Facilities Update
by Michael Michaleson
October 21, 2008
For the past few months the Board of Trustees has been looking at addressing what, if any, facilities needs exist to ensure both the short and long term success for the educational programs for the students of Plains ISD. This process began with a comprehensive study that was performed by the architectural/engineering firm of Parkhill, Smith, & Cooper, Inc. in April/May. Their analysis was presented to the board at the June 30 regular meeting. The Board then took that information and offered it, as well as a tour of the district facilities, to a focus group of approximately thirty citizens to hear their thoughts about what, if anything, needed to be done.
At the Board meeting on October 20, 2008, and after lengthy discussion, action was taken by the Plains ISD Board of Trustees to move to the next step in the process. That step is master planning – an outline of what improvements are to be made and when. At this time it is anticipated that the building of an Elementary, Middle, and High School, common Cafeteria, the Agricultural Farm, the Resource Center, and Field House would involve new construction, while renovations to the current pool, gymnasiums, and auditorium seem to be the most fiscally responsible. Much of this decision comes from not only the formal assessment that was performed, but the feedback from the focus group of citizens of Plains.
Master planning gives the District a starting point and allows the selected firm, Parkhill, Smith, & Cooper, Inc., to begin formulating concepts of what functions our facilities need to perform and how to organize them according to what we believe our students need. To do this, they need to know our instructional program – what is taught and how it is taught. Building principals, the central office, teachers, students, site based committees, and community members in open forums will be called upon to offer thoughts and ideas concerning what programs are to be developed and how our facilities can foster that development in the coming weeks. Costs to implement these changes will not yet be known. How these projects are financed and what will happen to the tax rate are yet to be determined. This is a planning stage. It is fluid, and will have the ability to change. The District is not committing its resources into doing anything other than planning for the future of its facilities.
Both the Board and I look forward to hearing your input as we move forward. If you have any questions concerning Plains ISD, please do not hesitate to contact me at 806.456.7401.
Facilities Update
| Date | Subject | Posted by: |
|---|---|---|
| 10/22/2008 | Thank you Mr. Michaelson and School Board for keeping us informed, via this web site, about the project and where the school district is on the planning stage. Karen | Karen Redman Williams karenred4444@yahoo.com Plains, Texas Farm Service Agency |
