Facility Planning
Planning for the Future of Local Neighborhood Schools
Nevada City School District (NCSD) provides high-quality education programs to TK/Kindergarten – 8th grade students at Deer Creek Elementary School and Seven Hills Middle School. Dedicated teachers and staff are committed to providing an environment where all students learn and achieve to the best of their abilities, and encouraging them to become lifelong learners. Strong schools that nurture successful students improve the quality of life in our community and protect the property value of local homes.
Aging Schools Require Repairs and Upgrades
We are proud of the excellent academic performance of our neighborhood schools, but the quality and condition of our facilities have not kept pace. Deer Creek Elementary School and Seven Hills Middle School are almost 50 years old and need repairs and upgrades to support student safety and quality academic instruction.
While school maintenance staff do their best to keep schools functioning and clean, our schools were built to safety and educational standards from a different era. Essential repairs and upgrades are needed to keep our schools safe and functioning for local students.
The District has created a Facility Maintenance Utilization Plan Committee comprised of parents, teachers and staff, members of the NCSD Governing Board, and NCSD administration to focus on planning efforts for NCSD schools and facilities. Additionally, in tandem, the District is in the process of updating its Facilities Master Plan, which will outline priority repairs and upgrades for Deer Creek and Seven Hills. Projects identified thus far include:
- Repairing or replacing leaky roofs, deteriorating water pipes, HVAC systems, and other outdated infrastructure
- Updating aging classrooms to meet current educational standards
- Improving drop-off/pick-up areas and the parking lot at both school sites
- Installing solar panels and providing backup battery power, and generators
- Increasing student safety and school security, including fencing, lighting, and security systems
- Upgrading technology infrastructure to support alarms, bells, PA systems, and instructional learning
- Improving access for students with disabilities
Planning for the Future of Our Local Schools
The facility improvements needed in our neighborhood schools are far beyond the scope of NCSD’s current maintenance budget. District leaders are currently evaluating options for funding these improvements, including utilizing capital reserves in the NCSD budget and accessing State funds, which require a local financial match often provided by a local school improvement bond measure.
Many California school districts ask local voters to approve a school improvement bond measure to provide dedicated local funding for repairs and upgrades, which are funded by local taxpayers. Funding from a potential bond measure must be used to repair and improve NCSD schools and cannot be taken away by the State or used for other purposes. A bond measure would require a detailed project list showing how bond monies would be used, and an independent citizens’ oversight committee and annual audits to ensure funds are used as promised.
Your Input is Welcome
As NCSD considers options for preparing our schools for the future, we welcome your input. To share your opinions and priorities or to ask questions, please contact Superintendent John Baggett at [email protected].
Additional Resources:
Draft Facilities Master Plan