Crowding and lack of space has been an ongoing issue for the district. In 2022, the board requested an independent facility audit that revealed three major areas of concern:

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Safety & Security

• The existing storm shelter lacks adequate space for all students and staff during severe weather. It is not accessible to everyone as the stairs are too narrow and steep to get someone in a wheelchair down to that level. It also don’t meet the definition of a hardened shell or have emergency backup lighting and emergency backup exhaust ventilation.

• The school’s front entrance is positioned away from the parking lot.

• The entrance is not monitored.​

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Capacity and Activities

• The district has seen a 19% increase in students over the past ten years, both for resident and opt-in student enrollment. Instructional space is at capacity throughout the school.

• Palmer has some of the largest class sizes ever in elementary grades, and we anticipate more growth as those classes move through the grade levels.

• Having a single gym creates difficulties for multiple practices, activities, event attendance, and athletic conferences.

 

Water Drainage & Maintenance

• Water runoff from the parking lot frequently causes water to get into the school.

• Gravel, mud, and dirt from parking lot gets tracked into the school daily creating additional maintenance and more wear and tear on flooring.​

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Classroom Expansion

Expanding capacity through the addition of four new classrooms in the current courtyard is a cost-effective use of our existing space.

 

The additional classrooms will alleviate overcrowding for our elementary school classrooms, providing a more conducive learning environment and accommodating our growing student population.

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New Front Entrance

The new front entrance is better positioned to the parking lot and will provide a monitored vestibule for an additional layer of safety.​​​

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Improved Parking

Implementing paved parking and improving water runoff systems at Palmer Public Schools offers significant benefits by mitigating flooding risks. We are being conservative with paving, to ensure that we have enough parking spaces for daily use. Overflow/event parking will be improved. This plan enhances accessibility and safety for both students and visitors. The improved water runoff effectively prevents water from infiltrating the school premises, safeguarding against potential damage and ensuring a secure and well-maintained environment.

This initiative contributes to the overall functionality of the school's infrastructure.

 

Second Gymnasium

Several events get set up in the gym throughout the year such as Veterans Day, Endowment play, graduation, blood drive and prom. These activities make the gym unavailable for other school activities and events. If the weather is bad and the elementary has indoor recess, there isn’t another location to take the PE classes (see video below). PE times overlap with junior high sports so the gym is unavailable.  

The proposed plan addresses the challenges posed by a single gym, allowing for simultaneous practices, increased attendance for events, and hosting athletic conferences. The new gym contributes to a more dynamic and inclusive school environment, fostering both academic and extracurricular engagement within the school and the broader community.