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R-2 Board Hears Buildings Report Many of the district’s school sites are too small and its buildings have drainage and structural issues related to age. Several safety and security issues exist in the buildings and the school buildings present challenges to both teachers and students. Dwight Dickinson, of Dickinson Hussman Architects, of St. Louis, Mo., delivered that news yesterday (Wednesday) during a special meeting held at district headquarters. The presentation marked the end of the first of two phases leading to a district-wide long range facilities plan which, district officials say, will be finished in December. The board hired the firm, Dickinson Hussman Architects, of St. Louis, Mo., last fall after an anonymous donor gave the district $20,000 to foot the majority of the project’s cost. Since it was hired, the firm’s architects and their team of consultants have examined each building (except Garrison and the high school) and asked the district’s staff for input in compiling a list of liabilities and deficiencies for each school. According to Dwight Dickinson, who led the majority of the presentation, the district’s buildings were measured by standards adapted by the Council of Educational Facility Planners. Each individual school building, he explained, was evaluated on several levels including school site, structure, mechanical/electrical/technology, plant maintainability, building and site safety and security, and educational adequacy. Dickinson admitted that, by its very nature, the presentation would seem negative in tone, because it compiles a long list of deficiencies in the district’s student population centers. “We know the school buildings you have served the district well for many years,” Dickinson said. However, he noted that, because of the advanced age of several of the district’s buildings, structural problems have become evident. “And, we need to determine if these buildings can support today’s curriculum,” he said. Dr. Linda Gray Smith, R-2 superintendent, said the inspections and subsequent presentation is “like doing an audit.” “They (the architectural firm) find all the negatives, but that’s what we’re after,” she said. The superintendent added that from this process, the district will have valuable information to identify what the facility problems of the district are and be used to shape a “good, solid plan of attack” of how to address those issues so they last for 20 or 30 years. In beginning the presentation, Dickinson said the majority of the student population centers in the district — Dewey, Field, Central and Grand River Technical School — are too small. National standards, he said, recommend at least a 30-acre site for a 9-12 facility, 20 acres for middle schools, and 10 acres for elementary schools. An additional acre is recommended for each 100 students at all grade levels. "When comparing the district's campuses to these national standards, it becomes readily apparent why vehicular/pedestrian conflicts and inadequate parking are ongoing safety-related problems," Dickinson said. He added that this is particularly true at the three elementary campuses as well as the Grand River Vocational Technical School. In listing other site problems within the district, the architect also noted that all schools, except the vocational technical center, are experiencing drainage problems. "It's to the point that water is infiltrating into Central Elementary and the Chillicothe Middle School with the possibility of creating conditions for mold to occur and undermining of building footings," Dickinson said. Asphalt and concrete pavement deterioration is also a problem at the majority of the school buildings - especially at the Grand River Technical School and the middle school, he said. Because of the age of the GRTS, middle school, Central, Field and Dewey School, Dickinson said there are many structure-related issues that have manifested and need to be addresses to stabilize the structural integrity of the buildings. Handicapped accessibility problems and non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act are found throughout all five buildings, Dickinson said. He added that all buildings (excluding the GRTS) are experiencing deterioration in foundations possibly due to poor bearing capacity of the soil below the footings or poor drainage, undermining the soil beneath the footings. Dickinson also noted that severe cracking and settlement is occurring in the floors at Dewey, Field and the middle school. Water is also infiltrating into the basement at Dewey and Central schools. The problem, he added, is particularly worrisome as water pools in front of the elevator at Central School, causing a safety concern from a slipping standpoint. The evaluations also found:
In the evaluation of five campuses within the last four to five years, they did not address code mandated requirements, such as providing appropriate ventilation in areas of the buildings such as corridors and entry areas. There is also no exhaust in toilet areas, nor is there air conditioning in sensitive areas like kitchens. "Staff and principal input indicated unacceptably poor performance from these systems in the form of inadequate heat, cooling, and musty-like odors emanating from the buildings. Lack of exhaust of toilets is especially unpleasant," he said. The report also found:
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