001I guess that's correct. Good evening. This meeting of the Manine Township School Board is now called to order. Welcome to everyone here in person and those joining us online. In addition to the live stream, both audio and video are being recorded. Nurture and challenge for success is our district's mission. It serves a as a reminder of our intent to enable every Manheim Township student to learn, grow, and thrive. Now, please join me for the pledge of >> allegiance. I also want to quickly apologize for starting a couple of minutes late tonight. Try to not ever have that happen. So, appreciate everyone's patience. Uh, and I have a few announcements before we begin uh into our exciting presentations for the evening. First of all, members of our community are encouraged to participate in board meetings in
002person or to view them online in support of both transparency and community engagement. Recordings of meetings can now also be watched afterwards on the district's YouTube channel. Uh and also before we begin tonight, uh I'd like to observe a few other important observances and celebrations occurring this month. First, February is Black History Month. This is a time to honor and reflect on the achievements, contributions, and experiences of black individuals who have shaped our nation and our community. This is not a footnote in America's story. It is a blueprint. We must also name what many are feeling right now in this political moment where oppression and suppression are increasingly visible. The federal government is taking steps to erase black truth from museums and public spaces across the country. Defending and uplifting Black History Month is as
003important as ever. And throughout this month, I'm happy to say that our schools will be highlighting opportunities for learning, reflection, and meaningful conversation, and we encourage our community to join us in celebrating and learning together. Also, this is National School Counselors Week. I'm not sure how many else of you have noticed. Uh I think Mrs. Davidson's been putting out a number of posts highlighting our school counselors on our social media page and I think it's been spectacular. We are celebrating our school counselors with the theme of school counselors amplifying students success. We are incredibly grateful for our school counselors across the district who support students academically, socially, and emotionally each and every day. Their dedication, compassion, and commitment play a vital role in helping students thrive, and we thank them for the impact that they
004make in our schools. And also I just want to recognize that yesterday was National Signing Day. I know at least Dr. Mard was there, Dr. Packy was there. Uh we are proud to celebrate our 24 student athletes who officially committed to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. This is a tremendous accomplishment that reflects years of hard work, perseverance, and support from families, coaches, and educators. Congratulations to all our student athletes on this exciting milestone. And then finally, the board of school directors met in executive session immediately before this meeting to discuss confidential personnel matters, including the terms and conditions of employment of current and prospective employees. And also, the board will meet in executive session this evening immediately following this meeting solely for the receipt of information from our attorneys. And
005now we are done with our announcements. And I'm happy to welcome Mr. Linky, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Harkler. You're not the Harkler Road. >> Road. >> Harkler Road. You've been talking to us for months. I finally feel like I got it. Harkler Road. I apologize. I'll get there with you. Uh but welcome uh from our our friends at RLPS architects to discuss recommended options for Nichar Elementary School. Welcome. >> Hello everybody and good evening. Thank you for having us back here again tonight. And as you said, Chris Linky, Andy Blton, and Justin Harkler Road. So tonight what we are going to review with you is we're going to review the options. We're going to talk about design schedule for those options. We're going to go through an evaluation matrix and total project cost estimates for those
006options and then uh end with a recommendation and then next steps. Since we last met with you, we heard your comments the last time we met with you. We had the town hall meeting on January 14th. Got a lot of feedback at the town hall. It was well attended and got a lot of good comments from there. Um, and then we've had a steering committee since then also. So during that time, we have gone back and revised two of the options. So you're going to see updates to two of the options tonight from that feedback. um between this meeting and the meeting two weeks from now that will then conclude the the phase one portion of the nitrower the feasibility study the next step will be moving into phase two which would be the actual
007design of the building so we'll talk about that a little bit more at the end of this um so for the options um first option that we haven't presented as a plan because it is just taking the existing building and uh in the existing footprint updating new systems and about 10% of the existing building would be renovated. So when we get to the end to the evaluation we'll have the evaluation of that and we'll have a total cost of that. Uh in addition to that we have additions and renovations. We have the option A and the revised option B and then we have an updated uh new building option that you're going to see tonight. So, just quickly running through the existing flight site plan. I know we've been through this before, but to the
008northeast, the northwest is the commercial area between uh the nitrower property and Oregon Pike. Uh directly to the north is the church. To the northeast is the Worthington development. Um east and southeast is Langster Bible College. And then you have the adjacent neighborhood to the souths southwest. Looking at the overall site plan, this is your existing site plan. So the green space to the right to the east are your uh playground area and your your fields. With the building itself, uh the three wings to the right is the majority of your classrooms. Um the three big boxes to the left are your um gymnasium, auditorium, and cafeteria. And in between is a mixture of classroom spaces and auditorium uh I mean support spaces. Um you have your bus drop off out front to the south
009and that's where your main entry is and you have a car drop off to the left of the existing building. So just orienting everybody quickly to the building existing building plan before we go into the options and have you all seen before the existing building plan option. So, previously we showed three options um at the January 8th facility committee meeting and at the town hall uh the addition and renovation option A. We had the addition and renovation option B and the new option. So, we are going to run through those updates with you tonight. Um so, option A is the exact same as you had saw seen the last time. high level though just to review it with you. Um with option A we are separating the car drop off and the bus drop off.
010The bus drop off is going to be on the left. The car drop off is going to be on the lower right. Um the hold on here. What that red line indicates on that plan is where new addition is versus the existing building. So, uh, the red line that goes dash red line that goes straight up and [clears throat] down on the page. To the right is new and to the left is existing classrooms. And then we have two additions out beyond that. The intent of option A was to get the large box spaces that needed to be closer to the playground and the ball fields over on that side of the building. So, getting into this a little bit more in depth. Um, we'll go to the floor plan in a second, but on
011this this option is the only one-story option that we're conceiving tonight. Um, we have an option B, which is a partial two-story building. And then the new option is a two-story building. Um, this option maintains the auditorium. Although we have moved the cafeteria and gymnasium to the right side, we have kept the auditorium in its current place in this option. So, looking at the overall floor plan, what you're going to see with the yellowish orange dotted line on the right and the red triangle below that, that is the main entry coming into the building. And this is your your public area of your building. And we tried to move the gymnasium and the cafeteria, the often shared spaces with the public on that side, and move those spaces, as we said, adjacent to the playgrounds
012and the playfields that are outside there. Directly inside the door, we have the administration. We have the counseling just around the corner and connected. And we have the nurse, which will be close to both the gymnasium and the playfields and the playground. Um, we also put the music um room in this quarter. It's kind of like the loud quarter. It is also separated from all of the classroom wings by doors that will be closed and locked u during parts of the day. The music is also close to the gymnasium because we have a gym on that gymnasium and the sharing of that stage u with the gymnasium and the music classroom. The what you're going to see to the left of that area is you're going to see five pods of classrooms. You're going to
013have a kindergarten and prek and an envision in one area. You know, first, second, third, and fourth. So the blue line that you see on the left side that goes north south on the page is kind of your educational hallway. We're trying to activate the educational hallway. We have the learning commons. We have steam. We have art. And then we put a number of the learning support classes that are in each of the individual pods put adjacent to that corridor so they could be shared by all the classrooms easily instead of walking deep into those classroom pods. to the left of the learning commons and steam would be in a closed outdoor courtyard. So you could take steam classes outside, you take learning commons outside, uh which uh the administration and some of the board
014members saw on a tour of other buildings that we took. And as we said, to the far left is the auditorium with a separate entrance off of that existing parking lot. Any questions on this option before we move on to option B? We'll take questions at any time, but if there's anything else um before we move on to a couple options, just looking at this from the aerial view. Um the orange is the new construction, the white is the renovated areas. Um so you can just see that high level. The other part we wanted to talk about these options is a schedule to get through design and construction. So with this option, so what you're going to see on this schedule with the blue, the orange, and the red, that gets you through design, documentation,
015and permitting. So if the board would approve this in February and move ahead in March or April, we thinking it's in 18 to 21 months to get through design documentation and permit approval. The important part of this is because of your driveway that connects to Oregon Pike and because of the work that's being done here increasing that capacity, you're going to have to improve that intersection. So that involves pendant. So that is going to be the time driver for this design and permitting schedule. Um otherwise you could probably get through this much you know 6 months faster than that. The green portion at the bottom is the construction and when we talked about we're building the the new big boxes for the addition on this the gymnasium the cafeteria the mechanical areas to the right.
016Typically, what we would like to do is you build a new addition, move students in there, and then you renovate the existing building. We're not building classrooms, we're building big boxes. So, we can't do that. So, what we contemplated with were two different things. One, can we move the students out of the school uh to another place while this is being done? Or if that doesn't work, um I have temporary trailers to move students in. Both those options did not work. there's additional cost to the construction number that you're going to see at the end to make that work on on this option. So, this is not a highly desirable option because the complication to getting through construction on this part of the feasibility study you look at options whether you like them or not
017and then you dismiss them. We are dismissing this option because of this complexity to it. Uh Mr. Blatant will now discuss option additions and renovations option B and this one has been updated since the last time you saw that. >> Thank you. All right. So, as Chris said, we are going to talk discuss option B and hopefully the first thing that you see is that this looks nothing or or not very much like what the option B you saw last time. There are some commonalities, right? But um you know last time uh we looked at option B uh this is the next iteration. The last scheme had a classroom wing that was two stories had four grades in it um but kind of snaked around the north side of the building to avoid those classroom
018wings as Chris just discussed so you could have students being educated in your existing facility and have that those new classrooms built. Um but but we agreed uh you know as we approached the town hall even that that that that wing kind of got things you know kind of spread out throughout the site for twotory scheme right we went back to the drawing board as it were and where else could we place a two-story classer wing on the site and and so um we looked at you know you kind of think in in in think about the site in the sense that your existing roadway going in as that's your driveway from Oregon Pike to the building so it's part of your property and and as you approach the building, you do have that existing
019uh bus drop off out in front uh of the building where your main entrance is. And the more we looked at it, boy, that we wanted to test that out to see what that would look like to place a new two-story classroom waiting there. And that's what you see here in the new option B scheme. So, by and large, this new wing gets built first and avoids your existing academic spaces as well as most of your existing core spaces. Yes, you would need to do some temporary provisions such as a a a different entrance while this was being built, but any phase construction has those sorts of accommodations to be made. Um, and so what you see hopefully see now in option B is a really nice compact plan. And where option A was giving
020you brand new core facilities, option B gives you those brand new academic facilities for your students uh for four grades uh first, second, third, and fourth. uh be uh before I go to the plan, we'll just we'll talk about the site here just a second more. So, when we build in that new addition and the existing pickup and drop off area allows us to provide you to with two separate uh areas on either side of the building, kind of maintaining the existing driveways and parking on the west side of the site and providing you within this scheme with a new um parent drop off and parking area on the east side of the site. It also allows us to maintain your existing sport fields. I think as you look at the priority matrix, we get
021to the end. That may be one full box that isn't quite checked with this scheme. Getting those cafeteria and gymnasium areas immediately adjacent to the athletic fields. However, this revised scheme with the relocation of that classroom wing does allow us to get those critical playground areas right adjacent to that cafeteria space and the gym spaces. Um, as well as your littlest learners there in the uh kindergarten wing, which we'll discuss in a moment. Yep. With this slide right here, hopefully you can see the red lines that outlines those new additions on the uh building footprint. So, we have uh that new two-story classroom wing. Of course, the lime green area there between that new classroom wing and one of your existing classroom wings that is renovated would be the new administration, the new front entrance
022to your building. And then we have an existing classroom wing which would allocate for those kindergarten, prek, and division spaces. That would be a like new wing. It would be fully renovated. The space is the appropriate size for those programs. And you think about your littlest learners being on a first floor adjacent to the entrance. is the administration and those shared core facilities. A really strong placement location there. Now there are some areas that are existing to remain which we'll look at. You'll be able to see that on the three-dimensional slide that we have at the end of this uh presentation. So this is an enlargement of that first floor plan. As Chris said, option A was the only one-story scheme with by virtue of this classroom wing. This is a twostory scheme. And so
023that new wing again provides those spaces for two grades per floor with two learning communities or neighborhoods at either end of the wing coming together in a common area in the middle. That's all located south of your common areas of the building. This scheme also maintains that existing auditorium, the existing gymnasium, brightsiz gymnasium and learning common spaces. It does provide you, as I had said a moment ago, the new administration and front entrances to the building, but that also works in some areas such as courtyards into the existing floor plan through some selective demolition as the project would move on. Uh, plan north there, we see those dark blue areas. That would be a reimagine and reconfigured kitchen and mechanical room and then new um dining, student dining area and that kind of triangular piece
024on the plan north side of the plan. again uh that has an adjacency to that courtyard to the south. Same with the learning commons. Same with your steam classroom with the other courtyard and art spaces. So you a lot of opportunities to activate those courtyards with program from those adjacent spaces uh in the plan. Uh and while it's not shown in the estimate we're looking at tonight, we do have some dash lines that should this particular option be forwarded, there are opportunities with the clear areas on the site to expand the auditorium. uh seating capacity should that be a desire of the district of yourselves. But um again, what you see here uh colored in on the plan is what is incorporated into the estimates you're seeing this evening. Uh this shows that new main
025entrance on the right hand side or the east side of the plan. Your existing athletic entrance is on the western side of the plan. And so in the gold you see those primary public routes throughout the building. And same as the option A but just in a different form on plan South that light blue line shows you kind of the academic core of the building and the circulation through that. Uh just taking a snapshot here of the second floor plan. Very similar stacks with that first floor for the other two grade levels in that new academic wing. uh each neighborhood of classrooms in the dark green being ringed around some common areas uh small group and large group instructional areas and collaborative spaces for your students to get outside of the classroom environment and interact
026throughout the the corridor and the plan itself. Uh last but not least then we'll look here at the massing on the site similar to option A. So in the orange shows those new additions that are occurring on the plan and in the light the white there the boxes show the existing portions of the building uh that do remain. So this again would be a phased construction project with those new twostory classroom wings being constructed first to facilitate the moves of students. Maybe before I move on to the schedule there are there any questions regarding the plan or the site plan? Yes, please. just a three threeletter acronym question. Uh IPC little little green square >> instructional planning center. We're we're good for putting acronyms on the on the plans without fully explaining them. So those
027would be faculty areas throughout the building so that your educators would not have to go to the office or to the library learning commons for instance to make copies or to collaborate as a team. Uh they have those instructional planning centers and typically a um adult toilet if you will associated with those throughout the plan. uh just to facilitate their day and their schedules that they have to work with. >> Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. Any other questions? And Mr. I think >> just a quick question there. If I read that correctly, it says that you could potentially add 125 seats to the left of the auditorium. Would that then be able to house the entire student population? >> I just want to verify with my team members here. Was that the intention
028just go? >> Okay. If that didn't happen, is there a place like a stage in a gym or somewhere else where the the all the students would be able to fit somewhere here? >> On this particular scheme, we're not showing a stage associated with the gym, but the gym uh could of course be utilized as you use it now uh for those schoolwide activities. It would just not have the permanent stage since you do are maintaining the auditorium in this stage in this particular scheme. But you will see that associated stage foreshadowing here in the due scheme. Mr. Blade, I might I Yeah, I was I was going to ask about the auditorium, too. I'll just I I I will admit to feeling some conflict just within myself of I'm hearing pretty significant community support
029for the auditorium while also trying to balance that with the fact that none of our other schools have the auditorium. Um, I think you'll try or dev. >> Okay, [laughter] >> we're all learning here together, guys. So, I I Well, I I' first Well, I obviously lost track of that. >> Okay. Well, then I guess maybe I have less questions about the auditorium than I thought I had, but I guess it was more like thinking about as we design renovations or new buildings. um like having clear eyes or like a really clear assessment of what that space serves, what we give up by prioritizing that space in other spaces. Understanding that and from what I've understood and I'm please help me make sure that I'm I am on a a sound uh basis here that
030these auditoriums aren't in new buildings, aren't new construction, aren't part of what most future-facing projects include. So, uh, spaces spaces as you have here, you you are correct. By and large, other, uh, elementary schools with similar grade alignments that we have the opportunity to design and we're collaborating with school districts on, uh, typically do not have spaces like this planned. Uh, there's there's been some things identified such as the the seating capacity of the current auditorium now, right, compared to your uh, student population. But um that's why I think this scheme contemplates keeping is because while you do have uh two other buildings with similar but maybe not quite the same quality or type of space that you have here, you also have some elementary buildings that have what we typically are seeing that multi-function
031or multi-use space with the gymnasium with an associated stage. Sometimes when that stage gets added to a gymnasium such as that in plan, there's also some interesting opportunities to maybe turn that stage into not a dedicated stage. It could become academic spaces, a large group instruction space that could be kind of multifunctional throughout the the school year. So that flexibility is something that we're always thinking about as we design the new spaces and when we have the opportunity to interact with an existing building like that, that's also the thought of of adding that additional functionality to a space like this auditorium. Well, I was really impressed with how you managed to pull in everything that parents were asking. Um, so we get to keep the auditorium and the gym. Um, which is a great gym.
032I had no idea we had a big gym like that. Um, it pulls in all the class space. It keeps the little kids on the first floor. Um, and Visions is in a better place. I keep thinking of that. Um, I don't know about all the courtyard space in the center if if something could be utilized to complete there, but but it seems to give us everything we need without losing anything to to having the keeping the gym and the auditorium. We're not giving anything up, right? Or are we giving up playground space or what are >> I don't think we're really giving up maybe playground space or site amenities necessarily. I think you what you what you just said I think identifies maybe what the steam scheme does best provide you with those new
033academic spaces by and also maintaining those quality spaces that are are good or have good bones within your existing building. >> Yes. Yeah. >> And just just a different take on how to do those additions and renovations. Um, you know, still there still are things that need to be addressed or or maybe some concessions that are made because you are working with an existing building. Um, that that a new scheme is able to provide a lot more simply or or maybe better quality than what an existing space would be. >> All right. I guess I need to ask the the follow-up question which is absolutely what are the downsides that you see to to building around the space we have rather than >> I think that maybe we can address maybe that might be addressed
034when we look through the priority matrix and and the the scoring there. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I I'll just wait. >> All right. Thank you so much. Uh last but not least with this particular scene if there are no other questions uh just wanted to again look at the threedimensional plan here with the new additions and then u >> Oh absolutely that's a great uh great point to make. Thanks Justin. that that's good with the with the massing shown here being equitable to the height of the existing gymnasium that that new addition is similar in height to the highest points on your existing building. So, um >> absolutely absolutely that's why we're all up here. There's there's there's good salient points to make as we're walking through the plan. So, >> so that's how it
035would potentially look on site at least from a conceptual level. Um and and should this this particular scheme move forward really the the schedule in the the blue the orange and the red virtually identical to what Chris had described with option A it's really in the green with the construction where there are some differences to highlight and that would be that you would build of course as I been saying that first classroom wing but once that's complete that's when you have a move a shift within your student body to those new spaces and then there are different phases of construction that completes that the the project for yourselves. And so where on option A you saw the necessity for some temporary classroom spaces, with option B, you're building those classroom spaces that then the students
036shift to as certain areas of the building are demolished or renovated to give you a complete holistic project. So that's probably the the the uh the biggest difference between the two is from a timeline standpoint. Yes, sir. I just want to clarify that the last phase of the project is not going to take over a century. >> Well, it goes from 2029 to 3030 and 3031. So, I just wanted to make sure just so to clarify for our viewing public that it's not going to take a century. >> We always say we are building for the future, sir. >> We are really good at future planning. Yes. >> Thank you so much for pointing that out. You are obviously 120% correct there. uh this would all happen within this century. So thank you. >> Absolutely.
037Well, thank you. And with that, I will hand it over to Justin for the final phase or final option. It is all the more reason to be future ready though if it's [laughter] by the time it's online. So just to really cover all basis and and um further develop not only the feedback we heard from you all last time and also through the town hall, but if we are to study a new construction option to really, you know, check off the most priorities off of our our list. Um really we're starting with building completely outside the footprint. So, we think primarily about student disruption and limiting that during the um during the period that will be constructed, but also giving maximum flexibility with laying out the site, getting as much of those adjacencies that we've
038talked about um as priorities. Uh so, what we what we see here um on the screen is really an evolution of what we last talked through. Uh if you recall back about a month ago, we looked at an option that was maybe a little bit more geometric, a little bit more angular, spread out um but prioritizing really um thinking about corridor spaces and how students would flow from rooms to collaborative spaces to corridors and kind of blend all that together. Uh we did receive some feedback not only here but in the town hall of what are the angles all about? Um were they um did they have a certain meaning or a certain necessity? Uh so we did go back and study how do we keep the essence of getting those those smaller learning communities
039together um but then do so in a straightforward way um that was nice and compact knowing that um kids moving from class to class is of utmost priority and streamlining that effort as well. Uh we do see on the site that we're we're continuing to uh show separation of both the bus loop and the car drop off loop at the bottom. I will say the biggest distinctive from last time is we had shown the instructional spaces on plan north and wrapping around the back. This actually flipped the plan over. So the instructional spaces classroom ring in the southern edge and and back around on the east side as well and that moved give the opportunity to move the cafeteria kitchen and gym space to the top side. Um looking at those adjacencies then looking at
040the the play area in the top northeast corner of the site. again tucking that as close to the cafeteria as possible as well as the gym. And while there is um you know some some corridor to to navigate through from the uh cafeteria to the play area, making sure that is a a streamlined effort to be in and out during the lunch period. Zooming in a little bit closer on the plan really on if we start on the lefth hand side and working our way to the right in the middle there is an admin piece where we're nice and center um right off of the bus loop there on the lefth hand side. So that would be uh one of the primary entries to uh the plan to the the bottom and wrapping around the
041the right hand side would be the uh three learning communities here on the first floor and the opportunity we'll see in a little bit to stack two more off of the the back side. This will also show the flexibility and um additions in the future uh should the need arise. Um but if we look at admin and move directly to the right that would be your learning commons right in the core of the building equally accessible from all of the learning communities tethering that with steam as well and giving them the opportunity to uh have outdoor space directly adjacent there as well. If we look a little bit closer at the learning community in the bottom lefthand corner, thinking that could be the littlest learners and as well as envisions um they're adjacent to the
042admin but also giving them an access to a courtyard that would be private, enclosed, safe um and making seem to make some sense as well with that. uh we are showing not only an entry on the lefth hand side but if we think of that car drop off on the uh plan to the bottom that would be the entrance and really that spine that we see that corridor moving up to the right of the learning commons again making sure that circulation once you're in the building it's easy to get where you're going and streamlining students navigation as well. Uh using the same color coding, we're seeing the public corridors there, not only behind admin, reaching up to cafeteria, across to the gym, and further towards the first learning community, but then the private corridor as
043well in the blue. Moving up to the second floor, uh this we're showing the potential for maybe that future expansion and building that into the project at this point. So, we're really only needing five of those groupings right now. Um, but if we were to envision that bottom lefthand corner, structuring that in such a way that an addition, although disruptive in the future, gives you the potential of expanding on-site without expanding your footprint out. And then from massing standpoint, so looking in at the the two courtyards in the middle, both serving the learning communities as well as the learning commons. Um, and then showing how the the twotory pieces wrap around from the south side as well to the back. Any questions on this one before we move to schedule? >> Yes. >> You mentioned
044two entry points into the building. Uh, so a parent parking in that lower end, would they not have to walk around to go through the the office? They would. So arrival point in the morning, you'd have bus and car loop separated. Uh likely during the day, you would have uh parents parking for incidental uses at the bus area and in through the admin area for that secure entry. >> Good question. I uh I guess no one else. Uh I I was going to ask uh I guess the are there any zoning or sighteline implica or uh proximity to property line implications of shifting the building there or we're all clear on that from >> we're all within our setback and by right >> okay and then I mean I guess I I in terms of
045this but I was trying to think about it from what I can tell it looks like the now the academic wing would receive natural light in the morning if I'm doing my calculations correct so I'm trying to think about if there's any opport opportunities to like is that was that a thing or is that just something that came to my mind that's not nonsensical or not non >> it's absolutely the students access to natural light and seeing that circadian rhythm and cued that throughout the day is absolutely a priority of ours and so you would have the sun working from the the right hand side up southern and setting in the west on the lefth hand side. Um but making sure you know if we look at the actual learning communities we are continuing that
046notion of uh the primary instructional spaces being around the outside and then inboarding the small group instruction some of the support spaces in addition to the corridor. Uh we see in those those the bins or the nodes that open opportunity for collaboration large group instruction with each community as well. So that would have light flowing in from the courtyards throughout the day as well. And then you had talked about the expansion opportunity in C. So an option B to do any expansion it would be out. >> Yes. >> Or even further. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um I want to go back to the to the gym um idea. What is the current feedback on gyms? because I know right now in NRA we use the gym and the auditorium at the same time sometimes so
047both spaces are occupied throughout the week at the same time. So I'm just wondering how likely it is that that you know that we can meet the needs in a gymnatorium. >> So um as we said most of the new buildings or addition to the renovation we do now is a gymatorium. Um, and so there's a couple ways to address that. Um, in that, okay, the gym's big enough to get the whole class in there. The gym space is big enough to get the whole class in there and flexible to move around. That gym is also big enough that you could split it in half. Um, so what we're trying to do to give you as much flexibility with that space as possible, you could split that into two gym areas. One could be used
048as a gym, one could be used as indoor recess during inclement weather. You could open up the whole space and use it as a gymnasium, use it as an auditorium. What you're getting to is when you have conflict in schedule. So the the question would be through scheduling, how often throughout the school year would you have conflict in schedule with gym classes and auditorium? Is it three times a year that you're using, you know, beginning, end, and like Christmas? I think it'd be a scheduled discussion about that piece. If you have a folding partition that separates the gym and the auditorium, you could use half of the gym as a small auditorium and still use half the gym day at the same time. Again, we're trying to work flexibility into this space. I will say
049if the directive, you know, from the board coming and and maybe valuing option C, the new build, if we were to study a location for an auditorium in addition to the plan we're looking at, that's certainly an opportunity moving forward. We're not discounting that. It's just um somewhat best practices at this point to at least use this as a starting point. >> Mr. M. >> Yeah, I'm curious. Would it be fair to say that looking closely at the current usage is less valuable in this design because this design takes into account a much greater degree of flexibility than we currently have in the current space. So understanding the constraint of niche right now is probably not instructive for us when we're thinking about being future ready in a new design on a new footprint. So,
050I wouldn't want us to limit our thinking because of what we've observed to date when we have conditions in place here that allow for lots of different ways we can engage in collaborative ways and using multiple spaces and what I see here with multiple classes being outside of the standard classroom environment um and larger groups than just individual classrooms as well. So, >> absolutely. Um, I would like to know how much actual classroom space we are gaining in each of or all of these options. >> Okay, >> we're we're bursting all over the district. So, we have to think beyond just NITRA's needs. >> So, the there there's two considerations with what we're showing on this plan. first um the the plan as we show it would house like would be able to house about
051125 more students than what you have in there. Now the other part that I would be remiss if you want to know what we contemplated or the flexibility we have in this plan right now as it is shown you have the ability to bring Spanish immersion back to this building which would free up space that you desperately need at Ryan now and into the future. Yeah, that a built-in permanent space. So, you have 125 additional students that you can put in there above your current enrollment. Plus, there would be another 100 students with Spanish immersion coming back here if that's where you decide to go. >> And square footage wise, B and C, the same square footage. this. >> Keep on talking. >> Moving into the um the sequencing of this it goes we see
052in the bottom line there about the potential about four months earlier um to get students in the building than the other options. So 29 months as opposed to 33. Um, but along with that shorter construction duration is also more limited disruption to your actual students and whether them they're only having to make that move once into a completed building and that's that. So, so wrapping up this portion of the presentation seeing all three options there on screen. Um, any questions for the three options? >> Dr. McCart. >> Thank you, Mr. Grinter. Um, I believe if my me if memory serves that this question was asked before, but um had you had said that the new the new construction um if that would be built that would be built solar ready. Is that correct? >> It
053certainly could be studied and accommodated. >> Okay. So, that that would be a possibility. Is that a possibility with either of the renov renovations? >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> It's easier to accommodate in the new construction, but it can be accommodated in the additions and renovations. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> That might be my favorite question of the night. Thank you, Dr. Marco. Miss Wood, >> I guess I this is not top of my list of concerns, but I have heard some concerns from from baseball families about access to those fields before, during, after. Can we just can you specifically share what that will look like and what we anticipate impact to be under the various scenarios? So for option A and option B, the renovation options, uh other than the time
054you would if you would really reorient those fields, that disruption would be probably like a 3-month period or whatever during the construction of the new building. I mean, it's going to be out for 28 months, something like that, because you building the new building, moving in there, then you're demolishing the existing building, and then you're finishing that site work on the end. So, that would have the most impact during that time. >> Thank you. Any other questions before we move on? >> Okay. So last time we talked about um if you remember we have gone over the priority uh the Moscow list to um prioritize your um goals and wants and needs. Um we have taken that and turned that into a priority matrix. So what we have done so that was built through the
055survey that we had in the beginning, the steering committee, the town hall, the facility committee meetings um to um develop that priority list that list and the goals that was developed into uh this list to evaluate the buildings. So um the administration staff and ourselves met at the steering committee to grade each of how well this accommodates the the needs and wants on the lefth hand side. So on the left hand side we have facility needs, we have educational needs, enrollment needs and general needs that we put over there and the evaluation was on a zero to two on how well it addressed the the needs that were listed there. So we went through that process and um basically what you're saying what you're seeing is uh the status quo that got 12 points, option
056A got 26 points, option B got 34 points, and the new option got 50 points. The other thing that we've also added on this priority matrix is always understanding what the budget is and what that means to the project. So at the bottom in blue, you're going to see a total project cost for each of the options. So that includes the construction cost plus what we call soft costs that go along like buying the furniture to put in the building, the buying technology to put in the building, paying architectural fees, building permits, all that sort of stuff. So soft costs are in the neighborhood of 18 to 19% of your construction cost. So the numbers that you see across the bottom are total costs for the project. So the status quo we have 27 to
05731.3 million. Option A we had 51.8 million to 58.4 million. Option B did I just say option? Option B is 53.6 to 60.3 million and then the new option of 57.3 million to 63.6 million. So going through that process and evaluating it and just what we had talked about earlier looking at these options out of the box we eliminated the status quo option and option A just for the complication of the construction in option A. So looking at option B and option C, we think they holistically, you know, address the majority of the concerns. What this is telling us that the new option just satisfies those concerns a little bit better. It's not that option B doesn't. That's not what the point difference is. It just does it a little better. And then looking down
058at the bottom, if you look at the high end of that cost, the new option is about 5% higher than the addition the renovations cost for option B. So as a group, the recommendation was to go with the new option. The other point with that is, you know, the points between option B and opt and the new option, you know, they're like 16 points apart. The renovation piece keeps the auditorium. That is the big difference with the renovation piece. The new piece has that flexible gymnasium auditorium portion in it. So tonight, what we're saying this is information. You're not making a decision tonight. This is information gathering. We're asking you to make a decision two weeks from now. And what is that decision? That decision is gen just to start design. This is a feasibility
059study. These are high level concepts. You get into design, you're going to be into 18 months of design, documenting, lots of engagement between your architect and the school district at all different levels to get through that design. You're not saying go out to bid for a project. You're saying start the design. So getting back to the steering committee administration, the recommendation was option A just for what we I mean the new option for what we had outlined. >> Okay. Mr. River, do you have a question? Yeah, looking at the matrix, just to clarify what three of the things in the matrix mean, I was I'm assuming operational expenses would mean it would be costlier to maintain that building, to heat that building. Is that what >> So operational expenses are? Yeah. The the long-term operational
060cost for that building. The new construction is just going to be more energy efficient than the existing buildings. >> And then community responsive building and healthy building design. So, um, community ease of you community to use the building and get into it, being welcomed into that building. Part of that with that new design is there's a really concentrated area. The community can come into it and they can have access to the cafeteria, the uh gymnasium, and the learning commons right off that main lobby. The healthy building design, that's a simple term for biophilic design. So indoor outdoor connection you're getting more light into this building than the other designs and um the healthy healthy design considerations for a building are easier and uh to achieve in the new building than the existing building. >> Okay.
061>> If not option B doesn't have a healthy building design to it. You can just do a little bit more with the new building. >> Okay. >> Miss L. Um, so during a renovation this big, I know it's possible to have unforeseen circumstances that come up when the walls are open. Um, in your experience, are renovation budgets more likely to grow than you budget? >> So, it's a good question. And in our calculation of the soft costs, we have soft costs at 15% and then we we have owner contingencies or the un unforeseen things that happen on the additions and renovations. We put that at 4%. On the new building, we put it at 3%. You're right. You get into the walls of the existing buildings. I mean, you're not going to know what's behind
062the walls. You have less of a risk in a new building. Your biggest risk in a new building typically is getting out of the ground. You know, what kind what kind of soils do you have and getting out of the ground during rainy periods? Is it more complicated at that time? >> Mr. Bolar. >> Yeah. I think um I'm a a big proponent of using the priority matrix, you know, for decision- making. One of the things um in my experience is that when you use a scale that's only two numbers apart, 012 one two three. It makes options look a little closer than they might otherwise be. So, um traditionally I've always used the number 139. Um, so if you use 139, I took the matrix and I took every one of them and I
063made a zero, a one, a one, a three, and a two, a nine, and you run those down and you add them up. There's a great separation even between B, um, the renovation B and new construction. So the numbers come out 54 for the status quo the you know the current 106 for rena 126 for ren and 226 for new and what that really does is you know like when I look at this slide right here oh you know maybe you could do and I like the auditorium so maybe when you look at all parameters they're not even close so if the auditorium is something that you'd want to consider in here, you need to put it into the matrix and you need to weight it. And if you wait it and and what that
064avoids is there being an emotional decision based on one criteria versus the whole list of other. So I think it's really important for everyone to look at this and say if you did this in another way there's absolutely in my mind like no comparison amongst the mold new construction would be the way to go unless you went in and said hey I'm going to redo these criteria I'm going to add the auditorium and other things in there I'm going to wait them and redo the matrix but the matrix as is to me there's no comparison that the way to go is new construction >> there there is a category for using the Jiminy the auditorium and the new the new one gets a zero for that. So it's already >> right. I mean, but if
065I I look there and just say like, "Hey, you really called out so someone could say, "Hey, I want to call out the auditorium. I want to make sure the auditorium's there so everybody could look at it." When when you're making a decision across options that are that that have complexities, right? It's really easy without doing something like this to get caught up on the one thing that I really like. And what so if you're going to use it and you and we use and you use it effectively here just separating the numbers a little bit makes it even clearer what it does is it says look I understand you may have a need for like the baseball fields or the auditorium but when you look at it in totality it's a really clear decision
066and it really helps with building the support having the destruction the um communication and discussion with the community so it's not oh but you know you missed this whole point it's like no I saw it But against everything else, you can't make a decision on that one thing or you're going to go down the wrong path. I see, you know, it's and we don't want to do that. So, I really like that this laid out. I would just say if we when we use matrix, if you spread the numbers, it really there it's meant to bubble the top one to the top. Um, and while this does it, it still makes a question that I just want to throw out there. I don't actually think there's any comparison between the two based on this matrix.
067Thank you. That thank you both. I that I I will agree. I find the priority matrix exceptionally helpful and clear. This is exactly what we were hoping for in this process and we're getting it. So, thank you. Uh and Mark, your take again also continues to inform and and shed a different perspective than I had. So, appreciate that. Thank you for for taking the time to explain that to us. Any other Sorry, Mr. Bulazar. Gosh. Yeah. Uh Mrs. Hence, did you have a question? I I was thinking of >> Oh, I thought you were on deck. It's Miss Lamb. >> Yeah. Um, thank you so much, Mr. Bulazar. Um I also want to say thank you to ROS for your thorough work on the feasibility study because these changes after listening to community I mean
068B is pretty drastic and from the tri prim priority matrix it looks like renovation B meets current educational standards but the new build is designed to exceed that and it remains compliant longer because we're planning for the future and educational standards have changed and we do have the opportunity to design a school that meets that standard. during today and for the future. Um, and I'm looking at the timeline and I also want to remind everyone that construction is happening from 28 to 30 or longer, which means like students currently in the building will have to live with the construction impacts and they might not benefit from the new build at the end of the project. So we have to consider the learning conditions that we're creating for the current students, teachers and staff during all
069the years of construction so we can build for the future without compromising the present. And I the new bill will allow us to do both. So thank you so much. Thank you Mr. Bulazar as well. That was so helpful. I do >> makes a sense. >> Um, as we go into design, what is the possibility that some of what's missing in B could be brought back? Um, uh, if there any of the deficiencies in B that can be addressed through design. >> Well, I going to the next step is selecting an option, right, >> to go after. So what I'm saying is then if we were to say be but we want this or that in your opinion would there be flexibility to bring some >> I mean just like you saw from the last
070time but this time we'll always be thinking how to make whatever so whatever direction you'll go we'll work hard to make it the best flexible option for you. >> Okay. Uh any other questions? I might ask you, Miss Zimmerman, if there aren't any other questions to just kind of again restate and level set where we're at in the process. >> So, what I heard was we're feasibility we're looking at right now and we'll be deciding on an option. We'll be voting on an option in two weeks. That's correct. >> That's right. So, we have next step slide here. >> Oh, perfect. >> So, tonight we're reviewing the options um with facility committee uh cost estimates and we gave the recommendation. A week from now, you're going to be presented with a contract for phase two
071to approve a contract with an architect for phase two. And then two weeks is actually to vote on a direction that we can come back and give a high level update on the option and then give you a chance to vote on the direction. >> Thank you, Mr. Linky. And so I also again I'm glad that we're providing this clearly for the public. Um, and so stakeholders, parents, teachers, staff members, students, uh, residents, please email us at board secretary at mtwp.net. Let us know what you think. We want to hear your thoughts. We will read everything you send. Uh, because this is a pretty significant step. It's certainly one of many. Uh, but it is a significant step. Um, and I'll, you know, I I think certain certain members have certainly indicated where they're leaning
072and and and I certainly have my own idea and I'm also trying to balance that with again the other significant um and ongoing needs we have uh across campus, excuse me, across the district. Uh, and then and so uh some big decisions ahead. I think we're as well equipped as we could be at this moment to uh approach those decisions based on what we're hearing here tonight. Um any other thoughts, any other questions from from my colleagues on the board? If there's not, thank you. This has been exceptionally helpful and clear. Uh appreciate your help today. Okay, we're moving on to item 2B. And I am also exceptionally excited about this update, Dr. Ryman. uh based on some exciting news we had well I mean I guess exciting might not be the right word but
073some news that we got last year about uh support for our tech education program. >> Absolutely. Thank you Mr. Grinter. Yeah it is exciting. Last September uh the board approved a generously willed gift of nearly $240,000 to the high school technology and engineering department. Uh the funds came from a uh beneficiary designation where Miss Sharon Hargrave named Manam Township School District to receive these funds to be used toward specifically toward career and technology programs and resources. So the tech technology and engineering department and the district office and administration have been in communication on ideas on how best to use these funds in a way that brings the greatest benefit to the students and the staff at Mano Township High School and specifically to the technology and engineering department which was what was um ordered by
074the gift. So I'm here to give just a brief update to the board this evening as we work on um the best use of those funds. uh a a series of district office administrators along with high school administrators along with the high school technology and engineering department have met probably three or four times by now in different groupings uh to talk about how to make best use of these funds. Um we're looking at something that capitalizes on our space both in the in the immediate and in the long term uh in upgrading those spaces and furnishings u to the greatest benefit of of kids. Uh our goal is a plan that um helps us to make best use of that space in terms of lesson delivery uh for the teachers in that awesome department and
075uh creative collaboration opportunities for kids um engineering and design model building and project management and even storage um and in a safe environment as well so that teachers can monitor that space and where kids are learning and and uh doing their thing during the day during coursework. So, our plans that we've come up with so far have kind of divided into three priority groups. And I can talk to you a little bit about priority group number one this evening, which is um to take room 188, which is part of the engineering lab expansion. It will include um a removal of a wall along with um some necessary upgrades to flooring and ceiling and ceiling work and lighting, electrical systems, and HVAC as well. And next door in 168, uh we're looking to expand that lab
076to include some soundproofing windows to the two areas within the lab and upgrading counter space and flooring. And the project will also include the purchase of some new furniture for space, computer desks and chairs and teacher workspace and workts, stools and shelving and um to be able to store projects and the technology that would go along with upgrading those spaces. So, that first priority area, uh, the price tag that we're looking about at at this point is about $79,000, but that's without some of the, uh, additional construction costs that might be in there, as well as furniture. So, I wanted to give the board an update this evening that we're we're feeling good about that first priority stage and spending that much to work on those spaces. And you're probably wondering about priorities two and
077three. We're going to be focusing there on the design build lab and um making improvements to the the digital media lab classrooms as well. So beyond thankful for that gift and the board support of our receipt of that gift and it's been a great uh sort of collaboration between administration and the teachers in that department on on how best to use those funds now and in the long term as well. >> Thank you Dr. Ryman. I knew that was going to be a good one. Uh any questions? I'll say I I am just I'm wondering if there's been consideration of somehow honoring Mrs. Hartgrave and how we if if that's ready to discuss publicly or not. You know, certainly I would support some some acknowledgement of that that gift. >> Sure. Yeah. When we [clears
078throat] when the board approved the gift back in September, I did um issue a letter to the attorney that worked with uh the estate on issuing the funds to us and I did say at that time that we're happy to when the project is complete to look for a good place to acknowledge that gift. And I I think it's a great idea and it's something that we're is on the list to make sure that we do. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Okay. Any other thoughts or questions for Dr. Ryan? All right. Thank you, Dr. Ryan. >> Okay. So, now we are on to item three in our agenda, which is action for voting meeting. That again is just making explicitly clear what we talked about uh towards the end of 2A that uh next
079uh voting meetings February 19th we will be taking action uh to choose an option on the pathway forward uh for design priority for Nichar Elementary. So, uh, just being exceptionally clear, that is our next decision point. That's our next vote. Uh, and please, we have a couple of weeks, um, well, we will all be spending significant time thinking about this and, and we welcome your thoughts. So, now we are on to item four, Mannheim Township Community Comments. Residents, taxpayers, district employees, and students are all welcome and encouraged to participate. The board won't engage in discussion, but will provide follow-up if needed. If you'd like to speak, please fill out a commenter's card for the board secretary to collect. Limit your remarks to five minutes and share your full name before you begin. Anyone like to
080make comments this evening? Welcome. >> Yeah, I have a comment. >> Oh, I already submitted. Yeah, I I I handed it in already. >> Sorry. I'm sorry. Yeah, we just need that delivered to the board secretary. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Mrs. Marshall. >> So, um, just commenting what I say in the paper, the district is disciplined and keeping its annual debt service to just below 14 million. And I applaud you for that, which would allow it to finance another >> I'm sorry, sir. What was your name? >> Mark Sellers. Okay. I apologize for Thank you. >> Yep. which would allow it to uh another which would allow it to finance another 40 to 45 million via new board uh bond insurance without the need for increased uh financial increased taxes said financial advisor Lawrence
081Statel. um facility capital expenditures there's uh in the works totaling 70 to 96.5 million as we all know things go up and I'll just say I doubt that it'll stay under that but the district would need to set aside some additional millage i.e taxpayer uh increases uh for debt services. Uh the renovations uh at Net Trier Elementary School building for an estimated 41 to uh 68 million. Um and again I think that'll go up. Having said that uh I tooured uh William A. Netra um and I implore the implore the school board not to look at the taxpayer as an unlimited revenue stream. the school district just like the taxpaying residents of the school district must would live within our means. Um now Mark I uh Bulazar I appreciate what you say. If one believes
082that a new school will improve educational outcomes uh studies show they're mistaken. Studies have shown that the educational outcomes improved when a parent and a student place a high value on education. Now um it's interesting that uh Reese L Patrick and Scott came back and changed some things which was good. Uh William E. Metro has great bones to it. And if you look, the school was built um in square and rectangular fashion and that is serving it well today and it served well under the additions to 1990 and also the option uh early option one and option two that they gave. Now, um I will say this that um the school was built was was built in 1965 originally. Um I was at William E. Netra in 1971. Okay. So, but I will say that
083if touring that school, if you told me that school was 15 years old, 20 years old, I'd believe you. Uh so kudos to the people that the maintenance crew that really kept that facility up and going because they did a phenomenal job. Uh when I originally talked to the and had questions at the in the auditorium at William and Nitro, one of the things that I said was, you know, with the options that they had was, you know, they they wanted new construction and they said, well, we can't have the cafeteria and the playground at opposite sides of the building. And I said, "Well, that's exactly what your new construction shows." So, they changed that. I'm glad they did. They got rid of some of the the angular sections and they made them more square
084like it should be. What I will say is that what Nick Trrower has, it has an auditorium. The parents, teachers, and administrators love the auditorium. The new construction didn't have this. Now, you had mentioned about uh how many students can fit in the auditorium. The auditorium right now is 295, I believe. If we had 150 students, it's it can't even fit everybody in there now. There's no way that a new auditorium is going to be able to do that. What the school and the teachers told me, the administration teachers, is they have half of the school in for one and then bringing the other half in for the other. I don't I don't know why Reese Lau Patrick and Scott didn't know that. The large gymnasium, everybody loved the size of the gymnasium that didn't
085have bleachers. But that said, it is to affect the afterchool parks and wreck programs, not what's actually happening there. If you really need it, tear down one wall and build bleachers. The library is only second to Schaefer Elementary in size, but has much more usable and and practical space. And that's what they told us during the tour. What it needs is it needs a new roof, electrical upgrades. There is an analog system that works. The PA, does it work? Yes. but it's analog. So, so are some of the clocks. And that's they they said, "Yeah, we love teaching our kids clockwise and counterclockwise plumbing system replace it. Wish less in reality. The heating cooling system." Um, our guide said they need to order parts for the system goes down. My youngest went to the Coast
086Guard Academy in New London and what he said was he's a mechanical engineer. They need to order parts for the new cutters. Um, >> thank you sir. >> Yeah. What I'll just say is that really look at the taxpayers in the in the situation of the whole finances. Thank you. >> Would anyone else like to make comment this evening? Hello and welcome. >> Hi, good to see you all. Um, here as our resident, I just wanted to say thank you for your due diligence on this project. As the mom of Nitrower Knights, um, the kid, our kids loved growing up there, and it's always nostalgic to go through building construction and changes. I've gone through those in my 30 years of teaching prior to what I do now. Um, but moving into the future is
087is where we're all headed. So, um, I only ask that you seriously take into consideration your teachers and administration when you make these final decisions because they have all the answers. Um, they've helped raise our children and I think the spaces that they that they work in and probably feel like they live in sometimes uh should be the best and most conducive. So, thank you for your work on this. My kids loved growing up in Manheim Township so much that they talk about raising their families here. So I hope to hear the pitterpatter of little Rivera feet in the new Nitrower as well. So thank you for moving us into the future and for our expanding district uh because we are not shrinking, we are always on the rise. So thanks for for for getting
088to this building project at this point. >> Thank you Representative Rivera and thank you for your representation of us in Harrisburg. >> Pleasure. >> Hello. Welcome. >> Good evening. Uh my name is Holly Stockwell and I am thanks to like two weeks ago president of the Manheim Township Music Association. Uh so I wanted to thank everyone for voting to reinstate the Manhattan Township Music Association. Um we are very hard at work. Um I was also very happy to hear at the last board meeting multiple school board members talk about how excited they were to see the upcoming talent shows at some of the elementary schools. That's very important. and even hearing the comments from earlier that today about um you know all the auditorium talking I'm not familiar with nichrower however um I did ask
089for the districtwide facility assessment study um and thank you Mr. Brenner and Mrs. Marshall for providing that to me. It was over 200 pages long and I read it. Um, and it was did say updated 2023. So, as we are here tonight to discuss Nichar renovations and other projects needed across Mannheim Township, the campus, I wanted to point out some of the findings from that study. Um, so these are going to be some quotes at Bret. The gymnasium multi-purpose stageroom is small with a raised stage. The space is too small for assemblies and may not support additional children from additional classrooms. Nef two vacant space. Again, I'm not familiar with how these are exactly used in all the lounge rooms, but it says uh for the vacant NEF 2 seats less than 400 students, folding
090chairs are needed to get all the students in the spaces for assemblies. Music risers and storage of educational materials are dedicated to the stage area. The school has no chorus or instrumental music rooms. The stage and auditorium do double duty. The music facilities are less than adequate. Nef gymnasium's multi-purpose stage. The gymnasium is undersized with student population. There are some scheduling conflicts. The stage lighting is older and in need of an upgrade. Of course, niche hour we've discussed tonight, so I'll skip that one. It does say it's too small. Uh Rydenba, the auditorium does not fit all the students. Uh the uh people who did the facility study suggested a redesign of the seating to accommodate elementary school students more adequately. Schaefer the school has no auditorium. The gym doubles as an assembly area. The
091gym seems und sized compared to the district's elementary schools. It also states the existing stage lighting is mounted high in the rafters of the vaulted ceiling and does not reach the stage. The custodians indicated that the lightning the lighting is not used. uh the Booker there was no information provided in that study and as well as latest one in middle school being newer buildings they didn't uh notice any uh deficiencies although parents have told me the um middle school blackbox auditorium cannot accommodate all of the students at once. So, interestingly in this study, the high school auditorium was not mentioned at all, although it hosts chorus, band, and orchestra concerts from Landis Run all the way through the high school in addition to the fall play, the spring musical, and many, many other events and
092presentations. Um, so as a parent, there are a few things that I've noticed about the high school auditorium that I wanted to point out. So, the front of house stage lighting needs to be updated and moved. Um, when you see the kids in the shows, if they don't have a spotlight on them, they're in shadow and they work really, really hard. So, I think it would be really, really important that we get to see the faces of the kids as they're performing. Um, there is also no signage outside to say, "This is the auditorium." Um, we have people come in all the time looking for the arena. I know there's talk about fixing directions to the arena. Let's tell them where the auditorium is so they can come there as well. Um, there's a lack
093of changing rooms. So when my son was in Mary Poppins, there was a very large communal changing room in one of the big classrooms that the kids use. The scene shop is very small. They have to build on stage. So when there are events that are happening on stage like the recent National Malage Society, um they couldn't build. They had to take a night off of working. So that prevents what they can build on the stage. Um also for lighting at the high school auditorium, they need a new cycllorama or psych, which is a wraparound text. This thing is like making me crazy. I'll tell you guys. It's awesome. I'm like I could talk faster. So, uh, new cycllorama, which is a wraparound thing. They can project light onto it. The curtains need repaired. Um,
094and they need new and additional breakers for the demar. So, as we continue planning for our spaces and look at what changes and upgrades are needed, I ask the school board to remember the comments from their campuswide facility report and also review what may be needed that was missing from that report. I ask the school board to remember that school auditoriums are places for talent shows and music concerts and assemblies and plays. And it is important that we not disregard the importance of investing in spaces where art is shared with others. Our students, their parents and families and the public all come to school auditoriums to see the love of music and arts come to life. [bell] Wait, one more sentence. If we value the arts, we need to demonstrate that uh we need to
095demonstrate that by investing in the spaces where it lives. I'll rehearse next. >> Thank you. I'll take president's prerogative and share that I did just today sign up to be the volunteer for the latest run town show coming up in March. So would anyone else like to give public comment? Okay, seeing none, we will move on to item five, which is our adjournment. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Miss Woodbury. Thank you. Is there a second? >> Second, >> Mr. McKenna. Our next scheduled board meeting is Thursday, February 12th, 2026, except at 6 PM here in the district office. Meetings will be live streamed and recorded for viewing purposes. Thank you to all Mannheim Township staff, administrators, and volunteers for your dedication to our students and community. And also, happy Black
096History Month. All in favor adjournment, please say I. I. >> Oppose. Nay. The motion carries. Thank you all. We are adjourned.