Fairfield Woods Middle School Funding Request For Proposed - - PDF document

Fairfield Woods Middle School Funding Request For Proposed Modifications and Additions

Presented By Fairfield Woods Building Committee January 27th 2010 corrected 2-9-2010

Town of Fairfield, Connecticut

Fairfield Woods Building Committee

REPORT AND REQUEST FOR FUNDING January 27, 2010 The Fairfield Woods Building Committee has completed their review of Fairfield Woods Middle School, and hereby requests funding in the amount of $24,203,000 to complete the work necessary for increasing the capacity of Fairfield Woods Middle School to 825-840 students, to correct existing code deficiencies and to complete other necessary upgrades in the school as identified in an Existing Conditions Survey completed by the architect (Exhibit A). Pursuant to its charge, the Committee was authorized to plan and construct an annex or addition as recommended by the Middle School Feasibility Committee report and the Board of Education's adopted long term plan of ten to twelve classrooms and to consider and plan other limited space improvements as appropriate (Exhibit B). The Committee hired an architect, Randall Luther, of Tai Soo Kim Partners, and estimators, Ty Tregellas and Todd Moss of Turner Construction Co., obtained the existing conditions survey, reviewed the site and conducted numerous meetings to determine the best approach for meeting its charge. Several design options were considered, debated and revised before a final conceptual design was approved by the Committee on January 14, 2010 with the amount of this funding request approved January 21, 2010. The approved design, known as Option D, is illustrated in the attached Exhibit C. The work to be completed would include:

1) A two story addition that will allow moving the 7th grade to the second floor space presently occupied by the sixth grade, providing additional classrooms on the new upper floor. The first floor now occupied by the 8th grade would receive additional classroom space on the first floor of the addition. 2) A one story addition and extension of the first floor corridor to the unified arts area to join together the new two story addition to the unified arts area and also improve circulation. 3) In addition, two art rooms would be relocated in the one story addition, freeing up two classrooms for use by the sixth grade. The Committee reviewed two other alternative designs shown in Exhibits D and E. However the chosen design minimizes the site impact and bulk coverage and is the best design from an educational perspective, keeping the grades together, incorporating flexible space within each grade, and providing support for the team teaching concept. The sixth grade area will also be renovated by adding special education space and relocating the computer lab. Two existing boilers will be removed and the space converted into a new computer lab. Two other existing boilers will be replaced with two dual fuel high efficiency boilers of large enough capacity to serve the entire school including the newly created space discussed

• above. This portion of the project funding request amounts to $7,867,000.

To accommodate the additional population, the existing cafeteria and kitchen must be expanded. A 4,116 sq ft. addition with associated renovations will be completed. The cost will be $1,481,000 (See Exhibit F for cost estimate). To accommodate the additional population, an additional Physical Education station is required. At present only the Gymnasium is large enough to undertake team activities, and an addition will be added providing a space large enough to accommodate team activities, as well as providing a much needed secondary passageway linking the music area to the 7th and 8th grade wing

which should help reduce crowding in the corridor adjacent the cafeteria. The cost will be $1,987,000. There are a number of areas through out the school which require attention to meet ADA code requirements, and other areas where minor renovations could free up additional space and improve efficiency. The cost to complete the minor renovations and code upgrades will be $1,284,000. The existing media center has areas that are not handicap accessible. Also, the presence of an upper/lower split area makes the media center less able to handle larger student groups. This becomes more of a problem with the additional student population. The media center will be renovated to correct these deficiencies and the adjacent nurse area which lacked sufficient examination space will be expanded. The cost to complete these changes will be $595,000. Fairfield Woods Middle School has no auditorium. Presently events such as concerts are held in the Gymnasium. When this occurs, the Gymnasium becomes unavailable for Physical Education before and after the event as folding chairs must be set up for use. For internal assemblies, the students typically sit on the floor. The Committee noted the numerous educational uses for the Auditorium (Exhibit G), noted that both Tomlinson and Roger Ludlowe Middle Schools have Auditoriums and that Fairfield Woods, once the above work is completed, would have the second largest middle school population. The Committee noted that the Education Specification adopted by the Board of Education (Exhibit H) calls for an Auditorium with a population of 840 students. The Committee also received substantial public comment in favor of adding an auditorium including educators, parents, the PTA, and representatives of the adjacent Fairfield Woods Library which may make use of an Auditorium. The Committee felt the curriculum could not be adequately and equivalently delivered without the addition of the auditorium, given that the two other middle schools have auditoriums. Consequently, the Committee believes strongly that

an auditorium is a necessary space improvement and must be included as part

• f this funding request. The cost will be $4,827,000.

In addition to the above, there will be associated site work, such as relocating parking areas, landscaping, etc., estimated to cost $1,321,000. Soft costs for the above are identified in the attached conceptual estimate as prepared by Turner Construction. The soft costs are estimated at 25% of the total cost of the above additions and renovations. The soft costs total $4,841,000. The changes that will be made are as follows: net ten (10) new full size classrooms will be added; four (4) new smaller classrooms for use as Special Education, English as a Second Language, ISS and reading classrooms; two existing World Language classrooms will become a secondary guidance suite and a Special Education room; existing space above the original stage will be converted to become two 7th grade classrooms; an existing computer lab will become two new 6th grade Special Education classrooms; the boiler room will become the new computer lab; two new dual fuel high efficiency boilers will replace the four existing boilers; code upgrades will be made throughout the existing building; the nurse area will be expanded to include additional examination space; the Media center mezzanine level will be removed and the lower level raised to provide a larger single level floor space; the media center computer area will be revised to improve utilization; additional cafeteria space, kitchen space and a renovated faculty dining area will be provided; a new Auxiliary Gym will be built with an associated linking corridor; and,

a new Auditorium will be built. The total cost for this funding request is thus $24,203,000. This is in addition to the initial seed funding already approved of $250,000, which has been committed to the cost of completing the feasibility and conceptual design aspects of this project, and associated expenses. Respectfully requested, on behalf of the Fairfield Woods Building Committee, William J. Sapone William J. Sapone Chairman Fairfield Woods Building Committee William J. Sapone, Chairman Doreen Battimelli, Vice Chair Dan McKnight Richard Kornutik Victor DeMaria Jennifer Tierney Neil Fink Kim Marshall Chad Stewart

EXHIBIT A

EXHIBIT B

Committee Charge

TOWN OF FAIRFIELD FAIRFIELD WOODS MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE COMMITTEE CHARGE A Fairfield Woods Middle School Building Committee (FWBC) shall be established to plan, coordinate and supervise construction of necessary school space at Fairfield Woods Middle School as defined below. The FWBC shall organize their scope of work and estimate costs as authorized by this charge. The FWBC may be guided to the extent practicable by the recent report of the Selectmen’s Middle School Space Feasibility Committee and also by educational specifications to be approved or revised by the Board of Education. The FWBC is authorized to plan and construct an annex or addition as recommended by the middle school feasibility committee report, and the BOE’s adopted long term Plan, of 10‐12 new classrooms within existing site constraints. The FWBC shall also be authorized to consider and plan other limited space improvements as appropriate and the Committee shall come back to the Board of Selectmen as soon as possible with a recommended conceptual design and cost

• estimate. When ready, a funding request will be presented to appropriate town

bodies. The FWBC is authorized to retain an architect for site review, design and contract administration, and may retain additional consultants as may be required in accordance with Town selection and procurement requirements. The FWBC shall retain a construction management team to accomplish necessary construction. The FWBC shall consist of not less than 7 and not more than 9 members. The committee shall maintain minutes and an orderly record and shall comply with Town and State statues and regulations. The FWBC shall follow all practices

• utlined in town building committee manuals and reports. The FWBC shall be

authorized to approve all state education department required submissions and to submit for all state reimbursements for which such project is eligible. Members of the FWBC shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen and confirmed by the RTM. This Committee shall report to the Board of Selectmen through the office of the First Selectman and shall issue periodic reports to the Town Facilities Commission (TFC). *Adopted by BOS on 6/3/09

EXHIBIT C

Recommended Option D

After reviewing numerous options, the Building Committee chose Option D, including provision for an

• Auditorium. This was done for several reasons including:
• It meets the Board of Education Specifications.
• Principal Greg Hatzis recommends it.
• It offers significant short and long term flexibility.
• It has a smaller footprint, therefore less site impact.

Proposed Site Plan Option D

The proposed site plan would leave the main entrance and bus loop intact. The current parent drop off and pick up would remain as it exists. Parking would be expanded to offset the loss from the auditorium and an additional driveway is proposed for Fairfield Woods Road.

EXHIBIT D

Rejected Option A‐1

Option A‐1 proposed a single story addition to the 6th and 8th grade wing. This meant shifting some of the spaces into the corridor bordering the 7th grade wing and had less flexibility.

EXHIBIT E

Rejected Option Option B‐1

Option B‐1 impacted the site significantly. It would cause the parent drop off/pick up loop to be relocated. The addition of two separate classroom additions required significant grading as well as increased sprawl.

EXHIBIT F

Estimated cost for Option D

The Conceptual Estimate reflects the anticipated cost for the completed project. Actual costs will be determined after competitive bidding and value engineering.

EXHIBIT G

The object

Fairfield Woods

MEMO

TO: FWBC FROM: Greg Hatzis, Principal DATE: 1/25/2010 RE: Questions regarding auditorium (2pgs) Educational Uses of an Auditorium: Benefits for students:

• 1. Team/Grade level meeting space. (We currently use the team room, which is too small

for a whole grade, or the stairwell of the library media center, which is too small for teams in Grade 7 and 8 and causes safety concerns).

• 2. Advisory program space (informing entire grade levels of important info, programs)
• 3. Guest speakers, author visits and presentations to larger groups (e.g. Veteran’s Day,

Internet safety, drug/alcohol awareness, bullying, motivational, magazine drive, writer’s craft)

• 4. Multimedia presentations to large groups (films, etc.)
• 5. Transition orientations – 5th to 6th grade or 8th to 9th grade
• 6. Extra-curricular: mock trial, improv club, drama club, math team competition, student

council

• 7. Awards presentations
• 8. Performance Center, for groups such as:
• all Music programs: Band, Orchestra, Chorus
• Madrigals
• Drama club
• Dance team/Drill team/Cheerleaders

Benefits for Parents/Community

• 9. Parent meetings, PTSA meetings, principal coffees
• 10. Teams will host parent informational meetings to inform them of curriculum programs
• 11. Orientation meetings for new parents/students
• 12. Cultural center – for Woods Branch Library, other schools, outside groups

Benefits for faculty:

• 13. Professional Development meeting space
• 14. Faculty meetings

IMPACT ON CURRICULUM DELIVERY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION List of current uses of the gymnasium --causing cancellation of PE Fall: Sept. –Dec. (13-15 dates) Magazine Drive Launch Bullying Presentation to 6th graders Author/Speaker Visits (4-5 in the fall) e.g. 39 Clues Authors, Hope for Ariang, Jake Halpern Veteran’s Day activities Presentation of Alternative HS options e.g. Aquaculture and Agri-Science-(required by law) Pep Rally (we limit to one per year to reduce use of gym) Winter Concert (affects 4 consecutive days)– PE students attend study hall Spring: Jan.-June (18-20 dates) Author/Speaker Visits (4-5 in the spring) e.g. Save the Children, Peter Abraham, Chariots of the Sun (Greek mythology) Internet Safety Anti-Bullying campaign (“Names can Really Hurt Me”) Anti-Drug/Alcohol presentation Medieval Festival Drama Production (affects 3 consecutive days) 5th grade Parent orientation meeting Spring Concert (affects 4 consecutive days) Awards ceremony Closing exercises TOTAL per Year: 31-35 times per year we will cancel some PE classes for use of the gym We try to minimize use of the gym so we don’t cancel PE more. The following list highlights

OTHER COSTS OF NOT HAVING A SPACE LARGE ENOUGH FOR A WHOLE GRADE LEVEL:

In the start of year, the Dean conducts a behavior/rules review – 10 separate meetings instead

• f 3 grade level meetings (loss of staff time and library access)

8th graders-- High School schedule – We must present in multiple waves instead of gathering all students at once for consistent message / hearing each others’ questions Custodian time devoted to setting up and striking chairs for audiences Any use of Team Room by outside groups related to the school leaves us with no common gathering room (e.g. PTSA runs the book drive – 1 week; Mill River Training, Curriculum writing, Transportation Dept., StarLab) Using library or band room as common meeting space means lack of access to these spaces – disrupting media/technology and music curricula IMPACT ON EXTRA-CURRICULARS Winter basketball season ends early (i.e. fewer games than other schools) to accommodate appropriate meeting time for the drama club, which must also use the gymnasium for its early spring musical. No after school intramural sports for the months of February, March, or April (drama club)

EXHIBIT H