{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Solve for X","title":"Equity in Practice: David Sturtz on Rethinking K12 Facilities","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2383,"description":"In this episode of Solve for X, host Dr. Rick Fernandez welcomes David Sturtz, K12 Program Director at Woolpert. With a career spanning classroom teaching, educational services, and large-scale capital planning, David brings a rare perspective: he’s seen firsthand what students need one-on-one, and how district-level decisions can either expand or limit those opportunities.\nFrom tutoring kids in their living rooms to advising districts facing multimillion-dollar facility decisions, David’s journey reflects both passion and pragmatism. In this conversation, he shares the hard truths about declining enrollment, the hidden costs of spreading resources too thin, and why equity in practice—not just in theory—should drive every major district decision.\nWhether you’re an educator, policymaker, or community leader, this episode challenges assumptions and offers a blueprint for sustainable, student-centered planning.\nWhat You’ll Learn\n\nHow David’s unusual path from tutoring and missionary teaching led to K12 facilities planning\nThe demographic and economic forces driving school consolidation nationwide\nWhy predictable quality—not flashy programs—is the key to community trust\nHow districts can avoid common pitfalls when tackling consolidation and bond programs\nCase studies from Texas, North Dakota, and beyond that highlight innovative facility solutions\nThe difference between equity as a buzzword and equity as a measurable, actionable plan\nWhy community engagement must go beyond “fear management” to true co-creation\nHow to choose the right partner for strategic facility planning—and avoid costly missteps\nEpisode Timestamps\n\n02:16 Assess, Plan, Design, Build: Woolpert’s Full Lifecycle Approach\n03:30 From Tutoring Startup to Facilities Planning\n07:16 The National Challenge of Declining Enrollment\n11:49 The Biggest Mistakes Districts Make in Consolidation\n13:53 Predictable Quality Over Flashy Programs\n17:14 Equity in Practice: Lessons from Arlington ISD\n21:06 Why Shared...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/ICghszv8nAx-6isl02_dCXZ8qX2a8xiWRtrzRrHIAJo/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wOTQ5/MmZjNjk1ODU4ZWE4/YmFmMmZhMWJlZjEy/M2FmYy5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}