DeForest Area School District Services

Located in DeForest, WI, the DeForest Area School District (DASD) serves over 4,000 students from kindergarten to 12^th grade. Comprised of six schools currently in operation, including 3 elementary schools, the district was interested in finding a partner to help them better understand their facilities’ needs and help align with a “data-driven” approach for operations. In 2024, DASD selected McKinstry to assist with capital planning-related services, initiating the three-year process they sought help with.

McKinstry began their partnership with DASD by performing a Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) on all seven facilities. This service took both qualitative and quantitative information about the buildings, systems and use, creating a complete “roadmap” for district leadership of their current needs and possible future requirements. McKinstry utilized our Reveal™ platform, taking the building information and outlining conditions, costs, risks and requirements for each building, creating the ability for the district to steer their future responsibly and accurately.

Following the FCA, DASD entered Phase 2 of their services with McKinstry and began utilizing our Transition to Sustainable Operations (TSO®) program. This program is critical to the strategic facility planning offering as it ensures optimal building performance through best-in-class operational practices. With the aid of TSO, McKinstry was able to provide DASD team members with specific training to properly support their infrastructure and operations needs moving forward.

“McKinstry has helped us seamlessly integrate our financial planning by ensuring that each facility investment is aligned with broader budgetary goals and long-term financial forecasts,” said Roz Craney, Director of Safety and Operations at DASD. “The data provided enabled us to accurately project costs, assess risks and identify opportunities for cost savings, making it possible to achieve a balance between strategic objectives and fiscal responsibility.”

The partnership between McKinstry and DASD has been an example of the potential between two teams dedicated to the betterment of communities and a resilient future. By embracing knowledge and working together, DASD has seen critical improvements to their facilities and has a roadmap to create the educational environments that their students deserve.