Staples-Motley Schools Facilities Planning
Staples-Motley Schools is planning for the future—and we want you to be part of it!
Why This Matters
Our schools are the heart of our communities. To keep them strong, safe, and ready for learning, the district is carefully exploring ways to update and improve our buildings and grounds. The decisions made during this process will impact the long-term integrity of learning spaces, security, and equipment in our schools.
Our Goals
Students First: Our district’s mission is to “empower every student to thrive—in school and beyond.” We’re committed to ensuring all proposed improvements to our buildings benefit students and align with our Cardinal Commitments.
Transparency and Clear Communication: All community members should be able to share their input, easily find information about the facility planning process, and speak directly with district leaders if they have questions.
Fiscal Responsibility: Improvements to our school buildings should provide excellent value to our taxpayers. Our goal is to ensure that improvements can be completed without increasing the current school property tax rate.
What We’ve Done So Far
Over the last several months, our district has sought input from every corner of our communities to explore ways to optimize our aging buildings for staff, students, families, and residents. We collected feedback through:
Community-Wide Survey: Over three hundred residents weighed in on the strengths and weaknesses of our learning spaces. See the results here.
Listening Sessions: District leaders and school construction experts met in small groups with staff and residents to hear their ideas and concerns. These sessions provided teachers with opportunities to share the specific challenges they face and discuss what they believe should be addressed.
Facilities Open House: All residents were invited to tour the middle/high school building on Oct. 30 to get a behind-the-scenes look at learning spaces and hear directly from the teachers who use them.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Steering Committee: Local business leaders and educators convene to explore ways to improve CTE training and connections between students and employers in our communities.
Auditorium Improvement Committee: This independent committee was originally formed to help raise funds for improvements to the Centennial Auditorium and has hosted input sessions to discuss priorities for improvement.
After analyzing the feedback collected, several clear priorities emerged and were presented to the school board.
CTE Spaces and Equipment: Ensure CTE spaces have the room and equipment to provide industry-standard training and grow opportunities for jobs and internships with local businesses.
Modernize General Education Space: Renovate the oldest and most undersized classrooms to improve accessibility, provide adequate science lab space, and add more natural lighting.
Safety and Security: Enhance the safety and security of parent pick-up/drop-off areas by creating secure building entryways, installing security cameras, and replacing select locks, doors, and windows.
Auditorium Improvements: Replace curtains, rigging, and obsolete sound equipment, and make acoustic improvements.
Deferred Maintenance: Repair or replace flooring, cabinetry, roofing, windows, and pavement that are damaged or obsolete.
Grade Alignment: Move 5th-grade students to the elementary to better align education goals and outcomes.
During the November 3 school board meeting, school construction experts provided recommendations to address these priorities. See the recommendations here.
What We’ve Learned
What’s Next?
On Nov. 17, the school board submitted a “Review and Comment” to the Minnesota Department of Education. This document outlines the improvements our district hopes to make to our buildings and the projected costs to do so. The Department has 60 days to consider the proposal and deliver a positive review or recommend changes. If the MDE approves the Review and Comment, the school board will consider holding a referendum for local voters to decide whether to implement the proposed plan.
Resource Library
We want to hear from you!
Have a question? Use the form below to get in touch – you can expect a response within two business days.
Keep an eye out for opportunities to attend informational meetings and provide input.