School News
- Last Updated on Thursday, 31 January 2013 22:50
By Paul Chasko
Dateline: January 14, 2013
The full Ringgold School Board was present at a January 14 committee meeting to hear presentations by two architect/engineering firms on a proposed new Ringgold Middle School. The board also discussed what Ringgold should be doing in the long term to enhance security in the district’s schools.
Dateline: January 14, 2013
The full Ringgold School Board was present at a January 14 committee meeting to hear presentations by two architect/engineering firms on a proposed new Ringgold Middle School. The board also discussed what Ringgold should be doing in the long term to enhance security in the district’s schools.
Also in attendance from the administration were the Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Polkabla, Assistant to the Supervisor Jeff Matty, several school principals, Head of Security Thomas Thompson, and Board Solicitor Tim Berrgren.
Three representatives from Hayes-Large presented a preliminary conceptual plan of a new middle school building located beyond the north end of the existing high school parking lot onto the recently acquired Thompson property. The design is a bilevel concept, with students housed in grade clusters. Grades 5 and 6 would be in two separate wings of the second level, while grades 7 and 8 would be in the lower level. The school would contain 126,000 square feet, or approximately 140 square feet per student, which is more than the PDE recommended allotment. The preliminary estimated cost for the Hayes-Large Middle School is $26.2 million.
The HHSDR concept showed a two-story building in the same location (north of the existing high school parking lot). Grades 5 and 6 would be on the first floor with grades 7 and 8 directly above. The classroom wings jut out from the rear of the main building at about a 20 degree angle from one another with an angular courtyard between the two wings. The front of the proposed building would house all the larger common areas, such as a 10,000 square foot gymnasium, kitchen, library, and cafeteria. The HHSDR concept estimate was given as a range between $28.2 and $29.9 million.
Board member Stein summed up the presentations stating, “The conceptual designs are not as critical at this point as is the process by which the detailed design would evolve.” Both firms suggested forming an advisory committee of a mix of teachers, contractors, students, a few board members, parents, and the general public to work with the firms during the design process. The selection of an architect /engineering firm is obviously an important step in a school building construction process. The detailed design will evolve relying on the PDE PlanCon process, board and committee reviews, and the core expertise of the architects and engineers to ensure the district is getting the best possible structure for the funds budgeted. Experience in school building design and construction under the PDE PlanCon reimbursement system is an absolute necessity. See below for a tabulation of the two concepts; these will likely change as the detailed plan develops.
Dr. Polkabla outlined a security upgrade package. Some items will be implemented now and others during the coming summer.
Equipment:
• Security camera replacements outside of the middle school
• Additional lighting behind the middle school building
• Panic buttons in all schools to alert security personnel to emergencies (in offices and one to be carried on the person of the principal)
• Security vestibules at RESN, RMS, and the high school.
• Higher quality security cameras in all schools requiring surveillance down long hallways
• Communication system improvements at RESN
• Monitoring equipment replacements at Ringgold High School.
Personnel:
• Chief of Ringgold Security with Police Officer Certification under a contract similar to that of the director of security. This person would work hand in hand with the director of security and be responsible for security at the middle school.
• Security personnel for the high school (2) and RESN (1) with certification to carry firearms, contracted in a manner similar to hall monitors.
Policies and Procedures:
• Monthly fire drills and lockdown drills twice each nine-week period
• Crises Management Book updates
• Local police access to Ringgold security camera output
• Building floor plan updates.
Dr. Polkabla requested that a motion be placed on the January 16 meeting agenda to advertise for the Chief of Ringgold Security and added security officers. Board members, school principals, and attendees were asked for comments. Most of the comments from attendees and the school principals complimented Thompson, administrators, and board members for the enhanced security measures put in place in the interim. Mr. Smith requested a cost estimate for the proposed security upgrades, and Dr. Polkabla replied that sacrifices will have to be made somewhere in the budget to protect the children. Smith agreed but reiterated that the board would need to know the cost so provisions could be made. Mr. Mauro commented, “All schools in the nation are going through the same planning, and we might want to delay any major decisions anticipating new state or federal mandates that might affect school security upgrades – we should use all available input.” Mrs. Ott suggested that we wait until a Chief of Security is hired so that his/her input would be available.
Three representatives from Hayes-Large presented a preliminary conceptual plan of a new middle school building located beyond the north end of the existing high school parking lot onto the recently acquired Thompson property. The design is a bilevel concept, with students housed in grade clusters. Grades 5 and 6 would be in two separate wings of the second level, while grades 7 and 8 would be in the lower level. The school would contain 126,000 square feet, or approximately 140 square feet per student, which is more than the PDE recommended allotment. The preliminary estimated cost for the Hayes-Large Middle School is $26.2 million.
The HHSDR concept showed a two-story building in the same location (north of the existing high school parking lot). Grades 5 and 6 would be on the first floor with grades 7 and 8 directly above. The classroom wings jut out from the rear of the main building at about a 20 degree angle from one another with an angular courtyard between the two wings. The front of the proposed building would house all the larger common areas, such as a 10,000 square foot gymnasium, kitchen, library, and cafeteria. The HHSDR concept estimate was given as a range between $28.2 and $29.9 million.
Board member Stein summed up the presentations stating, “The conceptual designs are not as critical at this point as is the process by which the detailed design would evolve.” Both firms suggested forming an advisory committee of a mix of teachers, contractors, students, a few board members, parents, and the general public to work with the firms during the design process. The selection of an architect /engineering firm is obviously an important step in a school building construction process. The detailed design will evolve relying on the PDE PlanCon process, board and committee reviews, and the core expertise of the architects and engineers to ensure the district is getting the best possible structure for the funds budgeted. Experience in school building design and construction under the PDE PlanCon reimbursement system is an absolute necessity. See below for a tabulation of the two concepts; these will likely change as the detailed plan develops.
|
|
Hayes-Large
|
HHSDR
|
|
Gymnasium
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Locker Rooms
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Classrooms
|
36
|
36
|
|
Grade Level Clusters
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Cafeteria with Stage
|
Yes
|
No Stage
|
|
Dedicated Art Room
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Special Ed Class Rooms
|
4
|
6
|
|
Band Room
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Chorus/Music Room
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Media Classrooms
|
4
|
0
|
|
Kitchen
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Science Classrooms
|
4
|
3
|
|
Athletics Entrance
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Performance Entrance
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Added Parking
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Large Group Instruction Area
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Library
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Computer Room
|
1
|
3
|
|
Administrative Area
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Staff Offices (Nurse, Guidance)
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Auditorium
|
No
|
No
|
Dr. Polkabla outlined a security upgrade package. Some items will be implemented now and others during the coming summer.
Equipment:
• Security camera replacements outside of the middle school
• Additional lighting behind the middle school building
• Panic buttons in all schools to alert security personnel to emergencies (in offices and one to be carried on the person of the principal)
• Security vestibules at RESN, RMS, and the high school.
• Higher quality security cameras in all schools requiring surveillance down long hallways
• Communication system improvements at RESN
• Monitoring equipment replacements at Ringgold High School.
Personnel:
• Chief of Ringgold Security with Police Officer Certification under a contract similar to that of the director of security. This person would work hand in hand with the director of security and be responsible for security at the middle school.
• Security personnel for the high school (2) and RESN (1) with certification to carry firearms, contracted in a manner similar to hall monitors.
Policies and Procedures:
• Monthly fire drills and lockdown drills twice each nine-week period
• Crises Management Book updates
• Local police access to Ringgold security camera output
• Building floor plan updates.
Dr. Polkabla requested that a motion be placed on the January 16 meeting agenda to advertise for the Chief of Ringgold Security and added security officers. Board members, school principals, and attendees were asked for comments. Most of the comments from attendees and the school principals complimented Thompson, administrators, and board members for the enhanced security measures put in place in the interim. Mr. Smith requested a cost estimate for the proposed security upgrades, and Dr. Polkabla replied that sacrifices will have to be made somewhere in the budget to protect the children. Smith agreed but reiterated that the board would need to know the cost so provisions could be made. Mr. Mauro commented, “All schools in the nation are going through the same planning, and we might want to delay any major decisions anticipating new state or federal mandates that might affect school security upgrades – we should use all available input.” Mrs. Ott suggested that we wait until a Chief of Security is hired so that his/her input would be available.
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