Shaping the Future: MMSD Begins Planning for School Construction and Renovation

Ten Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) schools are slated for construction or reconstruction over the next five years. The MMSD community has an opportunity to not only imagine what could be, but to make ideas for each of these schools a reality. To begin the discussion, high-level concepts have been designed and will be used to help determine how to make the best use of the space available for each school. 

“We are just at the beginning stages of envisioning the potential of each building,” says Scott Chehak, Senior Executive Director of Building Services. 

MMSD will engage internal teams, students, each school’s surrounding neighborhood and the community overall to gather feedback. Engagement sessions have been scheduled for March 11 (Sherman/Shabazz) and March 12 (Black Hawk/Gompers). Planning for these events are underway, and more information is expected to be shared as details become confirmed. Groundbreaking is planned for February 2026.

Although concepts have been created for all of the schools, the initial focus will be on Sherman and Black Hawk middle schools, Gompers Elementary School and Shabazz High School. MMSD’s Facilities Condition Assessment, which identified critical HVAC and plumbing needs, along with mechanical systems that have reached or surpassed their life expectancy, along with geographic location were factors used to determine the overall project schedule. 

Information about the 2024 Referenda is available online. For questions or more information, please submit to Let’s Talk.