West High School - Referendum 2020
Project Updates
April 13, 2021 Update
The MMSD Building Services staff gave an update at the April 12, 2021, Board meeting on the status of the projects funded by the referendum. The full meeting can be found here. (The referendum update begins at 1:22:36) A summary of West's information is below.
“Making the building accessible for students with disabilities is huge. People of color who have disabilities are especially important to consider with this redesign. I'm also thinking about how often time, special ed rooms and classrooms for non-AP/advanced classes are sometimes not the most welcoming places. These are the spaces that are often occupied by students of color. Sometimes they are rooms that many teachers share, so teachers can't personalize or invest in the space. Kids can tell when a room feels blank or run down. Those aren't rooms that kids are excited to spend time in…”
- Student quote, from feedback session
Some potential design shifts for West that have come from your feedback are:
- Increase the number of Science Labs on 3rd Floor
- Redistribution of Smaller Learning Community offices to better service student population
- Simplified circulation to be more efficient
- Identified spaces for additional classrooms
- Refined design and location of accessible locker rooms, position and size of new gym, and turf field placement
Picture mock-ups
Drawing of possible front entrance with welcome center
Drawing of new addition for gym and pool
February 5, 2021 Update
A team of architects are working with our MMSD Building Services staff to hold input and feedback sessions with students, families, staff and community members to determine next steps.
This year is a planning year, and we want to make sure your voices and ideas are included throughout the process.
We held a virtual feedback session on February 4 to give an overview of what the architects are planning and collect your thoughts and ideas. If you missed it, feel free to watch the video and submit your feedback using the green button above.
Construction and renovations are tentatively scheduled to begin in Summer 2022, while buildings are unoccupied.
Construction timeline
| Site | Design Completion Date | Bid Date | Construction Begins | Construction Complete |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Follette | 11/03/21 | 12/28/22 | 05/15/22 | 08/30/24 |
| East | 12/20/21 | 02/08/22 | 05/15/22 | 08/30/24 |
| West | 12/07/21 | 01/26/22 | 05/15/22 | 08/30/24 |
| Memorial | 01/12/22 | 02/28/22 | 05/15/22 | 08/30/24 |
| Capital High | 08/25/21 | 05/02/22 | 07/22/22 | 06/15/23 |
| Southside Elementary School | 02/21/22 | 03/21/22 | 06/30/22 | 08/04/23 |
Updated timeline for all schools
Sustainability Projects
As part of our commitment to sustainable and healthy high schools, environmentally responsible improvements are integrated into many aspects of the referenda. Plans call for the expansion of current efforts, while also introducing new ones, aligned with the school board’s Renewable Energy Resolution.
Components of the current recommendation include LED lighting and natural light, where possible, with an energy-efficient design, 250 kW PV (Photovoltaic) Array, new and efficient mechanical systems and integrated learning opportunities. Additional scope considerations include expanding PV capacity.
With student and staff wellness guiding our decision making, we’re planning for increased opportunities for outdoor learning and the expansion of current sustainable food practices.