Voters approved FZ Prop 4, a $125-million no-tax-levy increase bond issue, in April 2022. This gave the district permission to borrow money. It does not all have to be borrowed at the same time. Since 2022, the district has sold (borrowed) $125 million, in three separate transactions. The final sale was last March.
Last year, the Board of Education also approved the refinance of bonds sold from 2015-2016. Much like refinancing a home loan, this saves the district payments on interest, and increases funds available for capital improvements.
Specific to FZ Prop 4, the district has made $14 million in premiums and interest, which has been applied to capital improvement projects.
You can see a recent update to the Board, which provided an overview of the work completed to date with FZ Prop 4 funds. That update is outlined here, including allocated funds in the chart below. For a summary of work by school please visit go.FZSD.us/FZProp4
In his update to the Board of Education, Dr. Henry St. Pierre, Superintendent, shared that external factors have had a negative impact on the district’s ability to make progress on some projects. Economic conditions such as workforce shortages and inflationary pressures have increased prices beyond what forecasts could have accounted for. In addition, changes to building codes also impacted design and construction for some projects. Existing HVAC systems, which have exceeded their recommended lifespans, create continued issues impacting the classroom environment.
St. Pierre told the Board it will be necessary to carefully prioritize remaining projects according to the balance of bond funds remaining. The needs assessment that is underway will help guide this work.
“Yes, you start with a plan. You call it a plan. You strive to stick to it. But, sometimes, conditions change and you have to go a different direction,” St. Pierre says. “The change in conditions has meant reprioritizing our proposed projects.”
Fort Zumwalt is seeking input from the community to help gather information on how to best move forward with remaining Prop 4 funds. You will find a link to the survey at the bottom of this article when it opens in September.
The graphic below shows a breakdown of spending so far by category, 35 percent on Health; 18 percent on Safety, 36 percent on Growth, 10 percent on Opportunity and 1.5 percent on Miscellaneous expenses, including the needs assessment.
Work Completed through September, 2025
Health
New HVAC systems, replacing some that are 25 years old or more, have been install-ed at the following schools:
Dardenne Elementary
Forest Park Elementary
Hawthorn Elementary
JL Mudd Elementary
Lewis & Clark Elementary
Mount Hope Elementary
Mid Rivers Elementary
North High School
South Middle School
St. Peters Elementary
Twin Chimneys Elementary
The new systems are more efficient and quieter, improving the classroom climate in many ways. They also have eliminated repair costs, which were in excess of $250,000 over the prior three years. It is estimated the replacements save about $130,000 annually at current energy costs.
The Board has approved similar work next summer at North Middle and Pheasant Point, Rock Creek and Westhoff elementaries. In addition, boilers and/or rooftop units have been replaced at DuBray Middle, East High, South High and West High.
Safety
The district has constructed four storm shelters meeting the 2021 FEMA standards required by St. Charles County. These standards require unique water and ventilation systems, restrooms, emergency power as well as door requirements.
While code requires shelters be capable of holding the population of a newly constructed building addition, FZSD constructed shelters that will house the entire school population at the Mike Clemens Center for Adaptive Learning, North High, North Middle and at Pheasant Point Elementary.
The district also constructed safety vestibules at five schools that previously did not have one.
Additionally, safety film has been installed at the entrances of 11 buildings, reinforcing glass. New camera systems, fire alarm systems and building intercom systems have also been installed at several schools across the district.
Growth
The new 2-story addition at North Middle opened in January, 2025. Work continues on the final phase, adding cafeteria space and improving parking.
Work at North High was complete and students started this school year with additional multipurpose space and a central welcome area for the community. The North High boundary continues to be an area of residential home growth.
The Mike Clemens Center for Adaptive Learning addition has made it possible to serve students K - 12. It also is home to the Elevate Academy and Resource Center, a workforce development program.
The Transportation Center is rising near Iffrig and Salt River roads. It is scheduled for completion next spring, replacing the 51-year-old facility on Tom Ginnever and the trailer at the satellite lot.
Opportunity
In addition to preliminary design and exploratory work regarding a natatorium, the district has completed upgrades to all four high school auditoriums as well as to athletic fields, tennis courts and gymnasiums across the district. New instruments have been purchased for our middle and high school orchestras and bands. Funds are allocated for new instruments at elementary schools.