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In a perfect world it would only take 70 million dollars to alter or add the features needed for the Lansing School District campus. Residents got a glimpse of how that world would look as a team from King & King Architects presented plans for Phase 2 construction and beyond.
Over the past school year King & King has been meeting with the facilities committee to learn what is needed by the district and each of the schools. Once the list was compiled it was prioritized, and divided into potential "phases" as the 70 million dollar price tag was thought to be too steep for a single tax referendum.
Kirk Narburgh, a King & King partner led a team that explained the various aspects of the proposal, what led to it, and how it could be executed. Highlights of the plan include a complete reworking of traffic patterns on the campus, a new auditorium in the High School, a Technology building for the Middle School, Enlargement of the gym in the Elementary school, plus new classrooms in all the schools, including science classrooms that are much needed in the High School.
King & King's Kirk Narburgh
The plan calls for demolition of the restaurant on the corner of Ridge Road and Ludlowville Roads as well as the current District Office. The latter would be moved into the High School, off an atrium located in a new addition on the West side of the current building.
New construction is shown in peach, while alterations are blue. The new auditorium is in the middle of the peach section. An atrium between the auditorium and the District Offices located in the existing part of the school would provide a new entrance.
One of the major concerns of the plan is security. The main offices in all three schools would be relocated to the front entrances so all visitors would have to pass through, and could be seen and controlled by existing staff.
The new High School auditorium would be surrounded on the ground floor by orchestra and band rooms in the front of the building, and art rooms in the back. On the second floor five new science classrooms are proposed, along with about a half dozen other classrooms. Library alterations are proposed for the High School and Middle School. The High School has the most pressing needs, followed by the Middle School and then the Elementary School.
Additionally code and technology upgrades are proposed, encompassing roofs, temperature control, wireless Internet and a new IP-based phone system, as well as improvement in classroom acoustics.
The plan includes major changes to the traffic patterns on the campus, separating bus, car and pedestrian traffic while increasing capacity for bus circles and parental pick-up areas.
King & King asked the school board for an indication of whether they are going in the right direction, noting that in the best case a vote would take place in December, drawings and state approval would take place in 2006, actual construction in 2007 and the construction would be available for use in 2008 and 2009.
Members of the public and the school board alike expressed concern over the cost of the project. The proposed "phase 2" would cost about $45 million. Some present felt that would be too much for the public to accept in a single bond referendum. Board member Michael Herzog suggested a "palette of options" that would allow the board to "size phases (of the project) as needed."
The board asked High School Principal Michelle Stone for a justification of the changes in her school, which she promised to provide. "Right now," she said, " space is driving my master schedule. That's not the way it's supposed to be." By doubling up biology, chemistry, physics in the available classrooms there is not only a scheduling problem, but there are safety issues as bunsen burners are used close to class papers.
Superintendent Corliss Kaiser noted that some items were proposed for Phase 2 because it makes sense to integrate them with higher priority items. For example, you can get more state funding for classrooms than for a gymnasium, so adding the classrooms to the Elementary school while enlarging the gym makes sense. Upgrading electrical outlets and wiring makes sense while construction is taking place.
Board President Dan Brown deemed daunted by the total cost, saying that it might be more palatable to residents to spread out the project in "ten million dollar chunks." The board asked the committee to help them understand the proposal in terms of how each of its elements will "help what kids can do and achieve."
The school board needs time to digest the proposal and to decide on a direction, so were unable to give King & King an instant impression of where to go next. They have a lot to consider, because Phase 2 and a later Phase 3 would provide better resources for Lansing children and see to the district's future needs.