At its meeting Sept. 24, the AISD board of trustees voted unanimously to approve proposed modifications to its facility master plan framework (FMP) planning schedule.

The FMP, a framework that establishes schedules and guidelines for projects the district plans to undertake, will now be updated every two years instead of annually.

The district will choose annual academic and facilities recommendations (AAFRs) to be approved in December, and then from January to August the staff will plan and make necessary changes to each recommendation.

"With this revision, we're approving the completion of one AAFR cycle before beginning the next cycle the following January," Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said.

Carstarphen also noted that the schedule can be adjusted if needed to accommodate funding cycles or to give more time for preparations.

Previously, the process of considering AAFRs for the district began each year in January with research, planning and vetting. Preliminary AAFRs were presented in September, and the chosen AAFRs moved forward as administrative recommendations for the board to consider in December of that year.

The board cited challenges including reduced funding and the district's need to focus on AAFR planning and implementation cycles simultaneously as reasons for changing the planning process.