• The FAR is a multi-disciplinary on-site inspection of the existing buildings that focuses specifically on architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. It also identifies the cost of deferred maintenance for each school building.
• Items evaluated include the following:
  • Exterior: walls, foundations, doors, windows, soffits
  • Interior: partitions, floors, ceilings, doors, casework
  • Roof: membrane, drains, downspouts, flashing
  • Structural: rapid assessment of seismic resistance
  • Mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP): HVAC, plumbing fixtures, electrical equipment
• While all the District’s buildings are well-maintained, many have a long list of needs, particularly the older elementary schools. Several buildings are well beyond their practical lifespan.
• The primary envelope concern district-wide is roofing, with several buildings well beyond their practical life span. Some have active leaks, and some have recent leaks that have been repaired.
• Nearly every District site, with the exception of Sandy High School and Community Connections, has significant replacement work needed on the existing site water distribution piping. Many of these buildings have original galvanized piping still, which will likely be corroded due to age. There are also issues with plumbing fixtures and a lack of drinking fountains.
• Sandy Grade and Naas Elementary need improvements to their ADA access.
• Heating equipment replacement is severe and required at Sandy Grade, Kelso Elementary, and Naas Elementary.
• Sandy Grade has the most critical electrical issues, with the main service and all sub-panels requiring replacement.
• A Facility Condition Assessment (FCI) shows a current average of 32% for K-8 buildings across the district. Buildings that rate above 30% are considered in critical need and typically recommended for replacement.
  • With completion of the proposed projects, the average FCI would be reduced to 10%.

No. The district is only able to complete minimal facility maintenance/upkeep with limited state funding.

• Facility assessment: Soderstrom Architects, Fall/Winter 2023/24
• Facility plan: Soderstrom Architects, Spring/Summer 2024
• The Superintendent’s Leadership Council, School Board, and district staff began assessing facility needs in early 2018 and resumed the process in 2022.
• Community survey conducted by Patinkin Research in July 2024.

• As part of the facility planning process, each school building was analyzed for educational adequacy relative to core academics, elective academics, physical education, support spaces, and overall facility and site functionality.
• The district started this process by identifying overall goals for each school that would provide parity and equity relative to resources available at each site. The goal is to create a continuity of experience district-wide.
• The district started this process by identifying overall goals for each school that would provide parity and relative equality of resources available at each site. The goal is to create a continuity of experience district-wide.

Our vision is to develop a community school concept at Welches, serving grades K-8, and creating community center options for a generational campus.

There are three major facility issues:

• The facilities are aging and components will fail in the near term.
• Many of the schools lack core educational spaces like gyms and cafeterias.
• Classrooms are needed to replace temporary modulars.

A bond would:

• protect the community’s investment.
• provide for equal educational facilities.
• replace temporary modular classrooms.

Bond payments would be structured so residents who move into the community in the future would assist in the payment of the bond.

• OTSD was a good steward of the 2008 bond funds. Smart fiscal and project management enabled the district to complete all bond-designated projects:
  • A new 306,000 square foot, 21st century Sandy High School.
  • The new school was built to accommodate robust CTE programs of study that align with high wage jobs and industry needs. The school currently offers 8 CTE programs with over 50 course offerings.
  • Every K-8 school district-wide was upgraded with: WiFi network, security cameras, new phone system, electronic security access, and single-button lockdown capability.
  • All schools were upgraded, as needed, with: roof repairs or replacement; siding, window, door replacement; and HVAC system upgrades.
  • Bond residuals and interest earnings allowed OTSD to add these projects: single point of entry vestibules and perimeter fencing at every school; turf fields added and track replaced at Sandy High; and two classrooms added at Naas Elementary to accommodate enrollment growth.
  • OTSD is now known regionally, statewide, and nationally as a frontrunner in implementing school safety and security measures.

• Smart fiscal and project management enabled the district to complete the bond projects on time and within budget, allowing us to accomplish additional projects that addressed school security, enrollment growth, and student athletics playing fields.
• A Citizens Bond Oversight Committee monitored expenditures and made sure funds were spent as designated.
• The district saved taxpayers $10M by refinancing the bond.

• Bond refinancing, new home construction, and increased home values all contributed to the decreased rate. As our community continues to grow, and new families move into the district, the tax rate decreases for each individual taxpayer.

• While the Pioneer Campus was not adequate to provide quality education opportunities to our large high school student population, with suitable renovations, it now offers greatly improved education opportunities for our middle school students.
• Two seriously deteriorated buildings on the Pioneer campus were razed in 2015:
  • The North Building, originally built as a bus barn and used in later years as classrooms, and
  • The old modular building that was behind the school near the tennis courts.
• The City of Sandy approved a conditional use permit for the campus to serve up to 650 middle school students.
• Renovations to the main school building began in early spring 2017.
• The project was technically complex due to its multiple construction types and aged systems. Although the site is a difficult one, it presents a much improved campus for middle school students.
• Middle school students are benefitting from the increased space and improved features that the Pioneer Campus offers to the instructional program, including new Career & Technical Education (CTE) courses.