Members of Moorhead Area Public Schools’ facilities task force began their work in September by sharing their hopes for the process. At the end of the two four-hour meetings, the task force members had created a shared vision and developed facility principles to use to guide the five-month planning process.

Moorhead Area Public Schools is working with Cuningham Group in preparing a comprehensive facility master plan to guide facilities planning and improvements for the next 10 years. The Facilities Master Planning Task Force includes representation from stakeholder groups in the community, incorporating community members in the planning process. 

In October, task force members learned about district initiatives and developed facilities standards using the vision and principles developed by the task force in September. These facilities standards were used to complete a gap analysis for each of the district’s current schools to evaluate each facility’s ability to support the standards. Results of the gap analysis were reviewed in early November after task force members toured the district’s schools and the new high school in Alexandria, Minn.

Throughout the planning process, the Cuningham Group has shared provocation videos to create discussion about topics such as creativity, project-based learning and reforming education. Discussion has included future challenges facing the district and envisioning what the district schools would look like in 10 years.

The task force agreed to the following vision statement for the process: We envision safe, inviting and inclusive learning environments that support a sustainable culture of excellence in 21st century learning, while fostering meaningful and collaborative community partnerships.

Principles that were developed include serving and inspiring innovative growth and learning, providing adaptable facilities for our changing community, supporting evolving learning approaches through technology, fostering quality and excellence in education, providing safe and secure learning environments, fostering community and engagement within the schools, and being a community development partner.

More information about the master facilities planning process is available on the district’s website at www.moorheadschools.org/facilities. A work session with the School Board is scheduled for 5 p.m. Nov. 24 to update board members on the facilities master planning progress.