• Freeman Elementary School

    Originally built in 1970 to educate 300 students in grades K-8, Freeman Elementary School now serves about 350 students in grades K-5. In 1989, additional classrooms (called “the pod”) were built onto the building and Freeman Middle School opened to serve students in grades 6-8. Elementary and middle school students travel across an open outdoor area between the two buildings to access library and cafeteria facilities. Elementary students attend music classes in a portable classroom adjacent to the main building.

    The proposed capital improvements bond would modernize and expand Freeman Elementary School to bring the school up to current code, house all students within the main building and update critical building operational systems.

    Click here to view concept

    Click here to view conceptual floorplan

    Project Details – Elementary School

    What is the current situation at Freeman Elementary School?
    • Outdated safety and emergency systems – no fire sprinklers
    • Insufficient electrical system with overloaded circuits
    • Outdated heating and ventilation systems
    • Inadequate air circulation with vehicle exhaust fumes pulled into classrooms through outdoor vents
    • Gymnasium used as cafeteria, PE classroom and performing arts space
    • Students receive specialized instruction and testing in hallways and supply closets
    • Multiple exterior doors into classrooms
    • No barrier between school playground and parking lot
    • Poor visibility for school office of the area outside school main entrance doors
    • Aging, leaky roof in continuous need of repair
    • Poor insulation, single pane windows and old, energy-inefficient doors
    How would the bond address these needs?
    • Bring building up to code – including fire sprinklers, modern smoke detectors, emergency lighting, electrical systems, emergency exits and handicap accessibility
    • New heating, ventilation, cooling system and roof
    • New insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors
    • Additional classrooms to provide adequate, quiet instructional space and to house music and pre-school programs inside main building
    • Eliminate exterior doors into classrooms and move school office to front of building to improve security
    • New multi-purpose room and kitchen facility located between elementary and middle school to serve all students in both schools as cafeteria, commons and performing arts space; improves security for students traveling between buildings and on playground and frees up elementary gym for PE classes throughout day
    • Retain and modernize elementary gym to include new roof and added seating capacity
    What is the project timeline?
    • If approved by 60% of Freeman School District voters, the elementary school project would proceed according to the following timeline:
    • March - May 2009: Educational Specifications – develop details of interior spaces including storage, classroom configuration, etc.
    • June – August 2009: Schematic Design – using educational specifications
    • September – December 2009: Design Development – using educational specifications
    • January 2010 – May 2010: Construction Documents
    • June – July 2010: Bidding & Contact Award
    • August 2010 – August 2011: Construction – Students will remain on campus housed in temporary classrooms
    • September 2011: Modernized Elementary School Opens