Wold Architects & Engineers presented a capacity analysis to the Albert Lea task force, saying the district’s building stock is older and that current enrollment levels produce more seats than students. "The average age of buildings in the district is 49 years," Sal, the lead educational planner, told attendees, and he walked members through construction dates, recent renovations and square-foot figures for each campus.

Sal emphasized the study uses headcount rather than ADM and that capacity depends on how space is programmed. "Capacity can change depending on how you use space," he said, describing interviews with building principals to determine how each room is used and how many hours per day spaces are occupied. To reflect scheduling and program differences, the consultants reported class-size planning ranges they used in the model: kindergarten and first grade 22–25 students; second grade 22–26; third grade 24–28; fourth–fifth 26–32; grades 6–8 26–36; and grades 9–12 30–36.

The consultants also showed enrollment projections prepared in July by the district’s financial advisers, which combine historical enrollment and county birth-rate data. Sal said the district’s elementary-seat range across buildings exceeds projected elementary enrollment in coming years and that larger buildings are typically more space-efficient per student under Department of Education guidance.

On building specifics, Sal listed construction and renovation dates and approximate square-footage for each building: Halverson (built 1956, ~61,000 sq ft), Hawthorne (1951, ~66,510 sq ft), Lakeview (1967, ~58,554 sq ft), Sibley (1957, ~61,500 sq ft), Southwest (1957, ~145,800 sq ft), Albert Lea High School (built 2000, ~270,000 sq ft), Hammer Field House (2019, ~20,000 sq ft) and Brookside (1965, ~120,000 sq ft). He warned capacity totals can vary depending on whether rooms are held for specialist programming or converted to homerooms.

Sal said the consultants will publish the maps and spreadsheets used in the meeting so the task force and the public can review precise counts. "We'll make all this available to you," he said. The task force will use those materials, plus follow-up community engagement, to develop recommendations for the board.