LM Summer 2025

At every board meeting, I include “Our Schools, Our Future” content with new pictures and project updates. Very rarely is there a meeting where I say we don’t have new pictures. We always try to share what happened this week with projects. We also provide monthly financial reports on sales tax revenue, bond payments, and our financial status. Our sales tax performs extremely well, generating $1-1.2 million monthly, with funds also benefiting neighboring Sangamon County communities. We work closely with our bond sales team — PMA and Stifel — to ensure our financial house is in order. At a recent board meeting, a board member noted we might have extra funds after the next bond payment. We can either pay down debt to reduce interest or do another small project to get ahead of our 10-year master plan. These are always considerations we discuss publicly. IASA: The power of pictures seems to really help tell the story. Can you talk about your documentation approach? JG: We established key principles from the beginning: educational suitability (right-sized spaces for programs, labs, athletics), ADA accessibility, and preserving Springfield’s historical character. We created an architect pool through RFQ processes and maintain ongoing projects on our website: upcoming, current, and completed. We’re always finishing what we’re working on, excited about what we’re starting, but already thinking toward the next project because bidding takes time. We pre-order supplies far in advance — steel, prefab gymnasium walls — so we’re always planning ahead. For example, Memorial Stadium was completed in August 2023 with new turf, track, entrance, concessions, locker rooms, and fencing. Everything is documented with pictures and details about who designed and built each project. You can click on any project and see a slideshow of progress photos. IASA: How much public support have you generated through this comprehensive documentation and showcasing? JG: It’s been tremendous. I can’t go anywhere without people commenting on how great Lanphier looks or how Springfield High transformed overnight. People are proud because they’re often alumni. We’ve had successful ribbon cuttings and open houses. At Lanphier High School, over 250 people came through in one day — current students, families, past educators, administrators, and officials. We trained student tour guides and had teachers volunteer for tours. People want to hear from students and staff about how these new spaces

changed their learning and working environments. We’ve also created unique engagement opportunities. At Owen Marsh Elementary, we invited families and students to sign a beam that will be inside the new building. We did this at Springfield High and Lanphier too. Kids can drive by years later and know there’s a beam inside with their name on it. We also schedule things ahead of time that are important for community engagement. People who came to today’s beam signing couldn’t wait to walk around and see the construction. They were moving beams with a big crane, and kids love that kind of thing — it really engages them in their learning. Those things take planning, but the community engagement is worth it. We think creatively about how to involve people in the process, not just show them the finished product. IASA: Who’s responsible for taking pictures and updating content? Rural superintendents might wonder about staffing for this level of documentation.

SPRINGFIELD SD #186

LANPHIER HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM

JG: I have an amazing director of communications, Rachel Dias, who handles social media. I’m a trained educator, not great with social media, so I’ve learned from her. For smaller districts, it’s doable with limited staff and projects. We’ve tapped into our partner firms — architects and construction manager, O’Shea Builders, who provide communication support and pictures. Principals take pictures too. Mike Grossen, our director of operations and maintenance, attends weekly construction meetings and alerts us to newsworthy developments. We create videos where I give updates like sports reporters covering athletic continued...page 15

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