HOLLIDAY ISD LONG-RANGE FACILITIES PLANNING PROCESS
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
6:30 p.m.
The Holliday ISD Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee met on Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. in the Holliday Elementary Cafeteria with the following members present: Steve Ahrens, Jamie Alexander, Nicki Bomer, Stacia Boyd, Kathy Bullard, Kelly Carver, Sheila Davis, James Elms, Kara Fluty, Chris Gravitt, Brad Hardin, Stacie Kidd, Kristy Lawson, Shannon Owen, Donna Reynolds, Michele Schrandt, Ginger Shirley, Dale Thomas, and Barry Wright. The following guests were in attendance: Betty Rasmussen, Paul Simmons, Kelly Smith, Mel Hadderton, Dustin Scobee, Laura Weatherread, and Corey Walker.
Chairman Hardin called the meeting to order. He asked about corrections to the minutes of the June 12, 2012, meeting. Sheila Davis made a motion to accept the minutes, and it was seconded by Stacia Boyd. Motion passed.
Dale Thomas explained the purpose of the meeting (which was originally scheduled as the Fourth Meeting). At this meeting, committee members had the opportunity to interview the Holliday ISD Department Heads (Maintenance Director, Transportation Director, Food Service Director, CATE – Agriculture and Consumer Family Sciences, Band Director, Technology Director, Elementary Principal, Middle School Principal, High School Principal, High School Counselor, and Athletic Director).
Members of the Committee as well as guests were asked to introduce themselves.
Corey Walker, Transportation Director, was the first to report about his needs. He reported that there have been 9 routes in the past but there will be 8 for the coming school year. The Special Needs bus route will not be running. He indicated that the biggest expense he has (other than the cost of buses) is for fuel with repairs and salaries next. There is no air conditioning on the buses other than the small buses, and all routes are under one hour in length. There are 16 buses with 5 that are older and have high mileage. The two newest buses are reserved for sports/fieldtrips with the older buses running the routes. When asked if the facilities were adequate, he said, “No!” There is a severe drainage problem when it rains. The area outside the bus barn is higher than the actual floor of the bus barn. When it rains, the water from the high school parking lot runs into the area and causes water to stand which causes very slick conditions when getting off the buses. The floor of the office area also floods. Additional buses (newer ones) are needed. He indicated that 6 will need to be replaced within the next 10 years. Ideally, the school needs an activity bus such as a chartered bus. He said the yellow school buses are not designed for driving on highways for long distances, and this cause problems with the buses, causing them to breakdown. Traffic after school is a problem for the buses and parents that are picking up their children. Members discussed ways to help with this problem, and this included using the front parking lot in the afternoon for buses instead of parents.
Next to talk was Mel Hadderton, Band Director. She reported that the building used for band at one time had over 200 students throughout the day without rest room facilities. The school allowed the high school band to move to the old cafeteria. A lot of work was needed for this to be adequate and the work was done by the Holliday Band Parent Association with help from the Maintenance Department. She indicated that the items needed are a faculty bathroom (it is there but does not have plumbing), a fenced in and graveled area behind the band hall to park the band trailer. At this time it is parked at the bus barn. The school rents a truck to pull the trailer each time it is used. Ideally, the school could buy a cab for this purpose. It would cost between $20000 to $25000 to purchase a used one. Now it costs between $130 to $150 per day to lease one plus 12 cents per mile. The Transportation Director is responsible for picking it up and returning it. She reported that there are currently 3 band directors working with 110 high school band students (grades 8 – 12), 125 Jr. high school band students, and 68 fifth grade band students. Besides the band program, they teach 2 Music Therory classes and one guitar class. Their technology is ok and the instruments are ok. The school furnishes 85 to 90% of the instruments to students.
Kelly Smith, Science Department Chair, reported on the conditions of the science department. There are 3 science teachers teaching 18 sections of science each day, and there is one science lab for all of these. The State of Texas recommends that science classes include 40% lab time. He reported that the “eye wash station” has to be run for a while before a lab because of the metal pipes causing the water to be “rusty” looking. He also reported that the electrical outlets are located under the water faucets (which tend to leak) so the electricity has to be turned off of the outlets. Most of the electrical outlets do not work. He did indicate that the basic equipment works but more “up-to-date” equipment is needed. Probe readers were items that were mentioned. There are typically 20 to 25 students per class. Ideally, classrooms would be a lecture/lab combination and you would use the experiment tables only for experiments with desks used for the lecture portion of the class. Also, Biology classes need tables that are appropriate for sitting while chemistry and physic tables should be higher and made for standing. He reported that the ventilation (for Chemistry) does work.
Paul Simmons, Vocational Agriculture Chair, discussed the conditions and needs of the Ag Department. There are two teachers that teach approximately 125 students and of these students, 15 to 20 show animals for their projects. In order to offer FFA, each student is to have a record book which is now computerized. The Ag Department has purchased notebook computers but lap top computers would be better for this and more of these are needed for the students. He indicated that they need about 20 lap top computers. He also reported that more space is needed for the students to work on projects. Electrical outlets are located in the floor (which cause a tripping hazard) and that they have added a few electrical drops. More shop and classroom space is needed. The building received some damage from the 2004 storm and this has not been corrected. Other schools offer classes that Holliday ISD cannot offer (tractor restoration, horticulture, advanced animal science) because of the lack of space, tools, and facilities. Run-off from the high school parking lot flows to the area and causes students to have to wade water to get to the building. The Project Center (which houses the students’ animals) floods and is not designed for larger animals. Also, security is a problem. If the department had a plasma cam cutter, they could offer services to the community. Also, tig welders would offer the welding class to be able to learn to weld on aluminum and other types of metal. More ventilation is needed for the welding classes.
Betty Rasmussen, FCCLA teacher, reported on her department. She indicated that the classes are moving toward more service/tourism careers with culinary being a new focus area. With this trend, bigger equipment is needed as well as a gas stove. She reported that her largest expense is the food used for the classes, the sewing machines, and the “babies” used for the Child Development classes. When students are in her culinary/nutrition classes, they take the Food handlers course to receive certification in that area. She has 5 kitchen areas, 1 dishwasher, 1 refrigerator, and 1 freezer. She needs more and larger equipment in the kitchen areas and also more electrical outlets. The only computer in her department is the teacher computer so student computers are needed. She has 25 sewing machines and about 5 of those need to be replaced. There is only one vent for all of the kitchen areas. Hot water is limited when all of the kitchens are being utilized.
Terry Wolf, Athletic Director, discussed the needs of the Athletic Department. The parking lot around the fieldhouse and gym area is terrible. A bigger and better parking lot with lighting is needed. Schools in our district have approximately 3 gyms and we have one that is used for everything including sports and P.E. The school currently rents gym space from local churches. Ideally, a new competition gym would be built but a gym shell would help with the situation. The track is 23 years old and in terrible shape as it is has potholes. It needs to be replaced. More computers are needed as the district voted to use technology to share videos online. Cables are being run to handle this but new computers are needed. Tennis courts are also a need. The baseball and softball fields are in good condition because of the work of the Athletic Booster Club and parents. He reported that it would cost approximately $777,000 to place turf on the football field and redo the track. Pests continue to be a problem in the fieldhouse and gym.
Laura Weatherread, Cafeteria Manager, reported on the cafeteria. She reported that everything works well. The cafeteria is a multi-use facility and is used for various school functions and also by the community. Lunches begin around 10:45 a.m. and end around 1:30 each day and serve all grades in the school. The main problem is the middle school and high school students having to walk during bad weather (rain and/or cold).
Corey Walker also discussed maintenance issues. The high school roof leaks. He indicated that maintenance reports are turned in to the high school and then given to the superintendent. Dr. Dyes then delegates the needs to maintenance. Major items (plumbing, air conditioning/heating) are done by outside sources.
The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, July 10, 2012. Tours of the facilities will be held on Tuesday, July 17 beginning at 6:00 p.m. July 31, 2012, will be the 5th meeting.
Sheila Davis made a motion to adjourn the meeting. James Elms seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Reynolds, Secretary