Marta McAllister Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Proceeding of the School/Community Committee Meeting District No. 2, Yellowstone County High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County Billings, Montana July 11, 2005 The School/Community, Education, and Business Committee, had a joint meeting with the Board to hear the final report from the 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee. Public Comment: Adeline Schmidt and Teresa Stroebe Update from the 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee: John Eisen, Barbara Bryan, Matt Brosovich, Tim Cranston, Randy Hafer, Ludlow Howe, Mike Marnin, Donell Small, and Ed Workman, 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee were present to present the final report. Randy Hafer reported that the committee met 30 times over 13 months. It sponsored eight lunch forums and made 48 presentations to more than 1,400 people. The 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee found that overcrowding can be fixed by efficiently using the existing facilities. The committee’s finding is that high school enrollment will actually drop by about 300 students between now and 2011, even though Billings’ population will increase. The committee first determined the “functional capacity” at Senior, Skyview, West, Career Center, Crossroads, and Lincoln Center assuming Crossroads remains at its present site and that the adult education program moves out of Lincoln Center. The committee reported with these figures, the committee was able to report that the cost would be approximately $51 million dollars compared to the $90million previously asked for at the 2004 bond initiative. Some of the recommendations included: • Renovate, remodel, and additions at Senior, West, Skyview, Crossroads, and Lincoln Center. • Move the Freshman Academies currently at Career Center and Lincoln Center back to home high schools and add a Freshman Academy to Skyview. • Increase the number of courses offered at the Career Center. • Develop a comprehensive marketing program to inform parents and students of Career Center benefits at the Middle School level to increase the number of students at Career Center. • Create a Career Center satellite campus at Lincoln Center for subjects such as medicine, business and the arts. • Phase out busing of Lockwood students to Senior – Bus only to Skyview. • Recommended that the property where Crossroad is current located not be sold. • Recommended that the district sell the property at 48th Street West and Monad Road. • Leave School District 2 Administration at Lincoln Center. • Hire a construction project manager for renovation work. • Hire a professional facilities manager to oversee facilities planning and ongoing facilities management. Board Members asked for clarification on the following: • Why “functional capacity” was at 80 percent and if it was just used in Montana or if it is an industry standard? It was explained that functional capacity is an industry standard used across the country. Functional capacity is a reasonable vs. absolute number to use space or an average to accommodate rather than fill up completely. • Trustee Dale Getz wanted to know more information about why it suggested the district sell the high school property at 47th Street West and Monad Road? It was explained that a school building would be problematic for water quality and sewage. It would be more expensive to build a school on that inexpensive land rather than to buy land within the city boundaries. In addition, it doesn’t fit well with city growth. The committee encouraged the district to work with the city and county planning department. • Board members asked how enrollment projections were arrived at and if they included out lying elementary districts? Tim Cranston explained that he used straight line projection and they did include the out lying districts. • Trustee Kathy Kelker asked if the $4 million to renovate the Lincoln Center would all be spent on the unfinished fourth floor. The bulk of it would, but some of the cost would be used for classrooms on the first and third floors. The 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee’s report is available online at the district’s website, URL http://www.billings.k12.mt.us/news/20YrExecSumm.pdf. A shorter executive summary at Lincoln Center is available at Lincoln Center. The entire volumes of the report can be made available upon request. After hearing the report from the 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee the three committees went to their separate locations to continue their meeting. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Karen Moses Members Present: Karen Moses, Mary Jo Fox, Dawn Acton, Michael Burke, Paul DiLorenzo, Jim Hartung, Shauna Kerr, Jay Kirk, and Jan McCandless. Tom Willis and Carol Wicker were excused. Communication from the Public: None Old Business/Announcements/Handouts: Karen Moses announced that there would be a Special Board Meeting on July 25, 2005 to study the 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee’s final report. There was no agenda item, but there was much discussion regarding the report. The consensus of the members present was that the School/Community Committee did receive the 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee’s final report and any comments or concerns can be e-mailed to Board members. Minutes of the School/Community Committee Meeting: The minutes from the June 13, 2005 meeting were not approved as no quorum existed. The next scheduled meeting is August 8, 2005. The Committee members will meet in the Board Room located in the Lincoln Center, at 415 N 30th at 6:00 PM. _________________________ ___________________________________ Karen Moses, Chairperson Brenda Cross, Recorder Proceedings of the Board of Trustees District No. 2 Yellowstone County High School District #2 Yellowstone County Billings, MT July 11, 2005 This special meeting of the board jointly with the School/Community Committee, Business Committee, Education Committee and 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee was called to order by Chairman, Kathy Kelker on July 11, 2005 at 5:30 in the Board Room at Lincoln Center Members Present: Kathy Kelker, Sandra Mossman, Joel Guthals, Malcolm Goodrich, Dale Getz, Conrad Stroebe, Dawn Achten, Karen Moses, Mary Jo Fox The purpose of this meeting was to hear the final report and recommendations of the Twenty Year Facilities Planning Committee. Members present from this committee were Randy Hafer, John Eisen, Tim Cranston, Matt Brosovich, Mike Marnin, Donell Small, Barbara Bryan and Ed Workman. Guests Numerous guests were in attendance, that list is attached to these minutes. Public Comment Adeline Schmidt addressed the board regarding future use of the Lincoln Center, summarizing that she would like to see it remain the same as it is now. Theresa Stroebe addressed the board and planning committee stating that she felt the report is best for facilities not kids. She also noted that currently the district has no policy requiring Lockwood students to attend Skyview High School. 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee Report Randy Hafer presented the report for the 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee explaining that the appointment of this committee arose out of the failed bond issue for a new high school. The charge was to come up with a facilities plan that the community might support. The Committee’s report is documented in three separate documents, the Executive Summary, Kids & Community: Recommendations for the Future of Billings Public High School Facilities Volume 1, and Volume 2 Appendices. A copy of these documents will be filed as an attachment to these minutes. The committee met 30 times over the past fourteen months, sponsored 8 lunch forums with featured speakers and made 48 presentations more than 1400 people. Research included building tours, review of previous cost estimates and planning studies, internet research, enrollment projections, review of public surveys and extensive discussions with SD2 personnel, city personnel and other experts. Included in the report are: • Introduction • Keys to the Planning Process • Independent Research • Public Communication • School Facility Planning Considerations • Criteria for Evaluating High School Scenarios • Key Committee Findings • Recommendations for High School Facility Use • Other Recommendations • Educational Advantages of Facility Recommendations • Estimated Capital Costs • Estimated Operating Costs Committee recommendations included: • Renovate to create a modern, comfortable learning environment; use principles of integrated design and lifecycle costing for renovation of building systems. • Keep freshmen academies but provide for them at their home schools, keeping them as autonomous units. • Explore and develop smaller learning environments. • Limit enrollment at each school to the functional capacity. • Allow Lockwood students to choose Senior or Skyview as their home school but gradually discontinue busing Lockwood students to Senior. • Enhance the Career Center and technical instruction, add limited elective core classes and encourage sophomore attendance. • Make Lincoln Center a satellite campus of the Career Center for fields related to medicine, business and the arts. Partner with the downtown business community. • Merge Adult Education into a communitywide adult education program administered by a coalition of local educational groups and locate in space outside of Lincoln Center. • Retain Crossroads as an alternative high school and continue efforts to make it a fully accredited high school • Sell property at Monad and 48th St. West • Other recommendations addressed staffing, educational enhancements, facility operations, and facilities planning. Following the report Chairman Kelker invited those present to address the committee with any questions regarding the report. Tim Cranston noted that there was an error on the enrollment projection chart and that correction will be sent to the members of the board. The enrollment forecast will be modified slightly on the chart reflecting enrollment from now to 2008, but will not affect the final outcome of the report. On behalf of the Board, Chairman Kelker thanked the committee members for their expertise and work on the report and recognized each with a certificate and gift of appreciation. With no further business on the agenda, the meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. ________________________ _______________________ Katharin Kelker, Chairman Donna Obie, Recorder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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