Cottonwood Task Force - November 24, 2008

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Cottonwood Task Force Minutes – November 24, 2008

 

Call to Order

 

 

The Cottonwood Task Force Committee of School District No. 2, Yellowstone County and High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County, Montana met at Laurel Middle School, 725 Washington Ave, Laurel, Montana, on Monday, November 24, 2008. David Trost called the meeting to order at 6:10 pm. Committee members present were: Andrea Chambers, Liane Frieders, Lee Gibb, Elizabeth Potter, Mike Stock, David Trost and Steven Wieder. Ex-Officio member present were: Kathy Kelker. Presenters present were Terral Sukut, JGA Architect and John Eisen, JGA Architect and Rick Leuthold, Engineering, Inc.

 

Visitors present were Administrators in training - Teri DeRudder and Angie Grey

 

David Trost called the meeting to order at 6:10 pm. Steven Wieder approved minutes from November 10th meeting. Elizabeth Potter seconded them. The minutes stand approved.

 

Communication from Public. None

 

John Eisen introduced Josh Middleton Supt. of Laurel Public Schools and Fritzie Walker, Associate Principal at Laurel Middle School.

 

Mr. Middleton told us that the school has grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 with a total of 580 students in attendance. The building capacity is 600 students. He explained that they use the grade leveling concept with 5th grade totally self contained and 6th with a limited amount of teacher switching. Each grade level has its own color coded wing with the elective teachers in the classrooms closest to the center along with the library.

 

Ms. Walker then took us on a tour of the building. When entering the main door which is on the west side of the building, the office is directly to your right with the commons area straight ahead. She told us that their counseling area has a very private entrance and waiting area. On the south side of the commons area there is a large stage that doubles as a band room. An oversized gym is adjacent to the north of the commons area and the kitchen for their school district is on the east side of the commons area with small garage type doors for students to go through a cafeteria line. In order to use this school and community based space they have placed locking double doors to the hallway heading toward their classrooms. She said the school was built with a research based discussion in terms of flexibility and team teaching. The way it is set up, the 5th graders help the 6th graders stay “younger”. These two grade levels still have their own recess area between their two wings. Most of the school has polished concrete floors with the corridors having tile on the walls, skylights, and security cameras. It was noted that there is little cost and upkeep for the floors by having concrete verses tile or carpet.

 

Ms. Walker showed us their inviting library that has a south facing wall of windows; some of which have Kalwall translucent panels to reduce the passive solar heat. They have 4 computer labs in the rooms just off the library. We then went into a classroom. Each classroom has a voice amplifier for the teacher to talk into with the speaker on the ceiling in the center of the room. They also have installed interactive projectors and projector boards in each room. The rooms are equipped with storage and counter computer areas along the outside wall. The individual wings have their own breakout areas, bathrooms and teacher team/break rooms. Ms. Walker did comment that she did not like the lounging areas at the ends of the wings. She said that area is a good place for students to hide.

 

 

We then came back to the commons area to view maps of our building site and surrounding proposed subdivisions furnished by Mr. Leuthold. He wanted us to be aware that the bus drop off area at the Laurel school is completely separate from the vehicle parking lot. Mr. Eisen noted that the cost for Laurel Middle School was $110 per square foot and Lockwood Middle School was $149.00 per square foot. Right now the area designated for the school is on the northwest corner of the property. The issues of concern are the ditch that runs through the area that would have to be moved and gaining a 30 foot wide access road from 54th St. West. The park area will be resource driven and at this time the vision is to complete this park with ball fields.

 

Mr. Eisen handed out the Cottonwood School Design Objectives and the revised Space Needs Program – draft 2 (comparative to the Orchard Plan) He said that at our next meeting we will need to set a goal putting what we’ve learned together for a new school design. He stressed that it is very important to have all of the members in attendance at this next meeting because we will be breaking into groups and actually begin designing the Cottonwood School.

 

30 Second Check: none

 

The next meeting will be at the St. Johns Lillis Center, 2429 Mission Way, beginning at 5:30 pm and ending at approximately 8:30 pm. Pizza will be served.

 

A motion was made by David Trost to adjourn the meeting. It was unanimously approved.

 

Adjournment

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15.

 

David Trost, Chair

Karen Frizzell, Recorder