One option emerges from school building meeting

 RED OAK – A small group of community members, teachers and administrators supported one of four options that would result in one new school building and reduce the number of campuses from four to two. 

With about 50 people attending the community engagement session, four of the six tables supported the option that combines the middle and high schools, while adding a new facility for grades 3-5 at the current Inman primary campus. 

Under the proposal, Inman and the high school would both undergo significant renovations, while the new intermediate school for grades 3-5 would be built on the same site as Inman. Webster would be closed and the district’s preschool programs would be assimilated into Inman, along with grades K-2. Bancroft, Washington and the middle school would also be closed under this proposal. 

Total cost would be $44.2 million. While construction costs were the lowest of the four options, the facility’s educational adequacy score was the highest, as was the cost benefit ratio.

Regarding the cost, project architect Randy West reminded those attending this was a long-range plan that would address building needs for many years. 

“This is a 30-year vision,” West said. “As a result, there are some big numbers that will be discussed tonight,”

Advocates for this scenario cited the benefits of sharing resources between the middle and the high school and reducing the number of school campuses to just two, both of which are located nearby. 

Members at the other two tables both chose the option calling for the construction of a new and separate high school facility at an undetermined location. 

Preschool through second grade would continue to meet at a remodeled Inman Primary, while the current high school would house grades 3-8. 

With the lowest educational adequacy score and lowest cost benefit ratio, this option was also the most expensive at $51.3 million. 

Proponents of this option highlighted the benefits of a new high school and the impact that would have on the community and those visiting Red Oak. 

All four options, which had been selected at the previous community engagement session, included closing Bancroft, Washington, Webster and the middle school. 

A fifth option of simply upgrading and renovating current facilities was presented with a cost of $16.4 million. The educational adequacy score was listed at 60.1 for that option, with the other four ranging from 88-89.7. 

West said the educational adequacy score is an objective metric developed by his company to measure a school’s learning environment.

“This is way below what the standards should be at,” West said of the 60.1 score reflected by updated facilities. “All of your buildings should be at least be at 70. As such, the scenarios you selected for the top four will be significantly improving the educational facilities opportunities at Red Oak.”

The next community engagement session will be June 5 starting at 6:30 p.m. and will feature discussion on financing options.