Purpose:

The Methow Valley School District requests the Community Facility 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 CFTF 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 Task Force’s Charge and aligns with community priorities. Over the course of the term, the Task Force 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 Task Force 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 task force 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, outside technical experts and personnel are made available to assist the Task Force in providing periodic updates to the board regarding the delivery of long-term capital planning recommendations for administration and Board consideration.

Task Force Members:

The Community Facility 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 Task Force charge. Appointments to the Task Force 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 Task Force Members

• Regular meeting attendance
• Respectful and collaborative interactions with Task Force 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 Task Force, a person indicates his/her willingness to comply with the board's guidelines for a citizen advisory 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 task force members, ensuring efficient and timely communication based on the program goals and plan of work.

Communications and Decision Making

• The task force will identify a chair or co-chairs who will be responsible for facilitating task force meetings and ensuring that accurate notes are submitted to and to the superintendent.
• This is an advisory task force to the Superintendent and School Board and does not maintain authority to obligate district funds or direct staff. Decision making will reside with the Superintendent and School Board
• The task force 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 minutes and action plans will be provided to the district office for posting on the website
• While not a voting body, the task force will provide valuable input to the school district. The task force will work to understand divergent viewpoints and seek to achieve consensus when possible.

Task Force Charge:

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

• Identify facility needs, prioritizing the most urgent capital needs first
• leverage the data and findings from the District's grant-funded 2025 Study and Survey facility analysis
• prioritize teaching and learning needs outlined in the district’s Mission, Vision, and Strategic Anchors.
• 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, and the district’s strategic anchors.
• incorporate energy efficiencies and other sustainable practices to reduce long-term operational costs and align with community efforts to be climate resilient and prepare for the impacts of our valley’s changing climate.

Timeline

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