Timeline and Talking Points for Future of Fayetteville High School 1/22/08
September 20, 2004, Special Board Workshop: This meeting was held to discuss long term capital financing plans that defined an implementation timeline for financing capital projects with a proposed debt structure. Associate Superintendent Mike Gray led the discussion, which projected a timeline into the 2012-2013 fiscal year. It was estimated at that time that a new high school would need to be financed during that year in order to meet demand. This was the first formal discussion regarding a new high school. September 22, 2005, Regular Board Meeting: The board voted 7-0 at this meeting to authorize the administration to proceed to negotiate an offer for Deane Solomon Road property. The purpose for the property was discussed and it was agreed that no matter what we might need for a new high school, the acquisition of this land was a good investment. October 27, 2005, Regular Board Meeting: The board voted 6-0 to approve the contract for the purchase of the Deane Solomon Road property. The funds for the purchase would be paid from the district’s capital fund. January 18, 2006, Special Board Workshop: This special meeting was provided as an update to the Facilities Master Plan to report on progress with Strategic Goal #3. It projected potential projects between 2006-2010 that included Asbell expansion, Butterfield Expansion, Elementary Gym Replacements at Root and Happy Hollow and the Security and Surveillance systems at all schools. It also projected projects between 2011-2015 that included Happy Hollow Improvement and expansion, a new District Service Center, a possible new elementary school site, and projection of $78 million for a new 100-acre high school site and school. June 3, 2006, Special Board Workshop: During this workshop, the board was presented with a possible high school project schedule that showed the faces of design and construction for a 2010 opening. July 27, 2006, Regular Board Meeting: Further discussion at this board meeting included a planning and construction outline for the new high school that would begin in February of 2007 in order to occupy a new high school facility in August 2011. This was an information item in anticipation of an action item at the August, 2006 meeting for approval of the planning and construction process. August 24, 2006, Regular Board Meeting: Randy Willison further discussed the high school planning project and Susan Heil agreed to serve on the Oversight Advisory Committee. The board voted to move ahead and accept the proposed planning process schedule.
September 28, 2006, Regular Board Meeting: At this meeting, Susan Heil updated the board on the mission and scope of the High School Select Committee with two essential questions posed for the collection of data from focus groups and community members. Should we have 1 or 2 high school campuses in Fayetteville? What should the campus configuration look like? 10-12, 9-12, or 9-10/11-12? October 26, 2006, Regular Board Meeting: Another update was provided by Susan Heil at this board meeting. Public meeting dates were announced for November and December and the High School Select Committee web site went live. November 16, 2006, Regular Board Meeting: This month’s update by Susan Heil reported on the upcoming series of focus groups to be held through December. December 21, 2006, Regular Board Meeting: This month’s update by Susan Heil included a summary of focus group meetings to date, with minutes posted on the web site, no fewer than 715 hours by committee members to date, and an announcement of a public meeting on January 29 to present committee findings and provide an opportunity for the public to provide input. January 25, 2007, Regular Board Meeting: This month’s update by Susan Heil further included another announcement about the public meeting for January 29. The Board agreed that they would like to see a summary page of the committee’s findings with the top two or three recommendations. February 22, 2007, Regular Board Meeting: Susan Heil presented the High School Select Committee final report which included the committee’s recommendation of one high school with a 9-12 grade configuration. The board voted 4-3 to support the one high school philosophy as recommended by the committee but agreed to delay the vote on grade level configuration. The board voted 7-0 to authorize the administration to determine the interest in and value of the current high school property in order to pursue options. March 15, 2007, Regular Board Meeting: Dr. Willison provided a detailed presentation regarding impacts of 9-12 grade span which included a discussion of impact on building capacity, transportation services, impact on 9th graders themselves and alignment of curriculum and services, impact on other grades, and impact on extra-curricular activities. Three scenarios for a 9-12 campus were proposed. A motion to table the discussion failed 4-3; a motion to adopt the 9-12 grade configuration passed 4-3. May 7, 2007, Special Board Workshop: This workshop was designed to allow the board to consider impacts of 21st century skills teaching and learning practices on possible building design. The board agreed on the following four key elements of curriculum: critical thinking, integrated work teams and classrooms (small learning communities), effective communication of ideas, 21st century skills.
May 14, 2007, Special Board Workshop: This workshop provided time for the board to consider possible building quality scenarios, options presented by Wes Burgess from Crafton, Tull, Inc. to address possible renovation/construction on existing high school site, and a summary of tax impact associated with various construction options presented by Lisa Morstad. May 24, 2007, Regular Board Meeting: Randy Willison presented the possible construction options for both new site and existing site development. Susan Heil proposed another scenario be developed. Dennis Hunt reported on statutory requirements of a millage election. September 27, 2007, Regular Board Meeting: Susan Heil presented a review of the work done by the FHS Select Committee in the Fall of 2006. Steve Percival asked Tim Hudson to chair a citizen committee to continue the work of the original committee. The charge is to be presented at a later date. October 25, 2007, Regular Board Meeting: Tim Hudson discussed the charge of the FHS Select Committee II and outlined some essential questions including academics, affordability, accessibility, added value, and sustainability. In addition, the primary charge to the committee would be the questions “where are we going to build the single 9-12 high school?” October 29, 2007, Special Board Workshop: The Board agreed to officially adopt a value of $59 million for the property on both sides of Stone Street. November 12, 2007, Special Board Workshop: Dr. Bobby New presented information regarding the possibility of building an urban high school on the south side of Stone Street for grades 10-12. Wes Burgess presented an architectural rendering. Dr. New reported that phase II of the project could include a 9th grade center and extracurricular testing center on the north side of Stone Street. The administration recommended to the board to eliminate high school construction option #2, which depended on sale of the property, since there is no buyer for the current high school site. December 20, 2007, Regular Board Meeting: Tim Hudson named the members who have been selected for the High School Select Committee II and announced that he would hold a first meeting in January. Members are: Jon Gheen, Harold Haller, Nancy Ho, Rich Kley, Terry Lawson, Mike Malony, Mary Lynn Mantooth, Kim Peters, Warren Rosenaur, Susie Stewart, Chad A. Scott, and Rolf Wilkin.