potentially completed for five or more years, depending on the scope of the project,” said Provenzano.

The Fairport Board of Education has made no decisions at this time regarding capital projects or a future merger. The board is aiming for a decision by the end of April 2019 regarding the potential merger and future capital projects.

“Enrollment projections support a merger following the completion of the two capital project phases,” said Provenzano. “Fairport enrollments have been steadily declining over the last decade but are projected to stabilize over the next five years and beyond.”

An enrollment study was recently completed by Statistical Forecasting to understand the future of enrollment at Fairport CSD. Estimates of future grade-to-grade enrollments were projected for a five-year period, 2019-20 through 2023-24. In summary, Fairport enrollment has declined continuously for 12 years and has decreased by more than 900 students, approximately 14 percent.

In 2018-19, grades 9-12 enrollment is 1,848, which is a loss of 390 students from the 2009-10 enrollment of 2,238. Currently, there are 1,413 grades 10-12 students at Fairport High School. In comparison, FHS was home to 1,804 grades 10-12 students in the 2007-08 school year.

Due to decreased enrollment and using evidence-based projections, Fairport High School can accommodate the additional grade level with necessary and recommended renovations.

A second community meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 3 at 7 p.m. in the Minerva DeLand auditorium.

For more information, please click here for the the presentation slideshow.