Trustees approve design plans
Board views schematic plans for renovation, construction
By DAVID LOWE Staff Writer

The Lampasas Independent School District Board of Trustees on Monday unanimously approved schematic designs for the new elementary school to be built on Big Divide Road near Kempner, and OK'd design developments for Kline Whitis Elementary and the current Lampasas High School facility on Broad Street.

Construction of the elementary school in eastern Lampasas County will begin in May and be finished by August 2009. Originally designed as an $8.1 million, 65,020- square-foot facility, the campus now has 65,300 square feet in schematic designs. Cost estimates have risen to $8.9 million, said O'Connell Robertson architectural associate Jason Andrus.

"We'll start bringing that down to the original 65,000 square feet," Andrus said. "That 280 feet is not much of a worry. We know that we're a little high now."

O'Connell Robertson is planning two separate entrances: one on the far left of the school for buses and teachers, and another for parents to drop off or pick up students. The bus loop includes a secured back entrance leading to the gymnasium and cafeteria, and the drop-off site for parents also includes a secure entrance.

All visitors will pass through the main entrance to a vestibule, where they will have to register in the campus administration office.

The library and cafeteria will be on opposite sides of the main entrance. Because the two rooms will be separated from academic wings, school personnel will be able to lock classrooms after school hours while keeping the library and cafeteria open for community events as needed.

The campus will house two computer labs, as well.

The elementary school, designed for 650 students, can accommodate as many as 750, Superintendent Dr. Brant Myers said. Once the student population reaches 800, though, the school district will have to hire additional teachers, principals and counselors for the campus. As a result, the Lampasas ISD probably will build another school when enrollment reaches 800 rather than add on to the campus on Big Divide Road, Myers said.

Renovations at Kline Whitis Elementary will include a new pre-engineered, metal gymnasium; a new 2,800-square-foot library with 12 computer stations; reconfiguration of the cafeteria; and renovation of some bathrooms. Covered walkways will lead to the new gym and connect with existing walkways.

Work is projected to begin in early February and finish by the end of the summer for a price of $1,201,763, almost exactly on budget.

Renovations at Lampasas High School, which will house middle school students once construction is complete on the new high school campus, also will begin in February and are scheduled for completion by the end of the summer.

Work includes the creation of new walkways and security fences to close the Broad Street campus, along with expansion of the cafeteria into a 7,800-square-foot room capable of holding 450 students. Crews will remove the stage from the cafeteria, and the drama room will become a storage area for tables and chairs.

The $1.6 million project is about $200,000 over budget, based on architectural plans.

Architects also briefed trustees on construction plans for the new high school site. Construction documents should be complete by Jan. 22, with work set to begin in March and end by August 2009.

A fire loop will surround the property, and architects have drawn in a retention pond designed to keep runoff from affecting neighboring properties.

The new band hall will use angled walls -- preferred over parallel walls for music facilities -- with more storage space than originally planned, and the science wing will have only two chemistry labs. Architects originally planned three labs, but after consulting with science teachers they decided to remove one chemistry lab because the facilities do not always adapt well for use by physics, biology or other science classes, Andrus said.

Trustee Max Keele asked the architects to consider enlarging the Career and Technology Education building at the new high school.

"We've got a lot of participation in that area," he said, "and we sure need some more room."

Andrus said O'Connell Robertson probably cannot add more square footage, as the firm has to stay within the budget set by the bond election.

The original budget called for a $34.4 million high school, but projections now place the cost at $35.7 million.

"Even if we bid the thing and if we come in a million dollars over budget on bid day, on a $35 million job that's still a very achievable goal," said Blair Williams, president of Baird/Williams Construction and construction manager at risk for LISD's new construction.

The district will receive applications for administrative positions at the east-side elementary school in March 2008 and will interview candidates beginning in May to prepare for hiring in June 2008. The principal will begin work July 1, 2008, which will give the administrator a full year to organize the transition of teachers and equipment to the new campus.

Although the early hire will involve extra expense for the LISD, Myers said he expects better candidates to apply in the spring of 2008 than would be available in December 2008 or January 2009.

"That will cost us about six months of salary to do that," he said, "but I think we will benefit greatly by paying that money up front and helping the whole district get organized using that person for moving into the building."

The LISD will send out personnel questionnaires between September and October 2008 to receive staff recommendations for campus placement, as some teachers will have to switch for the 2009-10 school year.

"I know in doing that there's going to be some people who are upset with where they are placed, and there's going to be some people who are happy," Myers said.

The superintendent said the details relating to opening new campuses and renovating existing schools will require substantial cooperation from all LISD staff.