The Lampasas ISD Board of Trustees is one step closer to selecting a site plan for the new Lampasas Middle School campus that was approved by voters in May’s bond election.
During Tuesday’s called meeting, trustees discussed potential locations for the new track and football field — a key decision that will largely determine the placement of the main building.
Trustees viewed three different site plans: the “T” Plan, “U” Plan and “H” Plan. The letters indicate the relative shape of the building; however, the football field and track were located in different parts of the property in each plan.
Board President Ryan Shahan told trustees that deciding the location of the track and field was vital for WRA Architects to design the future campus.
“That really determines, one, how you use the whole site and flow efficiency,” Shahan said. “Two, what is going to be available on site during construction for use, and three, what’s left of the existing we can use. As the field moves around, it changes a lot of that.”
The “T” Plan placed the entrance to the building on the northwest corner of the Quonset Hut gym facing South Broad Street. The field and track would sit on the southwest side of the property, which would require the relocation of three tennis courts — an added cost the board felt should be avoided.
Shahan added that demolishing the Quonset Hut gym would limit LMS athletes to one gym during construction. Also, with the main campus being built on the old field and track, space for football and soccer athletes would be limited.
“About the only place they are going to have to practice is what is left of the baseball field, maybe,” Shahan said. “You can build your field first and they can practice there, but that is pretty much your only place for kids to practice football.”
The “U” Plan shifted the campus farther south on the property, placing the track and field on the north side of the property, with one end of the track running parallel to West Sixth Street. As in the first plan, the entrance to the building would face toward South Broad St.
The main negative of this plan was that it placed athletics on the opposite side of the campus from the Bozarth-Fowler Gym. Athletes would be required to walk through a courtyard or long hallways before reaching the gym.
“To me, what’s wrong with this plan is if we are designing something new, why not design it to have your athletics all in one place,” Shahan said. “Design it the correct way, instead of just doing something that works.”
The “U” and “T” plans each maintained the central building on the old LMS campus, but not in the “H” Plan. This site design placed the football field and track on the side of the old campus, with the east straightaway of the track running parallel with South Broad.
Additionally, this plan establishes a central hub for athletics, wouldn’t require any tennis courts to be relocated and retains the Quonset Hut gym. Unlike the other two site plans, the entrance to the building would be on the north side facing West Sixth St. Trustee Jeff Rutland felt the “”H” plan made sense.
“The gyms are next to each other, they are close to the track, you don’t have to redo the tennis courts — that makes the most sense to me,” he said.
Before deciding a location for the track and field, trustees sought the advice of Assistant Superintendent Wes Graham, who formerly was principal of the middle school, and new campus Principal James Allison.
Graham felt the “H” Plan was the perfect fit for the campus, and the track and field’s new home.
“It did not bother me that the field was up on Broad Street,” Graham said. “To me, it was like we drive up to the high school, and you are passing that field, too.”
Allison admitted he liked the “T” Plan, but the H-shaped option was growing on him.
“I think I’m just used to the way the school is oriented now,” Allison said. “So having the school facing the north and Sixth (Street) doesn't seem right to me, and having the field on Broad doesn’t seem right to me. But I do like that all of the athletics stuff is on one end and is kind of your event center.”
Trustee Randy Morris also felt the “H” Plan was the top option but with a few changes. Morris did not like the entrance for parent pick-up and drop-off on West Sixth Street, and felt the building would be better suited facing east.
What Morris did like was retaining the Quonset Hut gym, hinting the space could be renovated for future locker rooms if the field at the new LMS campus were to replace Badger Field years down the line.
“I know we are not talking about that now, but we’re talking about for the future,” Morris said. “It’s out there.”
Before adjourning the meeting, trustees went down the line and gave their thoughts on the site plans. Each member expressed support for the “H” Plan. This preference will be passed along to WRA Architects, allowing the firm to refine the official site plan.
The LISD Board of Trustees will host its next regular meeting on Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. in the district’s Administration Building.
The site plan labeled “H” would move the middle school track and field to the east side of the campus along South Broad Street (at top of schematic above). Both the Quonset Hut gym and Bozarth-Fowler Gym would be retained, and the academic building would be situated toward the southwest portion of the site (at bottom of diagram) with the school entrance facing West Sixth Street.
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