The gym buzzed with excitement as FMES students, staff, and district leaders gathered to celebrate the bond’s official start. The event featured remarks from Superintendent Dr. Karen Cheser, DSD Board Member Rick Petersen, and other key leaders.
"We went to our community and we said, 'Hey, we need some money so we can build a new school.' And you know what they said?" (What? yelled the kids together.) They said yes! (loud cheering)."
There was a special presentation from the FMES Student Council members and fifth-grade students who worked on ideas as part of a project-based learning lesson. They shared their vision for the future of their school after meeting with Dr. Cheser in early February.
"This school is going to be designed with you in mind, and we'll be doing lots of other projects at other schools as well – like new furniture, building repairs, and places for staff to live," said Dr. Cheser. "The reason we're doing this is that you all deserve it. Our community deserves it."
Several students spoke about their ideas for the new elementary school in Three Springs, which will replace FMES in 2028. Students offered creative and adventurous suggestions, including a rock climbing wall and a zipline. Younger students also had big dreams, proposing a petting zoo for unicorns and tigers. While the district applauded their enthusiasm, that particular idea was gently vetoed.
At the heart of the celebration were cheers from the students waving blue and gold pom poms as they learned about a new school. There was an unveiling of the Bond mustang branding, a new symbol reflecting the FME mascot racing toward major milestones ahead – from critical facility upgrades, staff housing and sustainability projects to the construction of the new school.
An inflatable mustang mascot made its grand entrance at the end of the event, drawing cheers from students. The mustang will now serve as the official mascot of the bond, appearing at public events and on social media posts to track progress and keep the community engaged during the work ahead.
“This bond is all about moving forward together, and what better way to symbolize that than with a strong, spirited mustang,” said Karla Sluis, DSD Public Information Officer. “This is just the beginning. We can’t wait to see these projects take shape for our students and educators.”
With funding secured and plans in motion, the district is now gearing up for the first phase of work, with more public events planned in the coming months to keep the community informed and involved.
From left: Rick Petersen, DSD Board of Education Member; Chris Coleman, DSD Chief Operations Officer; Shannon Morris, FMES Principal; Devon Merriman, Jacobs Bond Project Manager; Erika Brown, DSD Board of Education Vice President; and Dr. Karen Cheser, DSD Superintendent.
The priorities of the Investing in Our Schools Bond include all 11 schools in the district:
- Addressing aging facilities with electrical, mechanical, roofing, plumbing, and safety upgrades
- Building Three Springs Elementary to serve high-growth areas and replacing Florida Mesa Elementary
- Reducing leased facility costs by consolidating space
- Investing in sustainability efforts LED lighting, air filtration systems, and water conservation
- Replacing classroom equipment and furniture over 20 years old
- Exploring employee housing solutions to attract and retain top educators
The initial timeline of the building of Three Springs elementary school was unveiled at the event:
- Design Start: Spring 2025
- Design Finish: Spring 2026
- Construction Start: Summer 2026
- Construction Finish: Winter 2027/28
- Furniture, Commissioning, Training Finish: Spring 2028
- Move-In: Summer 2028
Morris told students they would have an incredible opportunity to move into a new school. "We've been here since 1957. A long time! Some of you I know have even had your parents go to school here when they were your age," she said. "Now we get to dream about having modern classrooms, awesome furniture, new technology, outdoor spaces that are super fun, and spaces we can be inspired by and be creative in. Over the next few years, let's celebrate those milestones together. It's a brand new era for Florida Mesa!"
Learn more about the 2024 Investing in Our Schools Bond.
