The Bolivar School District recently initiated a planning effort to develop a Long-Range Facilities Plan. The goal of the facilities planning process is to provide a proactive road map to assist future district-wide planning. This process will consider what would be required if student enrollment were to increase, decrease, or remain steady over the next 10-20 years. The intent of this planning and analysis effort is not to provide a starting point for another bond issue. Instead, the objective is to utilize this time to reflect and engage the Bolivar community in an open dialogue about future educational vision and facility needs of the Bolivar School District.

 

To better understand the broad community desires and perceptions of the Bolivar School District’s needs and facilities, the Bolivar School District will host a series of community meetings. The goal of these meetings will be to: 1) share progress and information on planning to date and, 2) solicit meaningful input regarding what the community feels is important to integrate into future district-wide planning.

 

Hollis + Miller Architects of Lee’s Summit, MO, has been brought on board to facilitate this planning process. Hollis + Miller Architects has specialized experience working with Missouri school districts since 1950 and is nationally recognized for its community-based planning processes. What is most unique about the firm’s approach is a successful track record of engaging a wide range of stakeholders and community members in a genuine and sincere way.

 

Hollis + Miller Architects’ planning philosophy is based on one simple idea: a community will support what it values and believes in. The only way to accurately understand what each community believes in is to listen. The planning process is tailored to the unique needs, demographics, and traditions of the Bolivar School District. Representatives from Hollis + Miller Architects have met with staff at each of the schools to gain a good knowledge base concerning the positives and challenges of every existing Bolivar school building.   

 

It is now the community’s turn to take an active role in the planning process and provide their feedback directly to the project team. The community forum events are designed to provide information, stimulate conversation, and solicit input. All perspectives are welcomed at these events, whether attendees have a student in Bolivar Schools or would just like to know more about the process and have their voice heard. 

 

Ensuring high levels of learning for all students, and maintaining safe, secure, and learning-focused facilities, is best achieved by the school district and community working together. Bolivar’s Long-Range Facilities Plan needs to represent not only the input received by district leadership and staff members, but all affected and interested parties – which include the entire Bolivar community. Attend one of the community forums and participate in this important process.