Great Bend USD 428 officials are turning to the community for input on long-range facility needs.

The public is invited to fill out a brief online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/usd428communitylongrange.

Assistant Superintendent John Popp said the survey address has been emailed to all parents and guardians, and will be posted on the USD 428 Facebook page. It is open to all community members. The survey will be open until Monday, Jan. 23.
Information will be shared with the USD 428 Board of Education to be used for long-range planning.
“Essentially we would like community input as we look to the direction of the District in the future,” Popp said. “This is part of what the BOE was talking about when they said they would like to put together some plans prior to looking for a superintendent.”

The one-page survey asks the respondents for their suggestions for improving facilities and grounds. Questions include, “What do you feel are the most pressing building and grounds needs that the district should look at addressing?” and “What are the facilities needs that you see the district should work on in the next five years?”
Another question invites people to, “Dream a little,” and asks, “What do you feel are big projects that could drastically improve the facilities for USD 428?”

Last November, the USD 428 Board of Education saw early schematics on a proposal for a new Bus Barn/Maintenance Building and a remodeling project for the District Education Center. But board members said other major capital improvements also need to be done; the one mentioned at the time was adding a “safe room” at every elementary school in the district.
Discussion on the building/remodeling proposal was shelved when Superintendent Brad Reed signed a retirement/resignation agreement in December.