Purpose:

The Methow Valley School District requests the Community Facilities Task Force (CFTF) to convene regularly to complete the work necessary to undergo technical review, engagement and analysis to deliver long-term capital planning recommendations for administration and Board consideration.

The Committee is tasked to deliver a final report to the District on or before May 27, 2027. The recommendation will consist of a long-range capital programming plan, based on technical analysis and broad staff and stakeholder input, that addresses the Committee’s Charge and aligns with community priorities. Over the course of the term, the Committee will:

• Approve and implement a timeline of activities and accomplishments necessary to support a comprehensive final report and recommendation by May 27, 2027
• Report regularly on their progress to the District and Board through the Committee chair or others as necessary
• Recommend to District leadership appropriate evaluations and studies necessary to inform their work

Basis for establishment

The Community Facilities Task Force is established as an administrative advisory committee to the Methow Valley School District under MVSD policies 4110 and 4110P. The CFTF will work in collaboration, under the guidance of the Superintendent, with the District’s consultant and other professional staff who will strive to arrange necessary resources.

Committee Members:

The Community Facilities Task Force will be comprised of a broad representation of approximately 20 community members/parents/stakeholders, two school board representatives (non-voting), a representative from the teacher’s union, a representative from the classified union, the Superintendent (non-voting), and necessary administrative and/or support staff (non-voting), to deliver on the outcomes specified in the Committee charge. Appointments to the Committee are made by the Superintendent. Should a member resign, or a replacement becomes necessary, the new representative shall be appointed by the Superintendent.

Responsibilities of Committee Members

• Regular meeting attendance
• Respectful and collaborative interactions with Committee members and school staff
• Be ambassadors for our district programs, communicate our purpose, our goals, and our work to the school board, students, and community
• By agreeing to serve on the Committee, a person indicates their willingness to comply with the board's guidelines for a citizen advisory Committee/task force and with specific guidelines and procedures developed for the Committee, including adhering to district guidelines for communication with the public outlined in MVSD policies 4000 and 4000P
• Meetings are held at a MVSD campus location and are inclusive of having all member types present
• The district liaison agrees to serve as the conduit of information between the school district and Committee members, ensuring efficient and timely communication based on the program goals and plan of work

Communications and Decision Making

• The Committee will identify a chair or co-chairs who will be responsible for helping facilitating Committee meetings and ensuring that accurate artifacts are submitted to and to the subcommittee's district liaison.
• This is an advisory board to the Superintendent and does not maintain authority to obligate district funds or direct staff. Decision making will reside with the Superintendent and School Board.
• The Committee is considered an extension of school staff, and is subject to district rules about communication including, “Staff members will secure authorization from their administrator prior to contacting the media on behalf of the school.”
• Meeting artifacts and action plans will be provided to the district office for posting on the website.
• While not a voting body, the advisory group will provide valuable input to the school district. The Committee will work to understand divergent viewpoints and seek to achieve consensus when possible.

Committee Charge:

The Methow Valley School District charges the Committee to use the following criteria in developing its recommendation.  The Committee’s recommendation must,

• Identify facility needs, prioritizing the most urgent capital needs first
• leverage the data and findings from the District's grant-funded 2026 Study and Survey facility analysis
• prioritize teaching and learning needs
• address current and projected student population and program needs
• make every attempt to ensure student and staff learning/teaching environments are up to current standards
• provide long-term facility planning considerations (e.g. 25-year facility plan)
• consist of pragmatic solutions that help ensure longevity, durability, and lower long-term maintenance and upkeep costs
• include broad, deliberate opportunities for stakeholder input from staff, parents, and community/stakeholders
• capitalize on current infrastructure and historical community investment
• address student, staff and community safety considerations

When feasible,

• consider and incorporate alternatives to capital construction
• partner with local organizations to capitalize on cooperative spaces/needs
• research outside funding streams/opportunities in order to decrease local and/or district costs
• leverage facility best-practices and third-party experts to support recommendation validity
• provide lower-cost alternatives that do not compromise on core facility & learning goals
• incorporate energy efficiencies and other sustainable practices to reduce long-term operational costs

Timeline

The Committee’s work will sunset following their recommendation to the Board targeted for May 27th, 2027.