August 24, 2012 at 5:31 p.m.
District to hire architect to assist with classroom improvements
Changes would help tech ed students be more 'job-ready'
District to hire architect to assist with classroom improvements
According to board member Mike Roberts, the classrooms are being remodeled to help ensure students are more "job-ready" when they graduate.
"If you ask our business partners, specifically at Grow North ... they want our students to come out of our tech ed department ready to work in their plants and factories right away," Roberts said. "They are not happy with our tech ed department and they see the need for changes there. This is the first step in putting together a plan for that area and I think it's important to have an architect at the table with our staff as they form a plan for that area so that any ideas that come forward can be vetted by the architect to say whether it is cost-effective or not."
In July, the district sent out a request for proposals to area architectural firms asking for a design of the updates being considered.
But, according to a memo from the administration to the board, "the project designs and the costs were determined in different ways by the architects involved, so the proposals were too varied and inconsistent to make a recommendation."
As a result, the district wants to look into working with an architect to assist with the process of sending out a more specific request for proposals.
"The idea here was to contract with an architect that would be interviewed and selected by administration based on price, their capability to provide services, and their knowledge of our district," Roberts said.
All board members agreed they should do what it takes to get students more prepared to enter the work environment, but some didn't think now the right time for classroom upgrades.
"We've gone through a really bad financial year," said board president Ron Counter. "We anticipate going through an even worse financial year next year."
Roberts countered that the proposal is in line with the board's effort to be more proactive.
"Even in these tough economic times, we are always beat up for the fact that we don't look forward and I think we have to keep moving forward with our buildings and our facilities," Roberts said.
Board member David Holperin wondered if the business community would be willing to help with the costs associated with the plan since they are the ones calling for it.
Roberts said he envisioned that some might step up, however it's not likely any help will be offered until a definite plan is in place.
The architect is needed to create that plan, Roberts added.
Board member Mary Peterson concurred with Roberts noting that in difficult economic times students need to be as job-ready as they can be as they enter into the "professional world."
In the end, the board voted in favor of hiring an architect with Counter casting the only dissenting vote.
Administrators will begin searching for the right architect and will report back to the board soon.
Marcus Nesemann may be reached at [email protected].
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