The retreat was an important opportunity for the Board to assess both the financial and design aspects of the Master Plan, enabling them to make informed decisions as the process moved forward. DECEMBER 2024 BOARD OF EDUCATION RETREAT 16

31 At the final step of the master planning process, the Joint Steering Committee and Sub-Committee meetings provided a forum for discussion and final refinement of the design options. The meeting began by combining the Future of Education with an assessment of the district’s current state, offering a holistic view of the district’s needs moving forward.

In order to help illustrate the state of Clayton’s schools in the broader context of educational trends and facility standards in neighboring districts, the Paragon team presented an overview of other school districts, comparing their facilities with those in the School District of Clayton.

The discussion then turned to learning spaces, where goals for newly renovated or added architectural spaces were outlined. The focus was on understanding the requirements of these spaces and ensuring they were designed to support the district’s evolving educational vision.

Design options were then reviewed, this time incorporating cost considerations. The presentation of costs alongside the design options allowed for a more grounded discussion of what was financially feasible within the district’s budget. FINAL JOINT MEETING OF STEERING COMMITTEE & ALL SUB-COMMITTEES 19 At the Board Retreat, the focus shifted toward addressing financial considerations while continuing to refine the conceptual design options for the Long-Range Facility Master Plan. The goal was to strike a balance between improving the district’s facilities for the community and being fiscally responsible, ensuring that any potential tax impact would be carefully considered.

The meeting began with a review of the survey results, providing a deeper understanding of the community’s priorities and reinforcing the direction of the master planning process.

A significant portion of the retreat was dedicated to discussing the Levels of Design and their associated costs. For the first time, the Paragon team presented estimations of cost alongside the conceptual design options, providing the Board a clearer understanding of the financial implications of each option. This allowed for a more informed discussion on how best to align the design aspirations with available resources.

In addition to reviewing cost estimates, the retreat led to further design option modifications based on the discussions and feedback, helping refine the options to better reflect the community’s needs and fiscal realities. JANUARY 2025 BOARD OF EDUCATION RETREAT 18