School district bond issue amount being decided
The analysis has been done and now the district is turning to the community to begin nailing down a dollar amount for next year's bond issue.
"We are looking at everything we can possibly think of to make sure that we are upgrading and renovating these schools so that they will be 21st century facilities," said Gould Evans Associates.
For the last several weeks, architects with Gould Evans Associates have visited the six central and east Lawrence elementary schools to determine what upgrades and renovations will be included in next year's bond issue.
The work is similar to the studies done by the elementary school task force and consolidation working group, but Superintendent Rick Doll says the newest studies are more in-depth and will help the school board determine just how much money the district will need to put into the bond issue.
"They'll be more in-depth information about infrastructure needs'
Gould Evans has helped us look at that a little bit more futuristic so we can think about what kind of space do we need from a 21st century standpoint," Doll said. "Not just we need to add three classrooms, but what do the classrooms need to look like and how might we remodel or renovate the school to make sure that our space is appropriate for how kids learn these days."
This week, principals from the six schools will sit down with Gould Evans officials to go over results and starting on Oct. 17th, parents will get their chance to weigh in during a series of community input sessions
"We'll start to present to them preliminary plans and then they can react to those plans and say to the architect that looks like a good idea or did u think about this," Doll said.
After those meetings, Doll says the difficult task of ironing out a dollar amount will begin in earnest.
View the dates below to find out when your school is meeting with Gould Evans Associates to receive preliminary upgrade and renovation plans.
OCT. 17, 6 p.m. @ Pinckney
OCT. 18, 7 p.m. @ Kennedy
OCT. 22, 6:30 p.m. @ Cordley
OCT. 24, 6:30 p.m. @ Hillcrest
OCT. 25, 6 p.m. @ New York
OCT. 30, 6:30 p.m. @ Sunset Hill