Questions asked by the Community March 6,2012

Proposed EMES Building Project: Frequently Asked Questions

March 6, 2012

The EMES School Board and Facility Committee prepared this sheet to help inform residents about this project. You can learn more by attending the March 14 Community Meeting at 6:30 at EMES , visiting our blog site (the Facility Committee tab on www.emontpelierschool.org) or calling Flor Diaz Smith, Facilities Committee Chair at 249-2279.

Why do we need a building project at East Montpelier Elementary?

It is time to bring the EMES building up to code and our learning environment up to date.

EMES was built in 1965 and the last substantial improvements were made over 20 years ago. This project will solve critical space deficiencies, improve functionality and safety, bring the school into compliance with state and federal guidelines and standards, and create the learning environment our students need to prepare for the challenges of the 21st century.

Over the past four years, the EMES School Board and Facilities Committee have addressed the challenges of our aging building with money from the annual budget, competitive grants and a small building fund. It is increasingly obvious that this “band-aid” approach is not an efficient use of taxpayer dollars. Because there are so many serious problems with the physical building, a comprehensive construction plan is the only option that makes sense at this time.

This investment will make EMES a safe and healthy place to go to school, add needed classrooms and storage space, and make the library and administrative spaces more efficient and conducive to learning.   Among other improvements…

What is 21st Century Learning and why is it important to this building project?

Today’s approach to education is changing to improve how we prepare our children for success in the 21^st century. Students must be competent in collaboration skills, digital literacy, critical thinking and problem solving. Teachers are now focused on helping students become critical thinkers who can figure things out rather than simply learn core content in various subject areas. More than ever students need the space to explore, experiment and interact with peers and teachers. Rather than a single classroom as the core space, a learning community requires small, flexible, interdisciplinary spaces for groups to meet and present ideas. We have an opportunity at this time to make EMES a 21^st Century Learning environment.

Will this plan provide any energy savings?

The Facilities Committee and TruexCullins architects are incorporating energy efficiency improvements into every piece of this project.  These will include a LEED study and a building energy model.  After our March 14^th Community meeting we will have a 3D model of the building option recommended by the community that will serve as the base for the energy model.  Energy modeling allows those involved in the design process to optimize their focus on the most promising energy-saving strategies.  Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), consist of a set of ratings or standards for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.  (We are using it as a guideline not for certification)

Is there a long-term maintenance plan in place?

This plan is being developed along with the drawings and a draft will be presented at the March 14 Forum.

Why expand, when student numbers haven't increased?

State and federal recommendations for teaching space have changed dramatically since 1965 when the school was first built. How students learn has also changed considerably.  EMES student population projections remain steady for the near future, but become less predictable further out. The facilities committee has created this plan to meet the current needs as well as offer flexibility as variables change in the future.

We face a variety of situations that directly affect student instruction and services. The kitchen, library and gym have severe space shortages that are each addressed specifically below. The physical education, music and art programs have critical needs for storage space. The nurse's office lacks privacy and washroom facilities to appropriately care for sick children. Tutoring and small group spaces are needed in all classrooms, where individuals or small groups can work without impacting the rest of the class. Preschool is limited to 6 hours instead of the recommended 10 hours per week because 3 classes must share a single room. Our primary-grade classrooms are located in separate areas of the building, creating barriers to shared learning opportunities. The art room is unable to utilize existing equipment due to space regulations. Community Connections and Spanish lack storage and office space. Just to mention a few.

Why do we need a new kitchen?

The EMES kitchen has several serious problems. Its square footage is less than the minimum requirement for an elementary school kitchen; based on the number of meals we serve each day. It has been cited by the Health Department for lacking a 3-basin sink. There is not proper ventilation. Appliances are outdated and require frequent repair. Some were installed in 1965. Plumbing and lighting do not meet code.

Why do we need more space in the library/technology center?

The library currently seats only 25, and can accommodate only eight computer workstations.  Being familiar with technology is an increasingly essential skill for students today.  The additional square footage will allow for group tech trainings, collaborative projects and the possibility of community classes after school hours.  In addition there is insufficient room for books and also a separate space to hold books for younger readers is needed.

Why do we need a new gym?

As most people are aware, our current gym also serves as a cafeteria, auditorium, school assembly space and community meeting room. Scheduling is difficult as various educational needs compete for the space. There are also several safety issues. There is not enough storage space in the existing gym and the stage is used to store furniture no longer needed in other parts of the building. This can lead to unsafe and at times unusable PE teaching spaces. The basketball court is very close to the walls of the gym. This leads to many collisions and unsafe situations during PE on a daily basis.

There is an in-depth discussion of these issues on the EMES Facilities Committee webpage that can be accessed from www.emontpelierschool.org.

Why do we need more space for administration?

The proposed plans actually reflect a space consolidation and overall reduction in square footage for administrative functions. The current administrative office space is spread throughout the building in several separate areas. This is an inefficient use of space and a barrier to effective communication among administrators, faculty and staff.

What educational needs can be met without expanding the current square footage?

Moving forward with no expansion at all is not a viable option. At a minimum we have to add space to bring our 4th grade back into the building, address the overwhelming storage issue and the kitchen size deficiencies. If we do not expand, we will continue to limit the services and quality of the Learning Center support team, Library, Physical Education, and the early education classrooms. Also, we will limit the options for small group learning and collaboration spaces. Maintaining the status quo ignores the needs of students today and tomorrow.

How much will the project cost and what impact will it have on my taxes?

A final draft plan is still being prepared for presentation at a community forum on March 14, but rough estimates are from $8-10 million.  The tax impact for each household will vary due to personal income, homestead exemptions, and other tax code. The Facilities Committee will have a worksheet available at the March 14 forum that will help each resident determine this.

A professional cost estimator will review the final proposal that is developed after feedback from the March forum.  This will determine the specific bond request the EMES School Board will ask the town to vote on in May.

           

Why now, when everyone is so stressed about the economy?

Many of the issues we propose to address have already been deferred for many years and the expense to correct them will only increase with continued neglect. On the upside, many construction jobs are coming in below budget right now with contractors eager for work.  Interest rates are at record low.  It is the best time to bond.  The prior 20 year EMES construction bond was paid in full and is no longer part of our tax rate.

What measures were taken to keep costs to a minimum?

This project was developed over the course of several years with input from faculty, administration, community members, and consultants. The EMES Leadership and Staff did not request space that is not essential to daily activities, and all design considerations foster healthy learning environments for all students and building users. The spaces requested in the Education Specifications (Ed Specs) are Federal Guidelines, which are used to calculate the space needs, to meet today’s education standards and to keep spaces flexible for tomorrow’s demands. The Ed Specs can be viewed on the EMES Facilities Committee webpage and accessed from www.emontpelierschool.org.

When would the project start and how long would it take? Can the project be phased in over several years?

EMES is anticipating construction to begin in the spring of 2013. We estimate a 12 to 15 month construction process in total without any interruption to the school calendar. A construction manager working with the School will need to assess if a continuous schedule is possible or if it needs to be split into two construction periods. Starting and stopping a construction process will add to the overall cost of a project. A professional construction manager will review all the dates. 

What are the consequences of delaying the project for 1-2 more years?

Might state funding again become available?

There are no signs the State will reverse the moratorium on construction aid. The School and design team will follow the same steps as if aid is available in the event aid is reinstated and schools are allowed to submit for reimbursement retroactively. Any delays will cost more in the end. The construction industry historically averages 3 to 5% inflation annually. As an example, the project presented in 2009 for $12M with inflation would be $13M - $14M in today’s dollars.  

What possibilities exist to merge the school with other towns rather than make this investment alone?

No school in the supervisory union when teaming with East Montpelier can support a merger without additions and renovations. Other smaller schools may be able to merge without significant additions, but not with E. Montpelier, the largest elementary school in the supervisory union.

While there have been conversations about merging with Montpelier, any actual merger will require several years of work, and the community has been clear at meetings and in surveys that it wants a school here in town.  Even if we do ultimately merge with another district down the road, we still have a responsibility to update and repair the facility that we have.

“Ultimately, a school's condition reflects the state of commitment of one generation to the advancement of the next.”

Thanks for taking the time to read this document.  If you have more questions or will like to hold a small group meeting at your home with your friends or neighbors please call the school or email diazsmith.flor@gmail.com