A Note From The Superintendent's Desk: Safety Is Our Top Priority
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Recent tragic events across our country have caused us all to pause and reflect on our own schools. We are fortunate to live in a wonderful community, yet we know that tragic events can happen anywhere. As a district, student safety is our top priority. Over the years, we have taken a number of steps to improve general security and safety across each building in our district. We continue to review and improve upon our safety and security plans and would like to take a moment to communicate those ongoing efforts. This includes a number of physical changes, as well as general operational procedures.
The district completed a comprehensive update of emergency preparation and procedures in 2014. Through this process, the district established specific crisis/emergency procedures for various issues including fire, tornado, suspicious packages, medical emergencies, hazardous materials, and an active shooter. Every classroom has an Emergency Preparedness Procedures guide (pictured below) which includes tabs that are used during drills for reference. Every classroom is also equipped with an emergency supply kit which includes class lists, first aid materials and more.
The high school and middle school have conducted lockdown drills. Anderson and Morris do not involve students in such drills, but focus on age appropriate procedures and preparing teachers.
At Bondurant-Farrar, all school buildings have electronic door security, including a buzz in system. Upon arrival, visitors are required to provide their state issued identification and wear a badge when visiting. A significant number of security cameras are located in and outside of buildings.
In January, representatives from the district attended a training led by crisis management expert and author, Rick Kauffman. As a result, a number of adjustments have been identified and are being reviewed for potential implementation. We also have an outstanding School Resource Officer who assists in the review process.
In light of recent tragedies, many parents wonder what they can do to help. We encourage families to have open and honest conversations with your child and listen to their concerns. Many times students are aware of issues and developing problems. Working together, you can determine what to share with building administrators or law enforcement. Bondurant-Farrar is appreciative of the continued support and partnership with families, staff, local law enforcement and our community.
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Please feel free to email or call me directly with questions about this article or our district.
Sincerely,
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Rich Powers, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Online: www.bfschools.org
Phone: 515-967-7819
Email: powersr@bfschools.org
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A Snapshot of Construction Progress on the Community Auditorium
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Construction Update: Upcoming Expansion at Morris Elementary
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The first phase of the district project occurred at the high school and included a twenty-one classroom addition, 140 new parking spaces and a 710 seat community auditorium. The classrooms opened in January of 2018 and eight of the rooms are in use daily. The district intentionally added extra classrooms to accommodate the larger class sizes currently in the lower grades. The parking lot additions to the west and north of the high school are also complete. The auditorium will be ready for performances in late August of 2018.
The upcoming expansion at Morris Elementary was part of the district’s facility additions approved by voters in February of 2016.
The design teams at FEH Design and Story Construction are working on the final details. It will include additional parking, a pick-up and drop-off lane on the south end, eight classrooms, and a gymnasium. This will allow for 200 additional students, as well as increased instructional opportunities for physical education. Then, we will have the needed space to consider additional preschool sections to meet our growing demands.
Currently, Morris has a multi-purpose space that serves as both the cafeteria and gym for physical education. This shared approach limits physical education time for students due to the conflict with breakfast and lunch times. The additional gym is necessary to meet required physical education needs for a building that will have a capacity of 750 students. With the new additions, Morris could serve as a preschool through fourth grade site depending on the district’s future needs.
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FAQ’s
What is next?
We will present final design details to the school board for approval to move to the bidding process. The bid packets are scheduled to be released in the spring with construction beginning in the summer of 2018.
Why didn’t you build Morris larger to begin with?
We did not have the funding at the time the decision was made. Schools have a set debt limit that is 5% of the total valuation of all taxable properties in the district. As we continue to add new homes, our bonding capacity or “credit limit” for borrowing increases proportionally.
What is the plan for future expansion?
The district has had a master plan for several years that includes a new elementary building that would be scheduled to open in 2023. The exact location and grade configuration is yet to be finalized. One option is for Morris to become a preschool through fourth grade site, while adding another K-4 building in Bondurant. This would shift Anderson to a grade five and six building and the current middle school would become a grade seven and eight site. This revised grade configuration would meet our needs and be cost effective for the community. There are other ideas that would make our main campus preschool through grade six.
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Below are several drawings of the general project and layout at Morris. Final details are subject to approval by the school board.
(Renderings and floor plans provided by FEH Design and Story Construction.)
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A Growing District: Current Enrollment Numbers and Comparison
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As you know, our community has seen quite a bit of growth over the last several years. We'd like to take a moment to highlight our current enrollment figures and compare them to the number of students served 5 and 10 years ago.
Currently, our K-12 enrollment is approximately 2,066 students. Compared to the 2012-13 school year, that's an increase of 533 students and an additional 863 students since the 2007-08 school year.
Prior to the bond referendum, the district hired an outside firm to conduct an enrollment study. In this study, the firm projects our district to grow by roughly 125 students annually for the next several years. We feel fortunate to experience continued growth in our community and work to continually evaluate and update the master plan in order to manage this growth in enrollment.
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BFCSD Staff Members Featured Online During #LoveTeaching Week
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For Sale: High Quality, Student-Built Home in Bondurant
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Are you looking for a new home?
Members of the high school construction class are putting the finishing touches on another student-built home in our community. The home is located at 401 Shiloh Rose Pkwy NW in Bondurant and has a sale price of $275,000.
There is still time to choose exterior color and some interior finishes!
The main level features 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a mud room and more.
Interested buyers are asked to contact Heath Moulton at the information listed below. Thank you for your interest and for supporting this great program!
Heath Moulton, Broker/Owner
Moulton & Associates Realtors
1910 SW Plaza Shops Lane
Ankeny, IA 50023
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Impact on School Calendar Due to Weather Cancellations
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As of today, March 2nd, the district has cancelled two days of school due to inclement weather, however these cancellations do not effect the school calendar. This year, as in past years, two snow days were built into the school calendar. Currently, the last day of school is scheduled for May 25th. This date holds true unless we experience additional cancellations. Should winter weather cause a 3rd cancellation, school will be extended through May 29th. Additional information can be found in the left column of the 2017-18 school calendar.
Click here to view this year's academic calendar.
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Office Closures During Breaks
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With spring break quickly approaching, we’d like to remind you of the impact this has on office hours. As general practice, all offices are closed to the public when students are not in attendance. We understand that during extended breaks, such as spring break, there may be times when parents need school assistance. Should you need assistance, the District Office will be staffed much of break, however we encourage families to call ahead to schedule an appointment. The District Office can be reached at 515-967-7819.
*Please note, voicemails will not be monitored during office closures. In the event of an emergency, please call the District Office or contact your building principal via email.
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Offices Will Be Closed To The Public:
March 12-16 Due to Spring Break
(Classes Resume & Offices Open On March 19)
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It is the policy of the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district’s Equity Coordinator; Chad Carlson, Director of Administrative Services, 300 Garfield St SW, Bondurant, IA 50035, 515-967-7819, carlsonc@bfschools.org.
OR
Director of the Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661-7204, Telephone: (312) 730-1560, Facsimile: (312) 730-1576, Email:
OCR.Chicago@ed.gov
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BONDURANT-FARRAR CSD
300 Garfield St. SW - Bondurant, IA 50035
515.967.7819
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