Burnsville Public School District staff presented results of a facilities needs assessment during the March 27 work session, reporting a districtwide inventory of 695 needs and a plan to develop a guiding change document and hire a design team.

Executive Director of Administrative Services Stacy Sovine and Director of Facilities David Lake described an initial list developed from principal and leadership tours, building-team input and community feedback. High-frequency items included secure and reconfigured main entrances, redesigned bus and parent drop-off circulation, additional dedicated instructional and small-group spaces, restroom upgrades, enterprise infrastructure (wireless, power and plumbing) and athletic/field improvements.

Sovine emphasized that the inventory was compiled as a "needs" list rather than solutions and said the next step would be a 1–2 month effort to create a guiding change document setting parameters and desired outcomes. A design team would use that document to produce multiple options, conduct community feedback loops, refine cost estimates and present prioritized recommendations to the board.

Trustees discussed capacity and enrollment alignment: staff said enrollment has been relatively flat to declining and cautioned that available square footage in older buildings often lacks the flexible types of spaces now required for interventions and small-group work. Sovine also noted that, with careful levy and debt management (discussed earlier in the meeting), the district could create borrowing capacity over the next five to ten years without a tax increase and could phase facility work in coordination with long-term maintenance planning.

Board members asked for a draft guiding change document and suggested the district provide clearer parameters (including potential funding ranges or constraints) to narrow design-team tasks. Sovine agreed to bring a draft guiding document and timeline back to the board within the next month for review and to continue community engagement.