Superintendents Recommendations for District Improvement Related to Facility Needs

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Superintendents Recommendations for District
Improvement Related to Facility Needs

• VICTORIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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VISD Facility Program Needs, Constraints

• Crowded conditions
• Safety concerns
• Aging facilities
• Inadequate facilities
• Location concerns
• Declining enrollment at secondary level

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History

• Most recent bond issue - 1997 for 31M
• New elementary school constructed
• New wings at Crain and Howell Middle Schools
• Parking lots
• Roofing
• Air quality, energy management
• Band Hall at Stroman Campus
• Ag Building at Senior Campus
• General classroom renovations, upgrades
• Bond projects were prioritized from list of more
  than 64M in needs

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History

• Most recent bond issue - 1997 for 31M.
• LAN/Walton Consulting conducts extensive
  facilities study 2004-2005
• Community-based Facilities Committee makes
  recommendations 2005-2006

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Present Facility Conditions

• LAN/Walton study finds 13 of 21 campuses have
  buildings in need of potential replacement
• LAN/Walton study finds 20 of 21 campuses have
  buildings in need of programmatic rehabilitation
  or modernization.

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What the studies recommended

• LAN/Walton Report
• 1 New HS in near term
• 1 New HS in near to mid-term
• Conversion of MHS Senior Campus to Special Events
  Center
• Construct new MS when enrollment justifies, add
  classrooms to Crain MS
• Modernize and replace highest priority elementary
  schools
• Maintenance projects

• Community Advisory Committee
• Proposition 1
• New construction at MHS Senior Campus to create
  Special
• Events Center
• Add classrooms to Crain MS Renovate Howell and
  Patti Welder MS
• Replace F.W. Gross with 1 new elementary school
• Maintenance at various
• campuses 15M
• Total Prop. 1 37.5M
• Proposition 2
• New High School
• Total Prop. 2 37.5M

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The Cost of Aging Facilities

• 59 of VISD buildings are at least 40 years old
• Increased maintenance costs associated with
  repairs, basic upkeep
• VISD spends approximately 11 of the total budget
  on maintenance and utilities
• Per pupil expenditures on maintenance and
  utilities average 788 in VISD. This is 29 MORE
  than the state per pupil average.

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The Cost of Aging Facilities

• Increased maintenance costs associated with
  repairs, basic upkeep
• Increased utility costs associated with energy
  inefficiency, plumbing problems, etc.
• The cost per square foot for utilities at VISD
  schools range from 56 cents at Rowland Magnet to
  1.61 at Mission Valley Elementary.

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Utilization

• Secondary schools overcrowded
• Limited space available on elementary campuses

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Utilization

• Secondary schools overcrowded
• Limited space available on elementary campuses
• After recent rezoning, the need continues for
  additional rezoning to meet challenges of
  population shifts

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Utilization

• Secondary schools overcrowded
• Limited space available on elementary campuses
• After recent rezoning, the need continues for
  additional rezoning to meet challenge of
  population shifts
• 13 of 21 campuses use portable buildings
• 66 portables are in use today

12
Community Expectations

• Harris Interactive Poll (CSmPact) results
  indicate significant student dissatisfaction with
  facilities. Substantial parent and staff
  dissatisfaction also revealed.

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Community Expectations

• Harris Interactive Poll results (CSmPact)
  indicates significant student dissatisfaction
  with facilities. Substantial parent and staff
  dissatisfaction also revealed.
• Affinity responses largely deal with issues that
  are related to facilities, most notably on high
  school level.

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Community Expectations

• Harris Interactive Poll results (CSmPact)
  indicates significant student dissatisfaction
  with facilities. Substantial parent and staff
  dissatisfaction also revealed.
• Affinity responses largely deal with issues that
  are related to facilities, most notably on high
  school level.
• High levels of dissatisfaction with high school
  configuration based upon Harris Interactive Poll,
  Affinity process and other inputs

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Superintendent SuperintendentsRecommendation
sBased Upon Best Practicesfor High Performing
Districts
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Learning Communities

• Created by feeder patterns of elementary into
  middle school and middle school into high school
• Geographically east side and west side
• Balanced by numerical enrollment, ethnicity and
  economic status

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Current School Sites
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Current School Sites with Flood Plains Indicated
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How can this be accomplished?

• Build TWO new high school campuses
• Strategically located in potential growth areas
• Attendance zones (East/West)
• Balanced enrollment, demographics
• Approximate capacity of 1800-2000 students at
  each school

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How can this be accomplished?

• Build TWO new high school campuses
• Build ONE new middle school
• Allows for enrollment of 750-800 students on each
  of the 4 middle school campuses
• Create middle to high school feeder patterns for
  attendance zones

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How can this be accomplished?

• Build TWO new high school campuses
• Build ONE new middle school
• Build TWO new elementary schools in developing or
  high enrollment areas
• Allows district-wide elementary enrollments of
  less than 500 students
• Supports formation of feeder patterns into four
  middle schools

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Existing Facilities

• Convert existing MHS Senior Campus to District
  Events Center
• Would include Natatorium, Fine Arts Center and
  Auditorium
• Allows for relocation of District Alternative
  Education Program (DAEP) to existing campus
  buildings

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Existing Facilities

• Convert existing MHS Senior Campus to District
  Events Center
• Convert existing MHS Stroman Campus to Victoria
  Area Center for Advanced Learning
• Would serve as a resource for middle and high
  schools for advanced academic courses, expanded
  career and technology offerings, and possible
  development of early college program
• Students could attend classes for part or all of
  the day at the Center, but would remain enrolled
  at their home campus
• Open enrollment for area students
• Alignment of programs to business/employer needs
• Various programs could be relocated/expanded at
  Center for Advanced Learning

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Existing Facilities

• Convert existing MHS Senior Campus to District
  Events Center
• Convert existing MHS Stroman Campus to Center for
  Advanced Learning
• Extensive capital improvement to campuses
• Specific locations identified as high need areas
  in facility studies and with input from
  principals

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Estimated Costs

• Two new high schools 46M each
• Grades 9-12
• Capacity 2000 students
• Site acquisition
• Equity - both schools of similar architectural
  design
• Both schools constructed simultaneously

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Estimated Costs

• Two new high schools 46M each
• One new middle school 17M
• Site acquisition
• Capacity 750 students

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Estimated Costs

• Two new high schools 46M each
• One new middle school 17M
• Two new elementary schools 17.5M
• One school on existing VISD property
• One school on property to be acquired
• Capacity 600 students

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Estimated Costs

• Two new high schools 46M each
• One new middle school 17M
• Two new elementary schools 17.5M
• Addition to Crain Middle School 4.5M
• Replace 11 portable buildings
• Provide Band Hall, Choir Room, Auditorium

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Estimated Costs

• Two new high schools 46M each
• One new middle school 17M
• Two new elementary schools 17.5M
• Addition to Crain Middle School 4.5M
• Capital Improvements 19M
• Parking
• Roofing
• HVAC (Heating, Air Conditioning, etc.)
• Other

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Estimated Costs

• Two new high schools 46M each
• One new middle school 17M
• Two new elementary schools 17.5M
• Addition to Crain Middle School 4.5M
• Capital Improvements 19M
• District Events Center 9M

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Estimated Costs

• Two new high schools 46M each
• One new middle school 17M
• Two new elementary schools 17.5M
• Addition to Crain Middle School 4.5M
• Capital Improvements 19M
• District Events Center 9M
• Total 159M

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Making It Happen

• General Fund property tax implications
• House Bill 1 tax rate compression
• Rate lowered from 1.465 to 1.331 in 2006
• Rate compresses again to 1.00 in 2007
• Debt Service property tax implications
• Current rate 0.0975
• Rate has remained unchanged for 4 years
• Debt Service requirements drop by over half in
  2010
• Possible state-funded assistance on construction
  financing and operating costs
• Operational assistance for first year _at_ 250
  based on ADA growth in second year

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Benefits of Facilities Improvements

• Creates learning-friendly environment for
  students, staff and parents
• Increases academic opportunities for all students
• Increases co-curricular and extra-curricular
  opportunities for secondary students
• Reduces crowding conditions
• Addresses safety and security concerns of
  parents, students and staff

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Benefits of Facilities Improvements

• Addresses Americans with Disabilities Act
  deficiencies
• Addresses issues related to facilities not
  meeting state standards
• Science, Technology, etc.
• Eases the inefficiencies of operating older
  facilities in terms of utilities, etc.
• Reduces required maintenance and repairs

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Benefits of Facilities Improvements

• Creates community pride in facilities
• Stimulates economic development
• Assists in retaining quality staff with improved
  work environment/conditions