One of the nine facilities recommendations approved by the Moorhead School Board in November 2013 was to create a facilities task force to develop a long-range facilities plan.

This August, Moorhead Area Public Schools began working with Cuningham Group in preparing a comprehensive facility master plan to guide facilities planning and improvements for the next 10 years. A facilities steering committee will lead the effort and a larger Facilities Master Planning Task Force will incorporate community members in the planning process. Applications are being accepted until Friday, Aug. 29, from community members interested in serving on the task force.

Applications may be submitted on the district’s website at https://www.moorheadschools.org/facilities, or contact the Office of the Assistant Superintendent at 218-284-3370 for a paper copy of the application. Applications are due Aug. 29 and will be reviewed the first week in September. Members will be selected to serve based on their interest and ability to serve, the perspective they represent, and the experience or expertise they bring to the process.

The task force will include representation from stakeholder groups in the community. The work of the task force will involve approximately eight evening and half-day workshops led by the Cuningham Group from September to January.

The facilities task force will review and consider recommendations and ideas to address instructional and safety needs at the school sites, including additional space needed.

“We want our students to be able to learn and be safe in educational environments designed for today’s instructional needs,” said Superintendent Lynne Kovash. “We have had ongoing security upgrades, including cameras, and staff training over the past several years.”

Although buzzer systems were explored last spring as a security option, district administration decided to allow the facility study to be completed before finalizing a decision since options requiring different renovations or building additions could be recommended by the facilities task force and Cuningham Group.

“While we want to explore the feasibility of the various recommendations discussed during last school year, we want the Cuningham Group and the facilities task force to be able to consider all alternatives, including some that may not have been considered before,” said Superintendent Lynne Kovash. “From their work, a recommendation for a 10-year facilities plan that includes community input will be presented to the School Board.”

Work on the facilities study is scheduled from now until January, with the final presentation to the School Board in February 2015.