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At a special meeting in the Lansing High School library the school board and representatives from the architectural firm King & King held a workshop to clarify concerns the board has about the upcoming capital improvement project. Kirk Narburgh, a partner in the firm, led a team of five who answered questions the board posed.

The board had been given a list at their last regular meeting that grouped items that should be constructed together, either because it is a logical cause and effect, or because grouping them maximizes state aid. For example, moving school offices to the main entrance is a priority for security and flow control reasons. But moving the High School office also means moving the music rooms, because the office would go where they are currently located.

Music facilities would have to be enlarged in any case, because they are not adequate for the programs that are taking place now, let alone allowing for future growth. The music and theater programs are very successful, but the choice would be to cut them back or to spend the money to expand facilities. Board Member Dan Brown expressed concern that approximately a third of the $31 million dollar proposed project is for music. He was afraid of taking that to the taxpayers without having an adequate justification to explain it. But he allowed that he supports the music program.

Interim Superintendent Tiffany Phillips told the board "This is your project. It's not the administrators', the faculty's or other groups'." She said the board has to be able to back what they approve. To help them do this she will be working with the architects and the building principals to draft a facilities needs assessment.  "To me this is a critical document, because it justifies all this," she said. The document will also help address Board Member Christine Iacobucci's concern that the construction project should parallel the district's goals.

At the moment the main project is priced at $32 million, which allows for inflation over the period it would take to get it approved and built. King & King recommended presenting the voters with two separate referendums to see whether they will support a $6 million dollar auditorium for the High School and a $736,000 IP based security and phone system. Principal Michelle Stone noted, "There are so many desperate needs in the facilities. You have to balance between being fiscally responsible and providing what kids need to go on in the world." She said that the community seems very supportive of the music and theater programs, but it is right to ask them to vote on whether to spend the money.

Mr. Narburgh says "The danger in phasing things is that you'll never get it any cheaper in the future. Changes in material costs this year have been as much as 15%. It's astronomical." He said, "The impact of not doing five to ten million dollars worth today might cost X amount of dollars more tomorrow." He expressed concern that the time line is already being pushed back, which will mean more expense.

Figuring out the final cost of the project depends on what is included in it. The board wanted more costs, but must pick and choose from the list of needs. Ms. Phillips said "It's a chicken and egg situation. You need the scope of the project to provide budgeting." She suggested that they use the $32 million as a working figure, and see how the list develops. That number could still change, but it gives the board a starting point to work from. She set a deadline for the facilities needs assessment document for the second board meeting in September.

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