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.
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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)
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Barry Halvorson, Victoria Advocate
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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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