Following community engagement and a review of the 2024 ballot results, the Aurora City School District has distilled its long-term facility needs into "The Essential Plan"—a fiscally responsible roadmap focused on early education, transportation, and building longevity.

Critical Facility Challenges Facing the District

During the community engagement portions, stakeholders were interested in finding ways to reduce costs while also streamlining it to address the most pressing issues. The updated plan responds to this as a less expensive and less expansive approach than the previous facility plan put on the ballot in 2024. The Essential Plan solves three primary challenges necessary to sustain high-quality educational experiences for Aurora students:

1. Elementary Education: Outdated Learning Spaces

• The Problem: A portion of Craddock Elementary is over 100 years old. While well-maintained, the building requires annual extensive and costly repairs merely to remain operational. Its 1940s-era classrooms are undersized and do not meet the spatial requirements for early elementary programs, impacting the learning environment for the district's youngest students.

2. Transportation: Aging Infrastructure

• The Problem: The current transportation facility uses aging infrastructure that can no longer adequately service the needs of Aurora’s bus fleet. The cramped structure lacks space for essential modern repair equipment, such as bus lifts, which are necessary for efficient and preventative maintenance. This compromises the district’s ability to ensure consistent bus safety and reliability. This adds time and complication to the regular maintenance schedule that is required to maintain a safe and consistent bus fleet. 

3. Building Preservation: Warm, Safe, and Dry Concerns

• The Problem: Key mechanical and structural systems across Miller, Leighton, Harmon, and AHS are nearing the end of their expected lifespans. These types of repairs exceed the regular annual maintenance that the systems already receive. Deferring necessary HVAC, accessibility, and exterior upgrades risks costly future failures that could disrupt daily operations and the educational experience. 

The Essential Plan: A Strategic Solution for Student Success

The Aurora City Schools Essential Plan is a strategic roadmap designed to ensure buildings remain safe, functional, and equipped to provide a high-quality education. By distilling the capital facilities plan to these key components, the district has significantly reduced the overall scope and cost compared to the previous plan.

1. New Grades 1-3 School (Craddock Site)

A new 1-3 school building will be constructed on the existing Craddock Elementary site and ultimately replace the existing, outdated structure. This school will provide the district’s young learners with a modern learning environment that features appropriately sized classrooms, access to technology, and flexible spaces for enhanced academic and arts programs. 

The school will be designed to accommodate grades 1-3 (with third grade moving from Leighton to allow for future growth at Leighton). This provides the best educational environment for the greatest number of students, while still allowing for growth. The Board of Education office will be relocated from Craddock to the Aurora Conference Center.

2. New Transportation Facility (Craddock Site)

A replacement transportation facility will be constructed on the former Craddock site, consolidating bus operations. This critical structure will include new bus maintenance bays, a wash bay, a bus lift, and support space for drivers and staff. Consolidating these spaces will streamline transportation logistics, enhancing the district’s ability to maintain the bus fleet reliably, safely, and consistently, maximizing each vehicle’s useful life.

3. Essential Infrastructure Improvements

This part of the plan focuses on preserving and extending each existing building’s useful life. Improvements include HVAC system replacements and ADA accessibility upgrades at all buildings, addressing warm, safe, and dry priorities. Additionally, the Essential Plan includes a triage list of necessary exterior upgrades, such as parking lots and Greenmen Way paving, as well as exterior door replacements included to streamline traffic and improve safety and energy efficiency.

Results from The Essential Plan

The district is seeking to create learning and working spaces to support student success, foster innovation, and reflect the values of our community. The Essential Plan was designed to deliver on the promise to the community to address the most critical infrastructure needs in a financially prudent way so our educators can focus on what they do best—preparing Aurora learners to be future-ready. 

The district will continue to study this plan and welcomes ongoing feedback from the community as the year progresses. Details on upcoming public informational meetings and timelines are forthcoming.