Kathy Jones and Zella Williams, co-facilitators for Hazelwood 1st, presented a recommendation to the Hazelwood School District Board of Education in May on behalf of Hazelwood 1st participants.
The recommendation follows: “The participants of Hazelwood 1st recommend the HSD Board of Education take action for a November 2010 no-tax-rate-increase bond issue election for $120 million to fund facility priorities identified through the Hazelwood 1st process.” The Board of Education is expected to take action on this recommendation on July 27.
During the presentation, Jones and Williams provided a history of the public engagement process, reviewed the charge to the Hazelwood 1st participants for Phase III of the District’s long-range facilities plan, and shared the meeting timeline. Furthermore, the presentation outlined the topics of each of the Hazelwood 1st meetings held last spring, as well as the summary points developed throughout the process.
The summary points include:
- Enrollment is going to be relatively static.
- Capacities at each level – elementary, middle and high – are sufficient to handle enrollment projections for the next five years.
- The economy could increase or decrease the District’s enrollment.
- Trends and outside forces impact enrollment numbers.
- Bond issue funds cannot be used for operating costs.
- State operating revenues will decrease next year, the year after, and possibly longer.
- Any additional schools will increase operating costs.
- Bond issue funds help protect operating funds.
- HSD can issue approximately $120 million in bonds without an increase in the tax rate.
- Millennials (current and future HSD students) need to learn 21st century skills.
- Instruction must continue to change to meet the evolving needs of students.
- Technology is constantly changing.
- HSD students should have access to the technology that is integral for educating future generations.
- Facilities enhance or impede student achievement.
- Hazelwood facilities need to be able to accommodate technology today and tomorrow.
- Facilities must accommodate the changing needs of students.
- Hazelwood classroom environments need to be conducive to learning.
- Safety and security needs to be a strong consideration when planning future buildings.
- Hazelwood facilities should be environmentally friendly and energy efficient.
They also shared that, in preparation for Hazelwood 1st, HSD conducted a comprehensive study to determine facility needs. This study included input from HSD staff and parents.
In addition, experts assessed current facilities, reviewed the Long-Range Facility Master Plan, identified needs and developed a budget. This study identified more than $200 million in potential facility projects.
Hazelwood 1st participants determined criteria for facility needs and then prioritized the criteria. The criteria provided the framework used by participants when prioritizing the facility projects.
After ranking the criteria, HSD provided participants with the entire list of facility needs, which cost more than $200 million. The groups were asked to rank the facility projects as high, medium or low priority.
The following are the facility priorities identified by participants for Phase III:
- Data and Power Distribution
- Life, Health, Safety Upgrades
- New or Replaced Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning (HVAC) at 75%
- Science Lab upgrades
- Replace Deteriorated Exterior Wall Systems
- Replace Hazardous Floor Tile
- Replace Chalk Boards with White Boards
- New or Expanded Libraries
- Install Elevators
The participants included 75 percent of the HVAC needs in order to accommodate additional facility projects, Jones explained. The projects listed include only $114 million.
Therefore, Jones explained, HSD expects that at least a portion of the work on the Science Technology Engineering Math Labs at the high schools can be completed. In addition, if projects are completed under budget, HSD may be able to finish additional facility projects, including early childhood education building upgrades and new or upgraded restrooms throughout the District.
Desiree Whitlock, president of the Board, thanked Jones and Williams for their leadership.
“On behalf of the board, thank you so much. Your dedication to our students, staff members and community is appreciated,” she said. “I would also like to thank all of the participants. I realize we had about 200 people who volunteered their time to review the needs of the District. Hazelwood 1st is a great example of what great public engagement looks like, and we could not have done it without you.
“The board will review this recommendation and make a decision sometime later this summer,” she said. “I would like to add that we are encouraged by last month’s election, in which voters approved several school bond initiatives across the state.”