The Fairfield School Board will hold a study session Monday night focused on the future of Fairfield Middle School, as district leaders continue to weigh next steps after multiple bond proposals failed to gain voter approval.
The board has twice come up short on passing a bond to build a new middle school, missing the required 60 percent threshold by just a few percentage points in both 2024 and 2025. The most recent attempt in 2025 sought $39.5 million for new construction but received only 56 percent voter support. With rising maintenance costs for the existing building, school leaders are now looking closely at alternative funding options and scaled-back plans.
The study session will take place Monday, February 9th, at 6 p.m. at the ACT building. Discussion will center on the middle school facility, including input from design firms that worked on previous proposals for a new building.
One option under consideration is using SAVE funds from the district’s penny sales tax levy, which could provide up to $23 million for repairs or new construction without requiring a voter referendum. Since the sales tax levy for this fund is already approved, this route would bypass the need for another public vote.
Another possibility is asking voters to approve a smaller general obligation bond later this year, potentially reducing the tax impact by limiting the scope of the project. This could mean scaling back certain features—such as building one gymnasium instead of two—to make the proposal more financially palatable to taxpayers.
The district’s architectural and engineering firm will present various cost scenarios during the study session, ranging from adding a new wing to the existing structure and renovating portions of the current building to constructing an entirely new facility.
If the board pursues a project using SAVE bonding, approval must occur by April at the latest. District officials have indicated they expect action on the middle school sometime this year, regardless of which option moves forward.
Officials emphasized the importance of making intentional choices about where to invest resources, ensuring funds are directed toward solutions that genuinely address the educational needs of middle school students and teachers rather than temporary fixes to an aging facility.
The district does not expect to propose another bond in the $30-$40 million range, instead considering options that would involve bonding for roughly half that amount if pursuing a general obligation route.
The Monday study session represents a critical step as district leaders seek a fiscally responsible path forward that balances community support with the pressing need to address middle school facility concerns.
