High School Building Committee (HSBC) Meeting #20 Minutes

Thursday, July 22, 2004

Wayland High School

Language Building L1

Attendees

HSBC members: Lea Anderson, Josh Bekenstein, Dianne Bladon, Steve Breit, Brian Chase, Mary Lentz, Joe Lewin, Cindy Lombardo, Steve Tise

Absent: Jim Howard, Eric Sheffels

Ex Officio members: Gary Burton, Joy Buhler, Jay Chandler, Fred Knight, Allyson Mizoguchi, Charlie Ruopp

Turner team: Julie Bezoetdebie, Bob Ho

HMFH team: Steve Friedlaender, Doug Sacra

Call to order - Chairman Lea Anderson called the 20th meeting of the HSBC to order at 7:45 p.m.

Educational Program Prioritization – Charlie Ruopp introduced the discussion by saying that this exercise brings “passion back into this process”. Our educational responsibility is to a highly motivated group of students and a first class staff with a mission to provide a rigorous and stimulating academic environment. He asked for guidance from the HSBC in determining the number of priorities that should be presented. He then reviewed a detailed draft that grouped the program into three major priorities.

Priority 1: Safety, health and code compliance (Science labs, air quality, chemical storage, fire standards, ADA, plumbing and sewage treatment, roofs, Title 9, security)

Create core academic spaces (Math, Science, Social Studies, English, Language, Special Education) that are functional and adequate (State requirements)

Priority 2: Support the non-core academic programs (Music, Art, Drama, Guidance, Admin, Metco, Media, Technology, Health/wellness, Physical Education, Academic Center, Photography)

Maintain Common facilities that support academic program and school culture (Cafeteria/Commons, office and conference space for teachers, performance space, custodial/maintenance storage, reference centers)

Support the extracurricular activities at WHS (Athletics, office/work space for student organizations)

Priority 3: Maintain the campus style environment of Wayland High School

Charlie discussed possible changes to the educational program, but pointed out that each one has ramifications that must be understood.

Questions and comments followed:

- How would no new auditorium and no new gym impact the program? Charlie responded that there is currently no adequate forum for effective communication with the whole, or even half of the student body. If there were a large auditorium, then this communication would take place on a regular basis (1 time/month or more) instead of only when there is a crisis. A larger performance space would allow fewer performances of shows, lessening the burden on students during production week. If an auditorium is not included, then the defined use of the stage for regular drama classes and the little theater for music space would have to be readdressed. Regarding the gym, the situation is barely manageable now, but with the increasing enrollment there will be more kids cut from teams without additional practice space. There could be severe compromises to the indoor track program, for example, if the Field House were the only gym space. The community has also expressed a need for more gym space for Park and Rec. programs.

- Why can’t we use the Middle School auditorium for the high school program? Lea referred the HSBC to the recent memo from Jane Ezbicki on this issue. While the Middle School auditorium is a great improvement over the cafetorium for performances, it is not up to the standard for a strong high school theater and music program. Many compromises were made to lower cost on the MS project resulting in the lack of back stage space, stage space too small for large ensembles, no pit area for musical orchestras or choral/orchestra works, no set construction, set storage, costume storage, or prop storage space – all shortcomings the high school project is addressing. Many more reasons are stated in the memo. It was suggested that this issue should be addressed very clearly, including the benchmark data on other schools’ auditoriums for posting on the website.

- If we did away with the indoor track and pushed the bleachers to the outside, could three competition gyms fit? Could we phase the project to build a gym later?

- In order to reduce the scope of the project, we might find that getting rid of lower ranked items might not save enough money.

- Common area should have a higher priority. Charlie remarked that programmatically reducing common space would be a big change, not one that he is willing to make.

- The priority list is too detailed.

- Our job is to know what we want the high school to be at the end of the project, whether it takes four years or twenty years. Our responsibility is to the 10,000 students who will be passing through WHS in the next 50 years.

- The HSBC should clearly communicate the impact of reductions. If there is no auditorium, what does that mean? Be very specific. A white paper would be helpful explaining the compromises.

- Is our purpose to consider a downsized ed program that will be permanent or to guide a phased implementation plan? Is there a way to relate the priorities to an architectural plan?

- The HSBC does not need the prioritization much deeper than it is now. We are not ready to give up the whole program yet until we see what it costs. Making adjustments might result in a 10% change, but will not bring this project to $30M.

- Are we going to decrease the quality of the educational program? Look around at what other towns have.

Phasing - The group briefly continued its discussion on phasing the project. Questions and comments were:

- Would phasing be continuous or stop and go?

- Questions have to be asked of the inspectors regarding leaving some buildings as they are for the short term.

- Can we put a price on addressing the bulk of academic core needs?

- How much more expensive will a phased project be?

- Easiest phased components might not be highest priority.

- What are the funding implications of phasing?

- Financial analysis of phasing must be done.

Utility Usage – Doug Sacra presented an analysis of electricity, heating oil, natural gas, and water usage at WHS. Current utility and water costs are relatively low for the following reasons:

- Minimal irrigation use because fields are so wet, topsoil deep

- Students often wait to use showers at home

- Energy use is reduced by lower than current code amounts of fresh air supplied to many occupied spaces – large savings, but illegal

- Minimal air conditioning

- Energy use would be lower if replaced single glazed windows, insulated walls and roofs, replaced inefficient lighting, etc.

Doug modeled utility costs for 3 schemes. The most efficient case showed:

Scheme 1. $194,466 or $0.75 per square foot per year

Scheme 2. $145,327 or $0.60 per square foot per year

Scheme 3. $122,777 or $0.52 per square foot per year

SBAB – Steve Friedlaender reported that three bills have been sent to Governor Romney for his signature by the end of the month. The bills address paying off projects on waiting list, reforming public construction law, and establishing a new agency to oversee funding of school construction. There were no details available on grandfathering towns that proceed before July 2007 or on the rate of reimbursement. HSBC members expressed the need to understand the political and legal issues of the new legislation. HMFH will send legislation to Fred for posting to the website and report again next week as more information becomes available.

Schedule – The HSBC discussed the pros and cons of holding the next forum on Aug. 26. The consensus of the group was to hold the forum as planned, even though information on a selected option will not be developed significantly in the short time available. Information on the educational prioritization, SBA, and the option selection process can be presented. There will be more time for community input than there was at the July forum. It may be necessary to have another forum in late September.

The group briefly discussed adding time to the schedule to make up for the additional time leading to an option selection. The group will wait for Dick Amster to discuss this further.

Discussion of 3 options – Joe Lewin sparked discussion by asking what information HSBC members need to make a decision on selecting an option. The responses were:

- Understanding the SBA funding legislation

- Information on macro phasing (Scheme 2 and possibly Scheme 3)

- Answer to question on football field/track siting (Scheme 3)

- Answer to question on Field House visibility (Scheme 3)

- Assurance that site constraints can be accommodated

- Understanding of pool siting

Minutes

Upon a motion duly made (Mary Lentz) and seconded (Steve Tise) the Committee voted unanimously (9-0) to approve the minutes of HSBC meeting #19 on July 15, 2004.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.

Observers: Pat Abramson, Sherry Cohen, Mary Beth Finch, John Harper, Ian Hecker, Zhi-Dong (John) Jiang, Anette Lewis, Peg Obermiller, Kathy Raskin, Charlie Raskin, Linda Segal, Matt Shear, Kathy Siracusa, Molly Upton

Comments and questions from observers:

Comment: Electricity use numbers do not make sense for some months.

Question: How many students take photography? Answer: 68 and more would take it if they could.

Comment: Show data to community. It helps. Work with Fincom to show tax impact. Do not pit schools against rest of the town.

Question: Are wetlands a problem? Answer: Would do a row of test pits.

Comment: Pleased that Charena Rd. residents concerns have been registered with HSBC and architects. Also concerned with kids gathering near houses, people parking their cars on Charena Rd. and septic odors from treatment plant.

Comment: Given constraints of site, advise meeting with DEP, water, health, conservation depts. soon.

Comment: Larger auditorium and larger gym have environmental impact due to more cars.

Question: Would gasline be free? Where will irrigation well be located?

Question: How high does water get in 100 year flood? If this site had nothing on it where would buildings be constructed?

Question: How do schemes meet campus style? Comment: Kids like campus style.

The next regular meeting of the HSBC is scheduled for Thursday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Conference Room in the Town Building.