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 care and maintenance.

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 Elementary Education: Outdated Learning Spaces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 current spatial requirements for early elementary programs.

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 and limits the district’s ability to service the bus fleet efficiently and consistently. 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 increases the likelihood of system failures that could affect operations and cause disruptions to 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)

The plan includes the construction of a new school for grades 1–3 on the current Craddock Elementary site, replacing the existing building. The new facility will include classrooms sized to current educational standards, updated instructional spaces, and infrastructure designed to support a range of academic and arts programming.

Under this configuration, third grade would move from Leighton Elementary to the new building, allowing Leighton to better accommodate enrollment needs within its existing space.

2. New Transportation Facility (Craddock Site)

A new transportation facility is planned for the former Craddock site to replace the district’s existing bus operations space. The facility will consolidate transportation functions and include maintenance bays, a wash bay, a bus lift, and dedicated areas for drivers and staff. The updated layout is designed to support routine maintenance and daily transportation operations.

3. Essential Infrastructure Improvements

The plan also addresses priority infrastructure needs across existing buildings, focusing on extending the useful life of key systems. Improvements include HVAC replacements and ADA accessibility upgrades at all schools. Additional exterior work identified in the plan includes parking lot repairs, Greenmen Way paving, and exterior door replacements to support building access, circulation, and operational 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 important 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.