Citizens for Francis Howell
Citizens for Francis Howell is working to support the Francis Howell School District bond issue on the June 2, 2020 ballot. Proposition S is a no tax rate increase bond issue.Voter approval of Proposition S would allow the District to borrow money now and in the future to address pressing facility needs at all Francis Howell schools.
Prop S Turns into Teachable Moment About the Trades
With the 2020-21 school year well underway, the daily operations of the Francis Howell School District also continue on. This includes progress on districtwide improvements that are possible through the passage of Proposition S. Approved by voters in June 2020, Prop S provided $244 million of bond money to address pressing facilities needs at all Francis Howell schools. All Prop S projects are detailed in the Comprehensive Facilities Master Plan and will be completed over the course of the next six years.
Larger Prop S projects (like the new Francis Howell North High School and updates to security vestibules) have entered into planning phases, and a handful of smaller projects have already been completed (track resurfacing at Hollenbeck Middle and parking lot repairs at Warren Elementary). Some projects, like Fairmount Elementary’s new portable trailer, are currently taking place.
“Not only does Prop S allow for much needed updates to FHSD facilities, but it also provides unique opportunities to enhance learning opportunities for students,” said Director of Facilities and Operations John Klein. “COVID may have limited our abilities to do field trips for the moment, but it doesn’t mean that learning opportunities outside the classroom cannot still happen.”
Typically, a portable trailer would be delivered, installed, and ready to go before the beginning of the school year. Delivery and installation were pushed back due to delays outside of FHSD’s control. This bump in the schedule turned into a teaching moment about the trades for some elementary students.
“Seven of our junior Falcon engineers had the opportunity to observe and report on the new portable classroom being installed,” said Administrative Intern Eric Eubank. “Our junior engineers reported back to their classroom with the notes that they took.”
Outfitted in their very own Fairmount safety vests and hats, students were invited to watch as the construction crew lined up the first half of the trailer, operated heavy equipment, and slowly eased the piece into place over concrete blocks.
“It was one of the coolest things I have seen,” said David S.
Another student, D’Andre W., said, “It was very cool to watch them use the tools to work and move the portable trailers.”
Cruise W. thought that “it was so awesome to represent my class and go back and report.”
This experience also provided students with a close-up view of tradespeople in action.
“Students were exposed to examples of how math, science, English, and engineering all played into making this process work smoothly,” said Klein. “The Facilities and Operations Team looks forward to more opportunities as we progress through Prop S projects, to expose more of our students to the trades and experiential learning outside the classroom.”
As many trade workers reach retirement age, more opportunities have opened up for students seeking an alternative to college. Skilled trade work has become increasingly popular for graduating FHSD students. Opening students’ minds to the possibility of the trades early on ensures that all students can find a suitable career path after their time in the hallways of FHSD.
News
Drone view FH North construction update
Youtube link to drone footage for FHN Construction progress:
https://youtu.be/TJGo-xNlQ-k
May 2022 Construction update
Attached update on Prop S Construction....
Construction Update at April BOE meeting
Attached is Board Docs Prop S construction update from April 19 BOE meeting.
Francis Howell North Project will proceed
The Board of Education approved bid package #5 and accepted SM Wilson's Guaranteed Maximum Price of $164,723,000. The District's Prop S website will be updated with revised budgets and cost tracking.
Motion was to accept SM Wilson’s Bid Package #05, valued at $126,628,817 and continue construction of the new Francis Howell North High School; the project will be protected from future price escalation.
Moving ahead with the construction of North at the increased cost means we will have to re-prioritize other Prop S
projects and as a result, some work that was originally planned will not be completed. A future bond issue may be
required to accomplish the full scope of work projected as part of Prop S
Prop S Construction Update
Prop S Projects Impacted by COVID-Related Delays and Cost Increases
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October Prop S Update
Prop S - Project Manager Jeremy Boettler gave a Prop S update, again reiterating ongoing challenges facing the construction industry, including high demand, labor shortages, inflationary material costs and COVID-related delays in the steel and aluminum industries, which impact project timelines and budgets. Boettler also shared that the facilities advisory committee has been proactively re-evaluating and prioritizing projects, with the goal of providing the greatest possible value for the District at the lowest possible cost in a difficult market.
Boettler said four additional security vestibule projects are scheduled for completion over fall break and construction on the new Francis Howell North is moving along well. The Guaranteed Maximum Price, or GMP, for the Francis Howell North project will be presented at a Board meeting in the near future. It is expected to come in higher than previously expected for the reasons noted above concerning the construction industry.
Prop S August Update
- FHN/Henderson’s entry drive was expanded to separate construction traffic from school traffic as part of the progress on the new Francis Howell North High School
- FHC and Saeger’s parking lots were repaved
- Track and parking lot replacement/renovations were completed at Bryan Middle
- Major systems (HVAC, Boiler Loop, Electrical) were replaced at Becky-David, along with new paint, lighting and floors
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Groundbreaking Held for New Francis Howell North, Prop S Website Launched
Check the Prop S page on the FH District website for frequent updates on construction progress and expenses
Prop S March 2021 Update
March 2021
In March, the District awarded Hof Construction the contract for District wide security vestibules installation, with work set to begin at the conclusion of this school year.
The new security vestibules, which will be part of each school’s front entrance, will enhance the safety of the schools and be ready when students return for the 2021-2022 school year. Impacted schools include Becky-David Elementary, Castlio Elementary, Central Elementary, Harvest Ridge Elementary, Independence Elementary, John Weldon Elementary, Warren Elementary, Barnwell Middle School, Bryan Middle School, Francis Howell Middle School, Hollenbeck Middle School, Saeger Middle School and Francis Howell High School.
During Spring Break, Prop S work began at Becky-David Elementary. The Facilities and Operations Department utilized this past week to get a jump start on renovation work to try to make up for the week lost due to weather earlier in the Spring. All classroom lights were updated to new LED fixtures and common areas such as the gyms and cafeteria were painted.
Over the summers of 2021 and 2022, Becky-David will have it’s electrical and HVAC systems updated, painting of the classrooms, new flooring, tuckpointing of the building, bathroom updates, parking lot repairs and updates plus much more.
Also in March, the City of St. Peters Planning and Zoning Commission approved site plans for the new Francis Howell North High School.
A traffic study at the campus was conducted this month to help ensure traffic runs smoothly both during construction and after the new high school opens.
Additionally, this month, geotechnical testing was conducted in the footprint of the new high school building. Using large drilling rigs, borings were drilled over 20 feet into the ground in order to collect soil samples. These samples help engineers understand the properties of the soil and groundwater beneath the new school, as these site characteristics impact building design.
Add your news summary here.Prop S February Update
This month, the architect for the Francis Howell North project met with Principal Dr. Nathan Hostetler and staff members from the academic and athletic departments to discuss design plans for the new FHN. The project's Construction Manager At-Risk, S.M. Wilson, provided a Schematic Budget for the FHN campus. A schematic site plan, which shows the existing and proposed developments to the campus, was submitted for review to the City of St. Peters Planning and Zoning Commission. A package for multiple security vestibules throughout the District was sent out for bids from local contractors, with construction to occur during the summer.Add your news summary here.
Prop S Update-Projects underway
Last summer, voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition S, a bond issue that addresses critical infrastructure needs across the District.
Director of Facilities John Klein provided the Board of Education with an update on Prop S at the January 21 Board meeting.Project Manager for Prop S approved
Board of Education approved, on June 18, entering into an agreement with Atlas Building Group, to provide project management services for the Francis Howell School District on the Prop S projects, effective June 22, 2020, at an average hourly rate of $125.00 per hour.
Board of Education Election June 2
In the June 2 election, candidates Mary Lange, Patrick Lane, and Doug Ziegemeier were elected to the Board of Education. This will be the second term for both Lange and Lane, and a first term for Ziegemeier.
Making Sure Prop S is on Your Ballot
What to do if Prop S is not on your ballot.
Polling Place Updates
Did your polling place change for the June 2 election? Check out the list of update poll locations.
Download a Prop S Printable Flyer
Download and print a flyer to help get the word out about Prop S and the June 2 election.
The 4/7 Solution
Passage of Proposition S would require approval by four out of seven voters, or a little more than 57 percent in the June 2 election—the 4/7 solution. Vote YES on Prop S and help us improve schools across the entire Francis Howell School District.
Vote from Home in the June 2 Election
Complete your request for an absentee ballot by May 20 to vote from home in the June 2 General Municipal Election. Full instructions and a sharable flyer included.
Proposition S Facility Update Overview
Proposition S impacts 29 schools and over 17,000 students in our district. See an overview of how the funds generated by Proposition S will improve different facilities.
Proposition S Election Postponed Until June 2
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Governor Mike Parson has signed Executive Order 20-03, ordering all Missouri municipal elections previously scheduled on April 7 to be postponed until June 2. In compliance with the Executive Order, Proposition S will now appear on the June 2, 2020, ballot.
Approve Proposition S for a New North High School
Francis Howell North High School opened in 1981 as Henderson Middle School. In the decades that followed, there were six additional phases with no single master plan guiding the placement of additions. The result is a building structure that presents challenges for appropriate supervision of students and creates potential student and staff safety issues.
Approval of Prop S Would Provide Additional Space and Improve Safety at Henderson
Henderson Elementary was opened in 1986 and is now more than 30 years old. It is also one of the smallest schools in the District in terms of square footage, and the building has run out of classroom space.
How will the approval of Prop S improve safety and security?
One of the most effective means of preventing intruders in the school environment is to control access at the main entrance of the building.
Vote Yes on Prop S to Ensure Our Facilities Staff Have Needed Resources
Older buildings require significant repair and maintenance, and many of the District’s building systems, like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, are reaching the end of their useful life. It is the great work on the men and women in the FHSD Facilities and Maintenance departments that keeps ourfacilities up and running for our students and staff.
Outdated Systems at Becky-David Elementary
Becky-David is also one of the oldest schools in the District. In the basement is an electrical system so fragile that only Ameren employees have access to the electrical sub-basement. FHSD has over 2.7 million square feet under roof, and this is the only area of the District that our highly-qualified maintenance employees are not allowed to enter.
Why build a new Francis Howell North instead of renovating the existing building?
Francis Howell North High
School opened in 1981 as Henderson Middle School. In the decades that followed,
six additions were made to the building with no overall master plan, resulting
in a variety of roof structures and heating and air-conditioning systems
serving all of those different areas.
Phase I and Phase II Projects
The Phase I and Phase II project lists indicate how those funds will be allocated across the District.
Comprehensive Facilities Master Plan
The FHSD Board of Education commissioned the development of a Comprehensive Facilities Master Plan as a proactive approach to assessing the capital needs of the different campuses and facilities located across the District. The CFMP identified $300 million of capital improvements necessary to be made over the course of the next 20+ years.
Francis Howell Board Votes to put Bond Issue on April Ballot
The Francis Howell School District Board of Education voted unanimously to place Proposition S on the April 7, 2020, ballot. Proposition S is a $240 million bond issue that will not increase the current tax rate. Voter approval of Proposition S would allow the District to borrow money now and in the future to address pressing facility needs at schools across the District.
