Background

The Community Advisory Committee was formed from representatives of the school administration, the school board, and various community groups invited to participate by the school board. Working from the board's charge of May 20, 1998 the committee held four meetings between June 25 and July 9 to review the voter survey results and background material from the defeated bond proposal. From these discussions the committee developed an initial list of directions and key issues relating to a space needs solution. The list was presented to the school board as a preliminary report on July 15.

Based on feedback from the board, the committee then focused its attention on the second part of the charge, namely recommendations for the scope of a bond proposal. The board met twice more, including a session on July 23 with Team Design (the project architect) and Baybutt Construction (the project construction manager).

Current Status

Part 1 - Sense of Community Report

"To provide the school board with a sense of community using the results of the survey, on suggested direction and identification of specific key issues for bond proposal(s) for 1999"

Suggested Direction (not ranked in order of importance)

1. The School Board should:
   
   • clarify public information and perceptions, issue "fact sheet" at onset of public presentation
     
   • host many small informational gatherings to generate good questions and facilitate information
     
   • provide leadership and work to improve credibility, cohesion, image, and unity
     
   • examine the new school option
     
2. The proposed space needs solution should:
   
   • be presented as a whole, all costs and benefits explained up front
     
   • meet accreditation requirements and NEASC standards
     
   • meet future enrollment requirements
     
   • provide infrastructure renovations
     
   • provide classroom and multi-use spaces, emphasize flexibility in design
     
   • meet the needs of students: PE, arts education, co-curricular programs, teachings spaces, performing areas
     
   The Community Advisory Committee should:
   
   • continue to function in an advisory role to the board
3. Key Issues (not ranked in order of importance)
   
   • cost
     
   • code compliance
     
   • ecological considerations
     
   • advantages/disadvantages of spreading the bond out over more than 15 years
     
   • utilitarian educational program
     
   • cost efficient building design
     
   • student achievement and learning environment
     
   • selection of architect and construction manager
     
   • the impact of operating budget increases on bond votes

Part 2 - Recommended Project Parameters

"To advise the school board about the 1999 bond proposal(s) concerning the facilities problem at the Oyster River High School. The recommendations of the Community Advisory Committee will be seriously considered by the Board but will be non-binding."

Classroom capacity:

• 850 +/-
  

• 1,000 +/-
  

• provide 4 teaching stations, not necessarily all within the gym
  
• minimize support facilities, eliminate redundancies
  
• support interscholastic athletic program
  
• seek outside support for funding (i.e. Booster Club)
  
• examine pre-engineered facility for cost savings
  
• provide bleacher seating for 600-800
  
• for presentation separate "gym" cost from the rest of the wing (i.e. mechanicals, classrooms)
  

• 450-500 seating capacity
  
• build generally within the footprint of the current cafeteria or cost efficient expansion
  
• minimize maintenance/operating cost with practical design and technologies
  
• seek outside donations to reduce tax impact (i.e. Friends of Performance)
  
• emphasize dual purpose — teaching and performing space — in design
  

• explore off-site field options
  

• address parking issues through relocation of tennis courts, head-in parking on Coe Drive, etc.

Final Report

The Community Advisory Committee is scheduled meet with the school board on July 30 to review the work to date. The committee will then compile a written final report which provides greater narrative detail to items on the bullet lists and minority opinions on those issues individual committee members are particularly concerned about.

Last update on 29-Mar-99 at 10:58 PM.

http://www.orol.org/schools/orhs/orgs/cac/report_980727.html

This page is edited by David K. Taylor. Please send questions or comments to editor@orol.org.