The Comprehensive Planning and Development Committee agreed Oct. 30 to work with the School Board chair to schedule a broader facilities work session after the start of 2026, folding educational specifications (ed specs) into that larger discussion rather than holding a standalone ed-spec review.

Miss L. L. Sizemore Heizer said the committee should clarify the purpose and expected outcomes of any work session—whether informational, feedback-oriented or decision-focused—and suggested the governance committee review the underlying policy (referred to in discussion as 81-20) before the board opens technical documents. She noted a discrepancy in the regulation that omits “special services,” the division area responsible for special education, from the list of departments in the regulation and asked that the regulation be updated to include that function or refer to the chief academic officer who oversees both instructional and special services.

Staff explained that ed specs function as a program and design guide that establishes classroom sizes and spatial standards, while master specifications are the highly technical construction documents. The staff presenter said board-level input can be constructive on high-level program parameters—for example, guidance about classroom square footage or values such as outdoor learning spaces—but that the master specifications are too detailed for routine board review.

Committee members requested a status update on the Facility Condition Assessment procurement; staff reported the procurement package is with finance and legal awaiting approval to proceed. Chair McDaniel said he will coordinate the facilities work session timing with the FCA procurement timeline and with the School Board chair, and that the session would likely take place after the first of the year.

Members also recommended that governance and relevant committees consider adding an explicit values statement to the policy (for example, references to outdoor learning) so that higher-level policy can guide the content of ed specs.