Allenstown Schools

Space Needs Committee Minutes

October 12, 2005

Allenstown Elementary School

 

 

Ben Fontaine called the meeting to order at 6:35pm in the Allenstown Elementary Library.

 

The following members were in attendance:

 

Ben Fontaine, Chairman

Capt. Sean Mulholland, Vice Chairman

Karen LaPlume, Secretary

Tom Irzyk

Al Paradise

Dennis Carmichael

Sandra McKenney

Stedman Holton

Ann Viar

Larry Anderson

 

Ben Fontaine asked the committee to give their recommendation for expansion based on their observations from the Assessment of Educational Facility Needs (AEFN) for the Allenstown School District developed by New Hampshire School Administrators Association dated October 2001.

 

Stedman Holton suggested moving 5^th & 6^th grade over to the Allenstown Elementary School and update the Armand R. Dupont Middle School as needed to house only 7^th & 8^th graders. Tom Irzyk pointed out that this plan would require the need to build a new cafeteria as the gymnasium/cafeteria combination would not work for this many students. Tom also pointed out that this plan may require the need for additional road access via Houle Avenue and would eliminate the lower athletic field that both schools currently use.

 

Larry Anderson proposed building one school to house Kindergarten thru 8^th Grade with the office and cafeteria in the center and “wings” off the hub housing various grade levels. This would allow for one building, one heating expense, one electric expense, etc. Larry questioned if AES sits on enough acerage to accommodate such an expansion. Ann Viar belevied that the orginal structure/plans for AES was such that a complete 3^rd floor could be built. Tom Irzyk reviewed the plan and noted that the 1998 plan addressed adding a 3^rd floor over the Kindergarten wing only.

 

Al Paradise noted that if the committee wishes to act on an expansion project for AES next year we will need to work with one of the choices already outlined in the AEFN plan.

 

Ann Viar liked option 3 of the AEFN plan and does not feel this would be a short term fix; Ann believes this option would provide for another 10 – 15 years.

 

Sandy McKenney discussed the walk through at ARD and noted several safety issues. Sandy felt we should move 5^th grade to AES but focus a majority of our efforts on repairs to ARD.

 

Captain Mulholland stated that there are several capital improvement projects for the town coming up over the next several years. He noted that every year we put off the expansion to the school the costs increase. Captain Mulholland feels we have an opportunity now because the state will pay 60% of the expenses for the expansion. He cautioned the committee about spending too much money on ARD now if the committee feels they will be going to the tax payers in a few years for a new school.  He recommended we go with a plan to move 5^th grade over to AES now and then begin working on a plan for a new school in the coming years. Captain Mulholland also noted that there is minimal land available in Allenstown if we were to consider beginning a search for a new school location we may need to act quickly.

 

Dennis Carmichael noted his concerns with safety issues at ARD. He feels option A will meet the needs for Kindergarten through 5^th grade for many years but can not ignore the issues at ARD. Dennis questioned if there may be federal money available for improvements by way of special needs students.  

 

Ben Fontaine expressed his thoughts that we do need to address the spacing needs and we do need to act quickly. He feels that option A appears to be the best solution but we need to solve the safety issues at ARD as well. Ben questioned if the School Board was aware of these issues. Tom Irzyk noted that over $300,000 of the School Board Budget surplus was returned to the town last year. If the School Board were made aware of any of these issues they would have been taken care of from this surplus.

 

The Space Needs Committee asked Tom to follow up with the schools insurance company to complete an inspection of the school and provide the committee with a list of the issues. Tom noted that the insurance company will then require these issues be addressed in a relatively small timeframe.  

Ben Fontaine would support option A but would request that the modular at ARD remain to possibly accommodate some of the required classes to meet the State Minimum Standards.  Tom suggested that we may want to research the cost purchase the module as the lease is quite costly; this expense could be included in the bond.

 

Stedman Holton questioned if the committee would like to move forward with option A. Ben Fontaine questioned the assignment of the actual classes in the plan and asked if the architect could attend the next meeting.

 

Tom Irzyk will request the Architect and Building Manager attend the next meeting. Tom will also contact Tom Haley of SAU #53 to determine the actual deadlines for applying for the Bond.

 

Tom Irzyk made a motion to accept the minutes from the last meeting. Larry Stedman seconded.

 

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 19^th at 6:30pm in the Allenstown Elementary School Library.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:05pm.