ICONS
PRE-K-12 SERVICES
Iowa public school districts can leverage
IASB,
member benefits by utilizing the services of Estes for a construction project. IASB members have received over $5 million in savings using Estes' services for new construction, renovations and additions. The savings to each district is of significant value to taxpayers.
FACILITY ASSESSMENT
Estes assembles a team to conduct a comprehensive field evaluation of facilities that identifies the physical and functional needs of each building. The assessment identifies deficiencies in mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, roof and other exterior conditions plus code and ADA accessibility. The findings are used to create time and cost scenarios for renovating at your existing site or building a new school on another property.
Districts benefit from an impartial evaluation that determines project costs and priorities. The assessment builds consensus and creates an action plan. The Estes team stays engaged to help facilitate the next steps to keep the process moving.
Districts benefit from an impartial evaluation that determines project costs and priorities. The assessment builds consensus and creates an action plan. The Estes team stays engaged to help facilitate the next steps to keep the process moving.
WHY ESTES
"Estes assisted our district in short-term and long-range facilities planning efforts. A team from Estes spent a week in our district studying our facilities and helping us put together a realistic look at our district needs in the near future as well as twenty-year projections. Estes was a critical partner for us in this work that has become the cornerstone of our facilities vision, budget and planning for our school district."
Dr. Tony Aylsworth, Superintendent
Pleasantville Community School District
Pleasantville Community School District
DESIGN TEAM SELECTION
Leverage the experience of Estes to help your district identify the design team for your project. Estes can provide tools to assist in the vetting process to identify design teams with proven K-12 learning environment experience adept at master planning and referendum support if applicable.
Many design teams serve Iowa K-12 schools, and Estes has experience working with them. Design functionality, communication style, capacity and team dynamics are important factors when choosing a design partner, but they are often difficult to discern from brief interactions. Estes is your unbiased intermediary, and you choose the design team that best aligns with your district.
Many design teams serve Iowa K-12 schools, and Estes has experience working with them. Design functionality, communication style, capacity and team dynamics are important factors when choosing a design partner, but they are often difficult to discern from brief interactions. Estes is your unbiased intermediary, and you choose the design team that best aligns with your district.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Estes works with your district to understand funding sources and capacity. Your district's bond referendum passage experience is examined to uncover any obstacles that may need to be overcome to secure community support. A fiscally capable plan is developed that meets current and future needs.
WHY ESTES
"Estes Construction was a tremendous partner to Corning School District throughout the construction and renovation of our elementary project. I assumed the role of superintendent during construction, and the Estes Construction team engaged with me early, making my transition seamless during a particularly stressful period. They effectively managed contractors and billing, continue to support us during our first year of occupancy, and were instrumental in helping us qualify for nearly $1,000,000 in grant funding as part of the project. This was the third major construction project I have completed as a superintendent, and by far the best experience in terms of communication, schedule adherence, and budget management.""
Joe Erickson, Superintendent
Corning School District
Corning School District
MASTER PLANNING SUPPORT
Estes provides guidance for gathering stakeholder input to determine how to address the assessment findings and create a vision for the future. Your board and facilities committee receives project prioritization with cost options for initial feedback. The group reviews the assessment and discusses what the community will likely support for a plan and the impact of a bond referendum if needed.
A cohesive message is crafted with the group and presented to the community for feedback. This step is a valuable early gauge of community support.
MASTER PLANNING CASE STUDY
A cohesive message is crafted with the group and presented to the community for feedback. This step is a valuable early gauge of community support.
MASTER PLANNING CASE STUDY
WHY ESTES
"We knew we had some facility issues that were pretty far reaching. We really wanted somebody to come in and assist us in a process of identifying the greatest needs and setting priorities. Estes and the architect helped us bring together a group of community members to serve as our master planning team tasked with prioritizing our needs and recommending to the school board a course of action. Our solution was to build two new elementary schools, renovate a third elementary and close three existing buildings."
Ed Klamfoth, Superintendent (Retired)
Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District
Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District
PROJECT PRIORITIZATION AND PHASING
A master plan may guide your district for many years and can be divided into phases to create cost savings and take advantage of school breaks for greater efficiency and less disruption to daily instruction.
The phasing plan is a valuable communication tool to keep staff and parents informed about changes during construction.
The phasing plan is a valuable communication tool to keep staff and parents informed about changes during construction.
WHY ESTES
"With help from Estes, our district conducted community meetings and used that feedback to put a survey out to the community. I appreciated the partnership when we needed to begin winnowing down the project list. There were a lot of great ideas out there, but each one came with a price tag. Working with the architect and us, Estes got the proposed project down to the type of project we thought would be acceptable to the voters. Having a bond referendum in the middle of a pandemic with over 70% of the voters supporting it was a powerful statement. It was a win-win all around from my perspective."
Tom Parker, Superintendent (Retired)
Camanche Community School District
Camanche Community School District
REFERENDUM SUPPORT
Estes assists districts during public forums by listening and answering the community's project questions. The proposed projects, preliminary budget and timeline are presented to the community to educate voters on the need and the tax impact, if any.
Voters typically have similar concerns to a bond referendum, and Estes provides answers to help the district overcome obstacles and secure community support.
REFERENDUM CASE STUDIES
Voters typically have similar concerns to a bond referendum, and Estes provides answers to help the district overcome obstacles and secure community support.
REFERENDUM CASE STUDIES
WHY ESTES
"The survey we conducted gave us a lot of good feedback on what the community wanted with our buildings, not just what we as a board wanted. Next we formed a "yes" committee with non-board, community members that helped us share our plan and gain support for our referendum which helped a lot. I would recommend doing a community survey before moving forward with a referendum and get help from Estes."
Travis Baker, Board Member
Camanche Community School District
Camanche Community School District
