Victoria Advocate On-Line

New Shiner combined campus holds first tour
Saturday, September 18, 2006
Barry Halvorson, Victoria Advocate Reporter

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SHINER - The first public tour of the new Shiner school campus currently under construction drew positive reviews from school board members and local residents on Wednesday.

The $7.2 million construction project will provide the district with a combined elementary, middle school and high school campus. It includes a classroom building with elementary grades on the ground floor and middle school and high school classrooms on the second floor. The classroom building will be connected by an enclosed breezeway to a second building that will include science and computer labs, administrative offices, a cafeteria and kitchen, gymnasium, locker rooms and rooms for the fine arts and vocational programs.
click to enlarge photo
Project architect Jim Singleton, far right, led the first public tour of the new Shiner school campus for board members and the public. The $7.2 million project will provide the district with a combined elementary, middle school and high school campus. (click image above to enlarge)
Barry Halvorson, Victoria Advocate


During the tour, architect Jim Singleton of JSA Architects estimated the work was about 60 percent complete. He said a lot of thought went into the design to make it energy efficient in the future, including adding awnings over windows that would face the sun in the hottest time of the day.

Wednesday's tour was the first time many of the board members and the public had toured the construction.

"I think Singleton said that he could build it for $7 million and build it to budget and it looks like that's what is being done," said Mary Martin, Shiner resident. "I'm impressed with what I saw today. I think the kids will love it."

Another district resident Leta Wright, who has spoken against the lease-purchase funding used to finance the new campus, said she liked what she saw.

"I don't think anyone would disagree that the children needed a new school," she said. "I'm not in the construction business and I hope the building is in good shape. But I was glad that people had the opportunity to come out and see the building."

District resident Betty Kosler said she liked what she sees so far but added that she's waiting until the project is closer to completion before having a more definite opinion.

"It looks great so far but I worry about a lot of the little things," she said. "Things like traffic management and the interfacing of the more adult students with the younger children. And I'm still waiting to see what the district is going to do with the old school buildings. But they've done a good job so far and I'm impressed with how hard everyone is working."

Singleton stressed workers are working hard to made the deadline of Dec. 20. "The next 30 to 60 days will be the key to that question," Singleton said. "If Sterling continues to work at the current pace, they might be able to make the deadline without having to invoke the weather clauses in the contract."

If the deadline is met, then the staff can move over the Christmas holidays.

Board member Laura Kaspar is cautiously optimist the deadline can be achieved.

"I've taken several tours," she said. "I visited three weeks ago and the progress compared to just then has been amazing. I'm impressed with the layout and space in the building. Our science labs will be triple the size of what we have know. It is a very well thought out design. Personally, I think the building is exceeding expectations in what has been a very involved building project. I'm also impressed with the caliber of the people involved and I've had outside contractors comment to me on how good a job they've done in the past and are doing for us."

Board member Gloria Reindl, who was taking her first tour, said that some things have been left out of the initial design.

"I've always been against the way the building is financed and my major concern is keeping the school district solvent," she said. "We've had to go basic but if the money does not run out and we complete the building I'll be delighted. But people have to understand the picture (artist's rendering) of the building given to the district will not look like the finished product. But I'm excited as everyone else. I was the board president when the project to build a new facility was started."

During the regular meeting following the tour, Superintendent Trey Lawrence said one item deleted from the building project was the superintendent administrative offices. He said there is a vacant building with 2,000 square feet of floor space that is near the campus. It also has two parking areas. He said the district could purchase the building for less then the cost of building new. He added it could also be an investment property for the district and re-sold if the board chooses to build offices on the campus.

The board gave approval for him to approach the realtor about the building with trustee Michael Huser adding some conditions. He said that much of the air conditioning system and parking lots were original and could soon need maintenance. He said that he would like to see cost estimates of that work as well as when that work might need to be done.

Reindl said that as a board member she was placing the responsibility with Lawrence.

"My position is we shouldn't look at purchasing anything at this time if it is a threat to our fund balance or the construction project," she said. "But you're our manager and if you think the district can afford it and it is feasible then you should go forward with it."

Lawrence said the district has received a superior 2004-2005 financial integrity rating from the Texas Education Agency. He said there were 21 rating indicators used by the state and the district received a "no" on only one indicator - the district has too high of a fund balance. He added the district will be audited in October, which will provide a more precise picture of the district's financial standing.

Barry Halvorson is a reporter for The Victoria Advocate.
Contact him at 361-798-3888, or by e-mail at hvilladv@vicad.com.


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