The Fairport Central School District Board of Education unanimously passed the Development of Consolidation of Facilities Plan Resolution during its May 28 board meeting. This resolution moves the district forward on a pathway towards a consolidation of Minerva DeLand and Fairport High School in five to seven years.
“In developing a long-range facilities plan through months of research, the board has decided to move towards consolidating various district facilities to promote the most efficient use of space based upon the projected student enrollment,” said Fairport Board of Education President Peter Forsgren.
This decision comes after discussions during board meetings and meetings with staff and community members. These meetings focused on the progress of the strategic initiatives, facilities work suggested by the 2015 Building Condition Survey and two possible capital project phases that could potentially go to vote in 2019 and 2022.
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.
“Renovations to Fairport High School and other district facilities have been part of an ongoing study of the 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 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 consolidation of Minerva DeLand and FHS.
“Enrollment projections support a consolidation 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.
Following the consolidation, it is anticipated that Minerva DeLand would be repurposed to support district facilities needs or for use by third parties. Potential tenants could be BOCES, local municipalities or community organizations pursuant to New York State Education Law.