Roadmap to the Future
Bringing data together from every corner of the district to understand the big picture and what we are hoping to accomplish with this Facilities Master Plan.
Bringing data together from every corner of the district to understand the big picture and what we are hoping to accomplish with this Facilities Master Plan.
With the potential growth to the Natomas region of Sacramento and the commitment to updating it’s schools, the Natomas Unified School District and DLR Group embarked on updating their Facilities Master Plan. In 2017 the District updated their 2014 Facilities Master Plan continuing to have an eye on repairs, future growth, and grade realignments, transforming elementary schools into K-8’s.
This comprehensive facilities master plan update shall be used by the District to determine the needs and projects to be completed, both short and long-term, under possible future District general obligation bonds, state funding or developer-based fees, as well as providing a roadmap and vision of school sites 10-15 years into the future. The facilities master plan determined the overall costs of immediate repairs and upgrades based on the 2017 Facilities Condition Assessments, expanding and transforming school sites, and adding new school sites throughout the District, as well as outlining the needs and amounts for the future potential funding. Today the purpose of the 2024 FMP update is to revisit site needs, update current projects, and identify needs of a GROWING and DIVERSE community.
This facility master plan is designed to support the vision, core values and goals of the Natomas Unified School District.
NUSD will provide an engaging and safe learning community where all students will demonstrate responsibility, achieve academic and social-emotional growth, embrace diversity, and are prepared to make decisions about their college and career success.
The Natomas Unified School District is a district of CHOICE as one of the most ethnically diverse districts in the nation. They offer a variety of program options, grade configurations, and charter schools. As a newer district, most campuses and major components of campuses are one and twenty-five years of age. Natomas USD has now passed three general obligation bonds (Measure M in November 2002 for $45,880,000, Measure D in June 2006 for $145,500,000, and Measure J in November 2014 for $129,000,000.) that resulted in the construction of numerous campuses and facilities.
Located in northwestern Sacramento County, Natomas Unified School District encompasses the City and County of Sacramento in an area that is surrounded by levees and waterways. Founded on a rural site on Del Paso Boulevard in the early 1960’s, Natomas Unified School District is diverse in population, businesses, and physical makeup.
As the newest neighborhood in the City of Sacramento, Natomas USD experienced annual population growth rates of 10 percent during the mid-2000 prior to the economic recession. The District is home to the Sacramento International Airport, which continues to GROW and is starting a major expansion. The neighborhood has a diverse collection of business parks, office centers, warehousing facilities, and shops and restaurants. The Upper Westside Development planned for the west side of the district is set to have a HUGE IMPACT on the area with a potential of three new K-8 schools and a high school.
Bounded by the Sacramento River to the south and west, and the American River to the south, the District is bisected by Interstate 5 (north-south) and by Interstate 80 (east-west), which creates distinct areas within the Natomas community. The District’s rapid growth is, in part, due to its close proximity to the Interstates for commuters to downtown Sacramento (only five miles away) and to the San Francisco Bay Area (ninety miles west).
Natomas Unified School District Boundary
During the month of January 2024, a total of four community forums were held at various schools and one virtually to gather thoughts, information, and input from the greater Natomas Unified community with regards to “wants” and “needs” at each school site. These Forums for the Facility Master Plan were also done in conjunction with the District’s Forward 5 Strategic Plan and the Graduate Profile outreach. The successful implementation of a facilities master plan requires not only the guidance of strong leadership, but the trust and support from the District community.
The following is a summary of the Community Forum meeting dates that took place.
Forum #1: January 10, 2024 at Heron School
Forum #2: January 11, 2024 at Jefferson School
Forum #3: January 18, 2024 was a Virtual Meeting
Forum#4: January 18, 2024 at STAR Academy
It is particularly critical to allow for the “voices” of the community to be heard, if the District intends to seek approval of a future bond measure, which will be critical to the long range success and implementation of the FMP. This open and transparent communication begins with the forums and will be fostered through District communications, meetings and websites to allow people to continue to be heard.
Everyone was asked to give their feedback back through ThoughtExhange questions via online, allowing individuals to continue to give feedback after the forums. The feedback of the survey results are shown below.
2024 FMP Update - Acknowledgements
Natomas Unified School District, Core Planning Team
DLR Group
GoArchitect
View facility master plans from previous years.
Natomas Unified School District
Facilities Master Plan
