Challenge:

A public school district in Michigan faced increased competition with local charter schools that offered all-day kindergarten programs. The district had been considering all-day kindergarten for a few years.

The district surveyed parents and found that 60% preferred all-day kindergarten.The District responded. A facilities committee looked at the all-day kindergarten issue and recognized the need for a bond issuance to fund a traditional construction project. Parents urged the school district to institute all-day kindergarten for the next school year. Without sufficient time to put forth and pass a tax increase, the District needed another solution that would provide additional space for the students. The solution needed to be quick and cost effective.

Innovative Modular Solutions representatives met with District Administrators to discuss the cost of installation and operation associate with the use of modular buildings to meet their space needs.

Alternatives Reviewed:

1. Design, bid and build additions to existing buildings—not feasible due to time constraints.
2. Design, bid and build a kindergarten center to house all of the District’s kindergarten students - parents urged the district to educate their children at their home school sites whenever possible.
3. Install used modular classroom buildings - none that met district’s needs were available.
4. Install ‘custom’ designed modular buildings at 5 school sites - the preferred Innovative Modular Solution.

Solution:
In mid May, the district contracted with IMS for six 2,700 sq ft 2-classroom buildings at multiple elementary school sites. All fieldwork was completed in August , well in advance of the opening of school. Benefits of this solution are as follows:

• Impact on the filled-to capacity school buildings is minimized.
• Oversize classrooms provide an excellent educational environment for kindergarten students.
• Parents support and satisfaction are high.
• Modular buildings are cost effective and energy efficient.
• An additional building was added the following year due to the success of the program.