September 5th, 2006 Minutes
Present: Robert Aeschback , Marguerite Willis, John Taylor, Jennifer Williams, Chris Skelly, David Greenburg, Bill Yager, Ned Wolf, Gerri Johnson Absent: Donna Paley
Chair Robert Aeschback called the meeting of the Building Use Subcommittee (BUS) to order at 6:30pm. The meeting was held in the Central Office meeting room, at the Mohawk Middle School Wing.
Some “answers” were provided to questions to the Central Office including student counts, that the Walnut Hill program should considered a break-even program for the District, the District does gain revenue from school choice but there is disagreement about the actual net, and future capital costs should be borne by the Towns which share the schools in question (i.e. capital costs for an elementary school shared by 4 towns would be split 4 ways as done in the past for Mohawk MS/HS).
Questions and concerns were expressed concerning: the need for District Agreement changes if a K-4, K-8, etc model were adopted versus the current K-6 model; the “phasing” in of scenarios and that if that is selected the full implementation plan must be spelled out; the “true cost savings” of school closures as building operating and capital improvement costs alone do not support the previous estimates; reuse by the Towns and that none seem to be proactive in asking for space; need for independent verification of capital cost projections; and viability of reuse ideas education programs such as PreK, home schoolers, and other magnet school concepts.
Discussion on use of buildings by preschool programs and the cost and benefits of collocating with the elementary schools, and whether recommendation should be made to combine, relocate or consolidate those programs (such as previously done at Mohawk HS). No action taken.
The BUS continued SWOT analysis on option 3.0/3.1 With the completion of these last items, the initial consensus of those present was that no one option “jumps out” as the best option from a building use standpoint, and the complete list would be revisited at the next meeting.
Agreement that data sent from the Central Office to the chairs/vice-chairs should be forwarded to the full committee in between meetings if it dealt with information to be discussed at the meeting.
The next meeting is posted for 09/11/06 at the Middle School.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted, John E. Taylor
