The district estimates that new construction would extend each school’s useful life to about 70 years, compared with roughly 25 years under the renovation plans. MMSD says the added cost would be paid from interest earned on referendum funds, without increasing the total amount approved by voters.

The proposal was presented to the Board of Education’s Operations Work Group after planning identified needs beyond the original renovation scope. Those include more space for school programs, major plumbing and stormwater system replacements, accessibility improvements and other building upgrades.

New buildings would add or improve space for arts, special education and collaborative learning. They would also allow both schools to offer full-day, five-day-a-week 4-year-old kindergarten classes, which neither currently provides. Proposed designs would address accessibility, circulation, safety and traffic flow.

At Crestwood, officials also pointed to a failing section of the building’s southern foundation wall. Both schools need work on windows, building systems, communications and furniture.

MMSD estimates the projects would use $13.25 million of about $24 million in projected interest earnings, leaving roughly $11.32 million. The estimates include anticipated Inflation Reduction Act credits for eligible building projects.

“Using the interest earned on referendum funds allows us to consider a more durable solution for Anana and Crestwood without changing the original voter-approved referendum amount,” said Bob Soldner, the district’s assistant superintendent of financial services.

Scott Chehak, MMSD’s senior executive director of building services, said rebuilding would allow the district to address accessibility, programming, sustainability and community-space needs together. The proposal remains part of the district’s facilities planning process; no final construction timeline was provided.