12/06/99 Bond Issue Questions and Answers for the Pioneer-Tribune #2
Q Why would our elementary schools be better off in one centralized
elementary school?
A. One of the many reasons is building security. School building
security and student safety are topics of great concern. There have
been a number of tragic incidents at schools across the country. These
incidents have forced us to examine this issue closely. All of us like
to think that an incident similar to that can’t happen here.
Unfortunately it can happen, even here.
Recently, we have taken some steps to improve building security at the
Middle/ High School. Our students will be safer because of that. But
what about our elementary schools? None of the four buildings has a
public address system (P.A.). A public address system is not a luxury,
it is a mandatory part of any building security system for
communication purposes. Because there is no PA. system, none of our
four buildings has room to room communication or "all-building"
communication. From a security point of view, this is not good.
None of the four buildings has an office where visitors should report.
They do not have building secretaries, the person that visitors should
report to. Each building has a lead teacher with some general
management responsibilities. Each lead teacher has a full-time
teaching assignment and a classroom full of students. These demands do
not allow them to devote time to building security on a daily basis.
Visitors access each of the buildings all day long with no office or
person to report to, and no communication system available to
employees. Visitors can be inside of the building for long periods
before a school employee even knows they are present. The building
security system at the four elementary schools is not good, and it is
a source of concern. Our new centralized elementary school would be
built with up-to-date security features that would help to insure that
our children are safe while at school.
Q. The question is also asked, "why don’t you just fix up, repair,
remodel and update the existing four elementary schools, and continue
to use them?"
A. On the average, the four buildings are 47 years old. The Lincoln
School was built in 1931. The total cost of updating and remodeling
all four buildings, including security systems, fire alarm/safety
systems, technology infrastructure, barrier free handicapped
accessibility, etc., is nearly the same as building the new
centralized elementary building.
After consulting with two different engineering firms, and studying
the matter for four years, the Board of Education determined that it
made better educational and financial sense to propose one new
centralized elementary school.
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