Christian Schools: What to do When You’ve Run Out of Space

By Ben Westra

The impact of the pandemic on students is well known, but one of the major changes resulting from it is still being realized. Many families opted to remove their children from public schools and turn toward private schools, many who opened their doors sooner than their public-school counterparts. Parental uneasiness with some of the educational cultural changes along with a growing School Choice movement in many states have created full classrooms in many private schools. Michael Foust at CrossWalk.com reports that 80% of Christian schools across the country reported increased enrollment since the pandemic. More than 40% of these schools have experienced substantial increases.

This influx of new students has been a positive development for private and parochial institutions, but it comes with the challenge of needing additional space for the increased enrollment.

At WDS Construction, we regularly work with religious-based schools to modernize and expand their facilities. Based on this background, here are some things to consider when your enrollment is outpacing your capacity:

Understand Your Purpose and Vision. Why do you exist (purpose)? Where are you going (vision)? You need to have this solid foundation before embarking on any building project, and it largely comes from the school board, superintendent, and vision committee. Answering the question, “Who are we called to be?” will lead you to your specific vision for the project.
Build the Team. Once you know that you need to move forward with a building project, it is critical to not just create a team, but to create the right team. This includes the building committee, contractor or construction manager, architect, and engineers. Part of this process requires you to understand your construction options.
Choose a Project Delivery Approach. The Design-Bid-Build approach entails hiring an architectural team, who designs the project and then bids it to construction firms that typically were not involved during the design process. The Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) approach partners the architecture/engineering team with the construction manager at the beginning of the process, with joint input and decision-making. The Design-Build model brings in an integrated design and construction team at the beginning of the project, with a single contract. All approaches have inherent pros and cons.
Identify Space Needs. Your next step should be to fully understand the building program. What are your current and future space needs? What is the condition of the existing building infrastructure and engineering systems? What are the enrollment trends? What is important to teachers and administrators? Addressing these questions will help create an end result that meets the needs of your staff while positioning the spaces for the future.
Optimize Existing Spaces. The prior stage will generate must-haves and nice-to-haves, but the project budget will probably not be able to accommodate everything requested. This is why it is critical to focus on existing spaces. Some can be reconfigured or repurposed. Multi-function spaces can be created to accommodate several uses. Modular or prefabricated solutions can allow existing spaces to be quickly and easily refreshed. Portable classrooms may make sense to get through an enrollment “bubble” – either a short-term increase or a longer-term increase that can be addressed while construction is happening elsewhere on the property. Also consider outdoor learning spaces, which can be highly beneficial for both students and teachers, although depending upon your geographic location, use of these spaces may be limited to early Fall and late Spring.
Consider Non-Construction Solutions. Although it may be odd for a construction firm to advise you to look at other options, the reality is that school budgets don’t always accommodate construction projects. Some options to consider include staggered schedules, year-round schooling, remote learning (hybrid that includes several days in the classroom, and several days at home with virtual instruction), and partnering with third parties to access their spaces. These approaches may be necessary to accommodate burgeoning enrollment and serve as a short-term solution as a building project comes together.
Involve Students. The ultimate clients for educational institutions are the students themselves, so why not involve them in the process? There may be opportunities for student tours during construction or even internships for older students interested in careers in the design and construction industry.
Promote the Project. Most building projects are only possible through the generosity of donors who believe in the mission of your institution and the vision of the project. Creating strong visuals early in the design stage can help with fundraising and should include renderings and floorplans. For a more sophisticated approach, 3D building models and virtual walkthroughs can help excite your project stakeholders – donors, administrators, teachers, and students. Print marketing materials, websites, and social media can all be used to both inform your audience and encourage participation.
Meet with Potential Donors. Hold meetings with your donors to address the project need and discuss funding. Ask for their opinions, answer their questions, and proactively address any concerns they may have.
Create a Safe Environment. Above everything else, the safety of the students, faculty, and administrators is paramount and needs to be addressed early in the design. This includes traffic patterns and parking as well as overall building and site security. Existing building projects will often happen concurrently while class is in session, so a construction safety plan is important and should address stakeholder safety throughout the project duration. Staging of materials, phasing of construction, and planning in advance for any utility shutdowns is a must to keep the school operational throughout the duration of the project.
Understand the Current State of Construction. The industry continues to be plagued with supply chain issues, elevated labor and material costs, unqualified subcontractors, and other issues that have the potential to negatively impact your project. This is not knowledge that most parochial schools have internally, which is why it is essential to build the right team to help you navigate these challenges.

Undertaking a building project may only be a once-in-a-career endeavor for you, which can make it a scary experience. But it doesn’t have to be that way. By partnering with a team that truly understands your needs and challenges, you can benefit from having the necessary subject matter expertise by your side every step of the way.

Perhaps WDS Construction can be that partner. Reach out to Mark Buteyn at mbuteyn@wdsconstruction.net to discuss your building project. Mark has been in your shoes, serving for 16 years as head of school at Wisconsin Central Christian School, overseeing multiple expansion projects, as well as 26 years teaching in a Christian classroom.

WDS is in the unique position to partner with you from your first thoughts of addressing learning occupancy issues to cutting the ribbon on a renovation or addition solution.