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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-01-30 ad Hoc School Building Committee MinutesJANUARY 30 1996 A MEETING OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE WAS HELD ON JANUARY 30 1996. PRESENT WERE RUSS GRAHAM, ROGER SANSTED, RICH RADVILLE JOE LUPI ROBIN DANTONA MARGARET COWELL DAVE WILLIAMS AND BOB GRASSO. MR. GRASSO LATER LEFT EARLY BECAUSE OF A FAMILY EMERGENCY. A PRESENTATION OF A PROPOSED STUDY OF THE READING MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL WAS GIVEN BY THE FIRM OF DRUMMEY ROSANE ANDERSON. THE MAIN THRUST OF THE PRESENTATION WAS THE ABILITY OF MAKING THIS PROJECT A CATEGORY 2 PROJECT IN THE EYES OF THE DEPT OF EDUCATION GIVEN THE IMMENSE AMOUNT OF SPACE IN THE BUILDING AND THUS A CLEAR LACK OF ENROLLMENT VS SPACE PROBLEMS. THE FIRM WHILE ACKNOWLED GING THE SPACE ALSO NOTED THE PROBLEMS WITH THAT SPACE AND THE PROBLEMS OF VENTILATION AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO COMPUTERS AND THEIR USE. THE FIRM USES OUR PRESENT COMPUTER CONSULTANT AS THEIR RESOURCE AND FEELS THAT TECHNOLOGY IN BUILDINGS WAS A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION ADDITION OR REHAB OF BUILDINGS. THEY ALSO HAVE A N EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT ON CALL FOR ALL THEIR PROJECTS. THE FIRM FULLY UNDERSTOOD OUR DESIRE FOR A MENU APPROACH TO THE STUDY SO THAT TOWN MEETING COULD HAVE ALTERNATIVES. AFTER THE FIRMS PRESENTATION DISCUSSION ENSUED ON THE MERITS OF THE PRESENTATION WITHOUT THE FIRMS REPRESENATIVES BEING PRESENT. THE GENERAL REACTION TO THE PRESENTATION WAS FAVORABLE AND MENTION WAS MADE OF THE FIRMS LOW KEY BUT EFFECTIVE STYLE WHICH WAS "READING LIKE". AT 9:00 THE FIRM OF HMFH ARCHITECTS INC. MADE THEIR PRESENTATION. THIS FIRM HAS NO COMPUTER CONSULTANT ON BOARD NOR DO THEY HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT, BUT TEND TO RELY HEAVILY ON THEIR SUB CONTRACTORS FOR SUCH INFORMATION. THEY TOO ENVISIONED PROBLEMS WITH MAKING THE PROJECT A HIGH PRIORITY ONE WITH THE STATE GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF SPACE VERSUS ANTICIPATED ENROLLMENT. AFTER THEIR PRESENTATION, AND THEIR LEAVING DISCUSSION ENSUED ON THEIR PRESENTATION. THE LACKOF A COMPUTER CONSULTANT OR AN EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT TROUBLED THE COMMITTEE AND THEY SEEMED TO PAY LITTLE ATTENTION TO THAT ASPECT OF THE PROPOSAI IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT NOT ONCE HAD THEY MADE MENTION OF THE STUDENTS OR THEIR NEEDS. THE NEXT MEETING OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR FEB 8 1996 IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM AT TOWN HALL FOR THE PURPOSE OF FURTHER INTERVIEWS WITH ARCHITECTS. ON MOTION OF ROGER SANSTED SECONDED BY ROBIN DANTONA THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 10:22 PM.