Board to consider Springstead expansion plan

It's been a long time coming, but Springstead High School Principal Susan Duvall said a plan of action is needed to address facility and program needs at the school.

Years ago, she said she approached the school board about facility needs, including out-of-date facilities and technology. At that time, she said board members agreed to a handful of needs for the school and she warned she'd be back.

That time is coming soon.

During a school board workshop in March, board members will review a master plan for the high school to add 94,206 gross square feet that will include expanding the gymnasium, building a child care addition, a one-story field house and adding a media/TV production studio.

The item was originally slated for the upcoming Tuesday workshop, but was moved due to it being the only item on the workshop agenda.

Expanding the school would increase the student capacity by 95 students, from 2,451 currently to 2,546 and cost between $22 million and $25.6 million.

For too long classes have been conducted in portable classrooms while the school has fallen behind in technology with some equipment that is 25 years old, Duval said. The expansion would also offer other resources she said that could benefit students, such as the updated graphics/media lab and the child care building that would provide better early childhood education programs.

"These plans not only address our facility needs, but also strengthen our curriculum," Duval said. "Yes, even with the new high school being built, we're still operating at almost maximum capacity."

According to rezoning plans for after the new high school is built, by 2012 Springstead is expected to be operating at 3 percent over capacity at 1,670 when the capacity at the school would be 1,496, not including what portable classrooms would allow for.

However, there is currently no money budgeted for the expansion program to cover the up to $25.6 million projected project.

Duval said she's hoping that district staff can look into finding state or federal funds to help with the project - perhaps through stimulus funding.

Board members could choose to place proposal on the 20-year Facilities Plan for future expansion based on the district's growth needs.

"Funding is always a concern," Duval said. "Hopefully, we can find a way to get things under way so we can remove these portables and offer more programming for our students."

During the school board's 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16 meeting, they're expected to consider:

•Approving the final $109,440.80 payment to the construction contract with Greg Construction Co. for the Hernando High School New Classroom Building project.

•Approving for the Springstead High School Advanced Placement Academy Senior Field trip to Washington DC from October 22-26.

•Approving 2009-10 budget amendments for capital, general, debt service, food service and special revenue funds due to increases in funding than what was originally budgeted.