Board approves schematic design for renovation project
The Red Oak School Board took action on a schematic design for their renovation project.
The board met with Alley Poyner Macchietto architect Daric O’Neal at its regular meeting Monday, Nov. 27. O’Neal said approval of the schematic design was the board’s first step.
“The schematic design is the first phase of our three phases of design before we send the project out to bid. The other phases are design development and construction document. The district must provide its authorization to proceed with each phase,” O’Neal said.
Plans are to put the project out to bid in March, and collect bids by the end of the month, with work to begin when the kids are dismissed this summer, or earlier.
O’Neal said he wasn’t sure the district would have the funding to include all their alternate plans, but they would know for sure on bid day, and the timing for the bidletting was good.
“You’re going to be in the same position as anybody who has built a project. You have a want list, and a wish list, and the reality of bid day. We’re trying to set you up for success on bid day, and designing additional alternates for you to consider,” O’Neal commented.
Jedd and Abigail Sherman were in attendance at the meeting. Abigail wanted to know the number of classrooms in the renovated building. O’Neal said he wasn’t sure of the total number at the meeting, but classes have been taken account in the floor plans.
“Most of the classrooms are set up to teach a variety of subjects, except for the science labs. Some classrooms will hold no more than 20 students, with flexible furnishings. Classroom sizes are not changing. Classrooms will also be added in the tech center building, in previously unbuilt space. While the general size of the classrooms isn’t the size we would program into building a new school, it’s what we have in the budget to make this a 7-12 facility and give us the number of classrooms that are needed,” O’Neal said.
Jedd questioned the classroom sizes, and said that looking at the plans, it appeared they could fit into the new gym. Sherman felt 20-seat classrooms were not enough.
‘There’s a difference in the productivity of teachers who can only have 120 kids in six sections, as opposed to larger class sizes. It changes the efficiency per student by hundreds of dollars. It also limits the district’s general fund. Many of the rooms are ridiculously small. The taxpayer is not getting efficiency; what the taxpayer is getting is limited productivity,” Sherman said.
O’Neal broke down the numbers, and said $16 million of the bond issue dollars were going into the existing classroom space. Jedd said he felt it was important that as the bond issue moved forward, there was a focus on efficiency.
“If I’m seeing classroom sizes that look like they can barely fit 20, I think we’re short-changing our educational system and doing a bond, and refurbishing a room that still can’t handle what we need, efficiency,” Jedd said.
Abigail said she felt that many of the elements of the plan would benefit the student learning environment.
“Natural lighting, carpeting, that kind of thing will make the school better and more comforting. There are just a handful of things like classroom sizes that could be a problem. I’ve been in classrooms where you trip over people’s bags trying to get out the door,” said Abigail.
Jedd shared his appreciation with the board for their feedback on the issue. The board unanimously approved the schematic design from Alley Poyner Macchietto.