Present:C. Morrison, M. Morrison, W. Morrison, K. Powell. School Board Liaison P. McGrath arrived at 7:15 P.M.
T. Koenig arrived at 8:45 P.M.
Excused: S. Heinrich
W. Morrison called the meeting to order at 7:05 P.M.
C. Morrison informed the committee that the fly-over had been done. The photos were being developed. The next step involves locating boundaries as well as determining and flagging wetlands. P. McGrath arrived during this discussion.
W. Morrison reported that along with a team of Administrators and School Board members, he and C. Morrison had made a presentation to the Master Plan Review Committee. He indicated that Mr. O'Neil had given on overview of current conditions and short term school needs. One of the things mentioned was that the elementary schools need an electrical retro-fit due to increased use of technology. Jay Minkareh provided estimated student population figures which did not include kindergarten and called for maximum capacity usage of all school facilities. W. Morrison said he told the MPRC that schools use an 80% capacity rule for planning purposes due in part to special education needs, differing capacities for lab courses and differing enrollments in Level 1 and Level 4 classes. He further indicated that the district population seems to be divided as follows: 46% elementary, 24% middle school and 32% high school. His figures indicate that there will be a need of 50 additional elementary classrooms, including full day kindergarten, 27 middle school classrooms, and 21 high school classrooms at build-out and that there would seem to be a need for two additional elementary schools, rather than one. K. Powell asked when build-out is predicted. M .Morrison explained the variable of determining exactly when build-out would occur and that the PBC is looking at population trigger figures that would indicate the need for additional school space to be built instead of at specific years to propose building space. W. Morrison also brought up the ancillary needs of core facilities, auditoriums and other specialized areas. He further indicated that the MPRC endorsed the need for a new middle school and the reorganization of the elementary school grade alignment. He mentioned that J. O'Neil had indicated that land purchase is possible and suggested that a capital reserve fund for land purchase be set up. W. Morrison noted that he had talked about current curriculum being space driven rather than school space needs being curriculum driven and that the district has been in a catch-up mode rather than a planning mode for several years.
P. McGrath reported about a conversation with Mr. Levesque that the only easily viable option to meet the student needs in Fall, 2001 was an additional three teacher 8th grade cluster. The issue of portables for the school year 2002-2003 was raised.
P. McGrath talked about planning abilities for the future. K. Powell asked what the main focus of the PBC was and what the committee main thrust should be. She suggested the committee stay positive and avoid making threatening statements about what conditions will be like if a space proposal fails. C. Morrison suggested that stating potential consequences is a reality not a threat. The committee discussed people who voted against the middle school proposal strictly because they considered it too expensive. The committee also discussed pending kindergarten funding legislation. T. Koenig arrived during this discussion.
To summarize: the committee came to a concensus that they would prepare a report to be given to the School Board in early October - before budget preparations and after "first Monday figures" - to assess middle school space options both if a new school passes and if it fails.
The next meeting of the committee will be June 14, 2001 at 7 PM in the Mastricola Elementary School APR.
P. McGrath suggested that the PBC develop a budget for expenses it anticipates in order to accomplish its objectives. He stated that the PBC should formally present this budget to the School Board as an agenda item.
K. Powell asked what tasks the School Board has assigned the PBC.
T. Koenig asked that the parking issue not be forgotten. He would like that to be part of any report that the PBC gives to the School Board in October as it could impact budget planning for 2002-2003.
On a motion from C. Morrison, seconded by T. Koenig, the committee voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:20 P.M.
Last Updated: March 23, 2003 by Wayne Morrison