How Wold helps school districts achieve major projects in manageable phases

Some major school facility improvements can’t happen all at once. For many districts, the needs are clear: updates to aging buildings, changing enrollment, expanding programming or tackling deferred maintenance that can no longer wait. What’s less clear is how to move forward without disruption, balancing the realities of academic calendars, funding cycles, community expectations and narrow construction windows.

As districts try to balance these competing pressures, phased planning has become a necessity. Wold’s education team partners with districts to navigate this complexity with clarity. Our approach centers around listening, anticipating change and treating phasing not as a compromise, but as a way to execute ambitious visions in sustainable, realistic steps.

What makes phased planning different

Traditional facilities planning often assumes stability: a predictable budget, a stable enrollment outlook or a straightforward construction timeline. For many districts, though, those conditions rarely exist.

1. Built for adaptability
   Priorities across school development plans are bound to shift. Enrollment can rise or fall unexpectedly, and legislative funding may become available or disappear depending on external factors. Phased planning accepts that change is inevitable and ensures districts can adjust course without sacrificing the ultimate vision.
   
   For example, when Community Consolidated School District 15 (CCSD 15) in Palatine, IL, experienced a sudden influx of new students, Wold pivoted the phased additions mid-project to meet immediate student needs while preserving the long-term strategy.
2. Aligns with tight construction windows
   Often, K-12 work must be worked on over the summer while most staff and students are on break. A single construction season is rarely enough to address multi-building or district-wide needs. Phasing the work over multiple years maximizes each available window while keeping schools safe and functional. This ensures learning continues uninterrupted, even as major improvements are underway.
3. Never one-size-fits-all
   The key to successful phasing is meeting districts where they are and evolving alongside each one’s unique needs and priorities. A district with strong referendum support might pursue multiple large projects in parallel, as the Osseo Area School District in Maple Grove, MN, demonstrated after the passage of a 2023 bond referendum. In contrast, others may opt for smaller, sequential stages that minimize operational strain.

The benefits of a well-executed phased plan

1. Continuity and stability
   When phased planning is done successfully, the project team and community are aligned and clear on the goals ahead. The main priority for most districts is simple: keep students learning safely.
   
   When Huerfano School District Re-1 in Walsenburg, CO, transformed its Walsenburg Junior Senior High School campus into a new home for students, Wold’s thoughtful, 17-month phased plan ensured the campus remained occupied and safe throughout the school year. By sequencing work carefully and building the replacement school adjacent to the original John Mall High School, the project allowed students and staff to remain on site throughout and take advantage of the major upgrades to performing arts and CTE programming as they occurred.
2. Community trust through transparency
   When districts successfully communicate what, when and why this work is happening, families and staff are more likely to stay engaged rather than become frustrated. A phased plan creates predictable, visible progress that helps the community see how their investment is being used.
   
   Franklin Special District in Franklin, TN, took this approach during improvements to its Central Office. By intentionally phasing construction to minimize disruption, the district balanced responsible stewardship with a long-term vision for healthier, more connected learning environments. Our team regularly held user-group meetings and incorporated community input at every stage, ensuring the final design reflected both operational needs and local priorities.
3. Alignment of resources
   Clear phasing means districts know exactly what staffing, funding and logistical support will be needed – and when. This makes it easier to budget accurately, align grants or bond dollars and communicate a realistic timeline.
   
   Large or multi-school districts, such as Glenbard District 87 in Glen Ellyn, IL, have used a phased approach to balance improvements with operational stability at high schools undergoing long-term renovations.

Is planned phasing right for your district?

Every district faces its own blend of constraints and opportunities. Asking the right questions early helps determine the scale, structure and sequencing that will work best. Wold’s key considerations for approaching phased projects include:

• Budget and funding allocation: Where is the funding coming from – bonds, grants, ESSER, operating funds? What restrictions or timelines are attached
• District capacity and operational bandwidth: Can the district realistically take on multiple projects at once? What is the district’s appetite for complexity
• Tolerance for disruption: Some facilities can accommodate major construction adjacent to learning spaces; others cannot. Wold works with leaders to determine the acceptable level of operational impact and plan phases accordingly.
• Political and community expectations: Community opinions often differ in what they consider fair, equitable or urgent. Some expect simultaneous improvements across campuses; others prefer a priority-based approach.

Designing the future, one phase at a time

While large-scale school improvements are inherently complex, they don’t have to be overwhelming. With the right strategy, districts can pursue ambitious goals without straining resources or disrupting learning. Wold’s phased planning approach centers on:

• Listening to the community
• Anticipating change
• Aligning resources
• Preserving flexibility
• Thoughtful sequencing

Phased planning can be a strategic advantage. It empowers districts to make steady, visible progress and boosts community confidence by showing that their investment is being met with intention.

If your district is exploring major improvements or wants clarity around the best way to sequence updates, Wold can help. Contact us to schedule a facilities review or phasing consultation to explore opportunities for future-ready, phased planning improvements.

Together, we can build a long-term plan that delivers progress, one manageable phase at a time.