|
Campus Master Plan
School Approves Campus Master Plan
Following several years of work, on January 11, 2010, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the campus master plan. This plan will be a road map as we move forward in designing the campus of our future.
Below is a brief slide show offering a glimpse of the future campus and a Frequently Asked Questions section that provides more detail of the work involved in making this vision a reality.
Download pdf version
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a master plan?
A campus master plan is an important document which acts as a roadmap for future enhancements of school facilities. Although the product of the master plan, the map itself, serves a useful purpose in planning for incremental improvements, the process of developing the master plan is often one of the most meaningful exercises a school community can undertake to contemplate and plan for its future. This journey gives the school an opportunity to think before it acts, to celebrate the unique qualities of the school in order to ensure that those things we cherish will not be lost, and to imagine how the built and natural environment might better support the type of teaching, learning and “connecting” that makes The San Francisco School so special. Master planning, like strategic planning and financial planning, is an essential community exercise that most schools undertake every ten – fifteen years. The last SFS Master Plan was completed in the fall of 1996.
Who developed the Master Plan?
The school worked with the architecture firm, StarkweatherBondy (www.starkweatherbondy.com)
to design the master plan. In addition, we worked with CMG Landscape Architects (www.cmgsite.com)
to envision the outdoor spaces. Partnering with the school every step of the way, these firms were in conversation with teachers, administrators, parents, students and our alumni community during the process to make certain that the plan captures the school’s vision.
Why is the school talking about this?
Our 2007-2012 Strategic Plan charges our community with providing a physical environment that enhances student learning, accomodates the broader community and reflects the school’s values. To achieve this, we need to have a campus that allows for learning and exploration both indoors and outdoors. This master plan, which in many ways was developed by the faculty, provides for a campus that will prepare students for the 21st Century and also provide a sanctuary where students can learn, sing, dance and be safe bringing their whole selves to school every day.
How many phases is this project? What is included in Phase One?
Currently, there are three major phases in the Master Plan. The first phase of the Master Plan is anchored by a 4100 square foot Community Center that will serve as a theater, gym and community gathering space. The plan also includes new dedicated art rooms for elementary and middle school, enhanced science, language and library spaces, and new outdoor areas.
When will we start construction on Phase One?
The earliest we would break ground is in June 2012 and construction would take place during the 2012 – 2013 school year. This is a typical timeline for schools, with construction most often beginning in June, soon after the school year ends, and is completed the following August so that the School community is only impacted for one school year.
Will the students have to be relocated during construction? Where? How long?
Most likely, all or part of the student body will need to move to a temporary campus for one year during construction. There is a group of administrators and parents who have already begun to identify potential sites and discuss the pros/cons of moving all or part of the campus to a temporary space.
How is the school going to pay for these improvements?
School’s usually pay for campus building projects through a capital campaign (fundraising), bond financing (incurring debt) or a combination of both.
What is bond financing?
Non-profits are eligible to borrow for capital expenditures using tax-exempt bonds which is essentially a loan with lower interest rates than conventional taxable debt.
What is a capital campaign? Who gets asked to support the campaign? How much money can we raise?
A capital campaign is an extensive fundraising effort for a specific project, in this case, new buildings on our campus. During a campaign every member of The San Francisco School community, parents, guardians, staff, alumni families, grandparents and friends, will be asked to support the project and give at a ‘heroic’ level. We will also be requesting funding from foundations and corporations who support capital projects. No stone will be left unturned and we will raise funds to the full capacity of our community. To determine how much money we can raise, prior to a campaign, the School will conduct a series of interviews that will help us assess community interest and potential investment in the campaign.
How is this building effort going to impact tuition?
The project’s impact on tuition will be a determinant in how and when we move forward on construction. The Board of Trustees has clearly stated that they want the school’s tuition to remain at or below the median in comparison to other independent schools in San Francisco.
Does anyone in the administration or the board have experience with this kind of effort?
Yes, SFS parent and trustee Liza Pannozzo (Nathan, 4th) is an architect and has worked on school projects for the past 15 years. Liza has led many schools, including Urban High School, Drew School, San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Crystal Springs-Upland School through both the planning and designing phases of construction projects. As a trustee, Liza is chairing the Project Committee and has been a key member of the Site Committee since the inception of this project. On the administration, our Director of Finance and Operations Miriam Phillips (Alex ‘98 and Anna ’94) played a key role in the planning and construction phase of the school’s last campaign. Also, Miriam, as a trustee at Lick-Wilmerding High School, chaired their Site Committee during that schools most recent campaign. Finally, our Development Director, Charlie Meade (Edith 2nd & Willa, N4) took over Campaign 2000 at the mid-point in 1999 and successfully completed our largest fundraising effort to date.
What about the economy and its impact on this master plan?
The School has always taken a cautious and conservative approach to its finances. We do not plan to change that now. We are fortunate that the School has not yet secured financing or started a capital campaign. Because the school is debt-free, we can choose to wait until the markets have settled a bit to begin moving forward with fundraising or bond financing. In fact, this is a very good time for the School to begin gathering information about both forms of funding. In addition, independent schools generally find that donations slow but giving stays steady during economic slow-downs and recessions. So while we do not intend to stop the process, we do plan to move cautiously.
What space issues is the school hoping to resolve during this master plan?
The current master plan addresses many space issues that have plagued the School in recent years. While we hope to address all of these issues as quickly as possible, the vagaries of fundraising, bond financing, the permit approval process and the economy in general may delay the implementation or phasing of one or more of these projects.
| Issue |
Current Proposal Under Master Plan |
| No all school gathering space |
A gym/ theatre will offer a space that can provide many functions, including sufficient space for the entire school community to gather in one room. |
| Having to travel to all athletic games |
The gym/ theatre proposed under the current master plan would allow us the opportunity to truly have home court advantage. |
| Having all of theatre and music productions off campus |
The Community Center would allow for more productions on campus. The gym/ theatre provides a space for large performances while a smaller multi-purpose theatre will allow for single class events. |
| Lack of classrooms, particularly for the science and language programs |
New space would allow for ample classrooms for language, science and other programmatic needs that may emerge. |
| Kitchen and Garden are located far apart |
An edible garden would be planted right outside the kitchen (which would move into the current activity room). This configuration would locate the kitchen at the heart of the school and also allow for educational opportunities around food production and nutrition. |
| Limited Library and Technology Space |
A spacious library/media center that would allow us to grow our book collection, our technology resources and create more space for students to gather. |
| Campus Safety |
The reception area would be located near the front gate so that visitors would be greeted immediately when they come on campus. |
| Teacher Work Room |
The master plan provides a teacher workroom space. |
| Parent Gathering Space |
Indoor and outdoor space for parents to gather after carpool or throughout the day. |
| School not currently ADA accessible |
A fully accessible campus. |
| Noise & Wind Issues |
The new buildings will significantly reduce noise and wind on the campus. |
What do I do with thoughts and feedback?
We invite your thoughts and feedback. Please send to Liza Pannozzo, parent and Chair of the Project Committee. You can email Liza at: campusplan@sfschool.org
Do you have more questions that weren't answered in our FAQ? Email us and we'll update this page with new info as it becomes available. |
