United South Central Public Schools is continuing its steps in a community-centered process to address the growing space needs of its student population. As enrollment continues to rise and the current PreK building nears capacity, the district is embarking on a comprehensive facilities planning process aimed at preparing for a potential referendum in the fall of 2026.
At the heart of this effort is the district’s vision: To foster a forward-thinking learning environment where positive relationships, communication, and technology drive student success and academic achievement. USC remains committed to ensuring students have access to the spaces, support, and opportunities they need to thrive. This initiative is about preparing USC’s learning environment to better support student success – today and well into the future.
For more than a decade, USC’s current PreK-12 facility, built in 2014, has served as a proud symbol of community investment in education. In recent years, enrollment has steadily increased, growing by 5 to 10 students annually. With total enrollment now over 600 – space has become a critical issue. Classrooms are nearing capacity, scheduling has grown more complex, and parking limitations have become increasingly evident.
In alignment with USC’s Strategic Direction to optimize facilities and operations to enhance instruction, student learning, and activities, the district, in January 2025, created a community task force to collaborately explore potential solutions to space needs. The task force included representatives from all six USC communities, as well as students, staff, and district leadership. After several months of analysis, including building tours, space utilization studies, and the evaluation of six different concepts, the group presented its recommendation at the April 15, 2025, board meeting in Bricelyn. The next steps include a more detailed examination of district facilities.
To guide the next phase of planning, the USC School Board has selected InGensa, Inc. – a consulting firm with deep expertise in educational facility planning – to continue the work of the community task force and lead a comprehensive facility assessment process. This work will include evaluations of both infrastructure and educational adequacy, combining physical space audits with surveys of staff, students, and families to better understand how the current building supports (or limits) learning and teaching.
As this work progresses, USC is committed to transparent communication and community involvement every step of the way. Over the coming year, the district will host a series of community engagement meetings designed to share findings, gather feedback, and invite residents to help shape the future of USC schools. In addition, a scientific survey will be conducted this winter to gather input from all district stakeholders. This feedback will play a pivotal role in helping district leaders refine the plan.
Superintendent Topinka emphasized that this is a process of learning and listening. “No decisions have been made at this time,” the superintendent said. “Our goal is to walk through this process together with our families, staff, and communities so we can find the right path forward. We want our facilities to reflect the quality of education we’re proud to deliver every day.”
United South Central has always been proud of its strong partnerships with families and the broader community. Your input is critical during this planning phase. We encourage all community members to attend upcoming engagement sessions, participate in surveys, and share their perspectives as we plan together. Community members can also follow updates on the district’s website and social media pages to stay informed and involved. For questions or comments, please contact Superintendent Topinka at ttopinka@unitedsouthcentral.org or by phone at (507) 553-3134.