In this Message

• Possible Accelerated Timeline for Master Facilities Plan
• Review of January 9 Board of Education Meeting
• Preview of January 23 Board of Education Work Session
• Facilities Advisory Committee Update
• Internal Staff Working Groups
• Ludlow School Update
• District’s Long-Term Facilities Plan Web Page Includes FAQ, Resources
• Share with Your Neighbors: Sign Up To Receive Updates

Possible Accelerated Timeline for Master Facilities Plan

As the District shared earlier this month, we recently learned that there may be an opportunity to accelerate Segment 1of the facilities plan timeline, which would mean being able to begin the renovation process of Woodbury sooner than initially anticipated. The benefits of an accelerated plan include the potential to advance access to safe, modern spaces for students and staff in a timely manner and the potential to experience significant cost savings. In order to be able to begin the Woodbury renovation process earlier, students and staff would vacate Woodbury at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Read the announcement here.

Preview of the January 23 Board of Education Work Session

The Board of Education will hold a Work Session on Tuesday, January 23, at 5 p.m. to further discuss the timeline for implementation of the District’s Long-Term Facilities Plan. The meeting will include an in-depth discussion of the possibility of adopting an accelerated timeline for the plan, as well as a discussion of communications and public engagement. The meeting, which will be held in the Small Auditorium of the High School, is open to the public and will be livestreamed.

Facilities Advisory Committee Update

The Facilities Advisory Committee met on January 8 and discussed the potential accelerated timeline. The meeting also included an update from Mercer Elementary School principal Roneisha Campbell and Woodbury Elementary School principal Eric Forman, who are heading up staff working groups.

The committee is a stakeholder group that will help shape and guide implementation of the Long-Term Master Facilities Plan, provide community feedback as the District works to implement the Master Facilities Plan and engage with the broader community regarding the implementation of the plan.



The Shaker Schools Facilities Advisory Committee met January 8.

Internal Staff Working Groups

Two internal staff working groups formed to help plan for the transition to a 6-8 middle years building and K-5 elementary school buildings continue to meet regularly. These working groups are reviewing and discussing curricular programming and staffing needs for the expanded elementary grade band and will help to determine 6th-grade swing space needs and plans during the Woodbury renovation process. The groups are also discussing the impact of the transitions on curriculum, schedules and staff licensure. 

Both groups include a range of faculty and staff, such as teachers, instructional coaches, International Baccalaureate coordinators, special education instructors, school counselors and others.

Ludlow School Update

Design work is continuing on the Ludlow School renovation project in preparation for the 2025-2026 school year. Architects from the GPD Group, the firm handling design and architectural services, continue to meet regularly with District leaders, PreK staff and representatives from Gilbane Building Co., the Construction Manager At Risk (CMR). GPD’s December presentation to the Board of Education can be viewed here.

District’s Long-Term Facilities Plan Web Page Includes FAQ, Resources

The District’s long-term facilities plan web page includes ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ as well as links to planning process resources and archives. Community members can view the web page at shaker.org/facilitiesplan.

Share With Your Neighbors: Sign Up To Receive Updates

All community members may sign up to receive these ongoing information updates about the District’s long-term facilities plan. Please share this link with your neighbors to sign up: Click here to receive long-term facilities plan updates. (Current staff and families will automatically receive emails.)