The Garden City Telegram
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Decision broadens facilities plan
Published 3/12/2008 in News : Area coverage
By EMILY BEHLMANN
ebehlmann@gctelegram.com
In the USD 457 Board of Education's recent discussions on facilities, most of the focus has been on how to alleviate the crowding that staff and board members say creates problems at Garden City High School.
But the board's decision on that front -- proposing a bond issue to replace GCHS with a new, larger building -- would have a trickle-down effect on USD 457 buildings even at the early childhood level. The additional changes were recommended by administrators as the steps to follow high school replacement.
The USD 457 Board of Education on Saturday approved a facilities plan that would involve a bond issue to pay for the following steps:
n Construct a new high school with space for 2,250 students, with room for expansion to house 2,500 students.
n Convert the current GCHS main building into a middle school, primarily for Abe Hubert Middle School students and staff, though some of those who otherwise would attend Kenneth Henderson Middle School also could wind up at the building.
According to a proposal from administrators, one goal of this move is to eliminate the 14 modular classrooms being used at the two middle schools.
n Convert Abe Hubert Middle School into an elementary school for use by Garfield Elementary School students and staff.
n Convert Garfield into an early childhood building that would centralize programs currently spread among elementary schools.
A report presented to the board by Assistant Superintendent Shelly Kiblinger and Special Education Director Karen Johnson discusses several benefits of centralized programs, as determined by a committee. They include sharing of equipment, supplies and staff; more age-appropriate activities and parent meetings; and more efficient transportation.
The cons of an early childhood center, according to the committee, included the need for students to transition to another building for kindergarten, possibility of a longer bus trip and a lack of older students to serve as role models.
n Develop J.D. Adams Hall, adjacent to GCHS, for other uses, such as an alternative school, a virtual school or a day treatment center.
The district has stated a goal of expanding its alternative school -- now a ninth-to-12th-grade building at 1401 Buffalo Jones Ave. called New Outlook Academy -- so that it also includes seventh and eighth grades. However, Superintendent Rick Atha told board members Saturday that plans for J.D. Adams Hall remain uncertain.
Also uncertain is the cost of the plans. A price tag won't be put on the bond issue until building plans for the new high school, plus modifications at the other buildings, are finalized, likely in late July or early August. However, initial estimates from the district, most developed with help from architect Stewart Nelson, place the overall project cost at between $90 million and $95 million.
The bond issue is set to appear on the ballot during the general election in November.
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