Schafer Park Elementary School

Replacing the outdated school, built in 1954, this new campus provides students and teachers with a sustainable, state-of-the-art learning environment. Schafer Park’s 26 classrooms, five kindergartens and three special education classrooms are 100% daylit, almost completely eliminating the need for lighting to be used during day hours. The entire building has operable windows, and the Multipurpose Room has retractable overhead doors that can be lifted to make the area an indoor-outdoor space, greatly enhance the structure’s indoor air quality.

Completed under budget, the District was able to use the excess money to purchase rooftop solar panels. Generating more than 51% of the building’s electricity, these solar panels greatly reduce energy costs and provide a valuable teaching opportunity for the students. An energy kiosk monitors the building’s electricity, natural gas and water use. Teachers can access this information and present it to students on classroom SmartBoards, providing a real-time teaching opportunity in sustainability.