GROVE CITY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Transcription

1 GROVE CITY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT PROJECT DESCRIPTION BOOKLET FOR ACT 34 HEARING GROVE CITY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS HILLVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 482 EAST MAIN STREET EXTENSION GROVE CITY, PA :00 PM AT THE GROVE CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL 100 MIDDLE SCHOOL DRIVE GROVE CITY, PA SEPTEMBER 25, 2017

2 PROJECT DIRECTORY GROVE CITY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION Mrs. Roberta Hensle President Mr. Paul Gubba Vice President Mrs. Heather Baker Mr. Bill Norris Mrs. Carolyn Oppenheimer Mr. Darrell Reppart Dr. Armando C. Sciullo Mr. John Scott Somora Mr. John Scott Somora II Mr. Andrew Evankovich Solicitor Mrs. Kimberly Buchanan Board Secretary GROVE CITY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION Dr. Jeffrey Finch Dr. Joshua Weaver Mrs. Kimberly Buchanan Mrs. Tammi Martin Superintendent Assistant Superintendent Business Manager Hillview Elementary Principal ARCHITECT, ECKLES ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING Mr. David A. Esposito, AIA Mr. Mark E. Scheller, AIA Principal Principal / Project Architect Mr. Mike Arnold Mr. Rob Schirripa CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, CANNON DESIGN FINANCIAL ADVISOR Ms. Jamie Doyle PFM Financial Advisors LLC

3 Additions and Alterations Hillview Elementary School AGENDA Act 34 Hearing At the Grove City Middle School September 25, 2017 at 6:00 PM 1. Welcoming Remarks Dr. Jeffrey Finch, Superintendent 2. Purpose / Procedures for ACT 34 Hearing... Andrew Evankovich, Solicitor 3. Project Need..Dr. Jeffrey Finch, Superintendent 4. Alternatives Considered.Mr. Mark E. Scheller Eckles Architecture 5. Project Design Mr. Mark E. Scheller, Eckles Architecture 6. Project Capital Costs a. Maximum Building Construction Cost..Mr. David A. Esposito, A.I.A. b. Maximum Project Costs Dr. Jeffrey Finch, Superintendent 7. Cost Analysis a. Financial Manager.Ms. Jamie Doyle, Financial Advisor i. Financing Methods ii. Annual Amortization of Capital Costs iii. State Reimbursement 8. Total Budgetary Impact...Ms. Jamie Doyle, Financial Advisor 9. Questions and Comments Dr. Jeffrey Finch, Superintendent Public comment will first be taken from those individuals who pre-requested time on the agenda by contacting the Board Secretary Mrs. Kimberly Buchanan, 511 Highland Avenue, Grove City, Pa prior to 12 noon on September 22, 2017 in writing. Comment will be taken from the floor next. Public comment will be limited to five minutes per individual. Written comments will be received by the Board Secretary until 12:00 noon October 25, 2017 (minimum 30 days after the meeting). The material provided in this packet is provided for the review, study and consideration of all citizens of the Grove City Area School District having interest in the proposed Additions and Alterations, Hillview Elementary School project. Information is provided in summary form and represents the Grove City Area School District Board of School Directors practice of keeping the public informed of all details associated with the project. AGENDA

4 Additions and Alterations Hillview Elementary School TABLE OF CONTENTS Part I School Board Resolution and Certificate pages 3-4 Act 34 Public Advertisement page 5 Project Need page 6-8 Options Considered pages 9-21 Project Description pages Enrollment Projections pages Site Plan page 42 Floor Plans page Plancon A - Summary of Owned Buildings page 45 Part II Plancon D Project Accounting page Project Accounting based on Estimates Additional Project Costs Detailed Costs Maximum Building Construction Cost Analysis of Financing Alternatives page Analysis of Alternatives State Reimbursement Indirect Costs Debt Service Schedules page Table of Contents

5 PART I GROVE CITY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS HILLVIEW INTERMEDIATE CENTER RESOLUTION ADOPTED AUGUST 14, 2017 AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THAT A PUBLIC HEARING BE HELD TO REVIEW A SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT; DETERMINING THE DATE, TIME AND LOCATION OF THE HEARING; STATING THE TYPE OF FACILITY TO BE CONSTRUCTED, THE MAXIMUM PROJECT COST AND THE MAXIMUM BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COSTS; STATING AVAILABILITY OF A PROJECT DESCRIPTION; STATING THE MANNER BY WHICH A RESIDENT MAY GAIN AGENDA TIME OR SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY; AND RESCINDING, CANCELLING AND ANNULLING INCONSISTENT RESOLUTIONS. WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Grove City Area School District, Mercer County, Pennsylvania (the School District ) has determined to undertake a capital project consisting of contracting, building, furnishing and equipping an Alterations and Additions Project at Hillview Intermediate Center(the Project ); and WHEREAS, Section of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. Sections ) ( Act 34 ) requires that a public hearing be held prior to building a public school project (the Hearing ); and WHEREAS, certain information must be disclosed to the public at the Hearing. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ADOPTED AND RESOLVED by the Board of School Directors as follows: Section 1. The maximum project cost for the Project is determined to be $ 37,600,000 and the maximum building construction cost is determined to be $19,429,693. Section 2. In Accordance with the provisions of the School Code, the Hearing on the Project shall be held on Monday September 25, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. in the Large Group Instruction Room of the Grove City Middle School, 100 Middle School Drive, Grove City, Pa The Secretary of the Board of School Directors is hereby authorized and directed to cause a notice of the Hearing to be advertised in accordance with Act 34. Section 3. A description of the Project is available and may be obtained in the Office of the District Superintendent, at the school district administration offices, 511 Highland Avenue, Grove City, Pa on weekdays during normal business hours commencing on September 1, Section 4. The Hearing shall be open to all residents of the school district who may gain agenda time by submitting their names to the Secretary of the Board of School Directors prior to the commencement of the Hearing. Written testimony and questions may also be submitted to the Secretary of the Board of School Directors prior to the commencement of the Hearing. Questions will be received from the floor. Section 5. All resolutions or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, rescinded, cancelled and annulled. ADOPTED by the Board of School Directors this 14th day of August, School Board Resolution and Certificate Page 3 of 57

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7 Notice of Public Hearing To all residents of the Grove City Area School District of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Please take notice that a public hearing will be held in the Large Group Instruction Room of the Grove City Middle School, 100 Middle School Drive, Grove City, Pa 16127, on Monday, September 25, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. local prevailing time, for the purpose of reviewing all relevant matters pertaining to the construction and equipping of the Additions and Alterations to Hillview Elementary School. The hearing related to the Hillview Elementary School will begin at 6:00 p.m. A description of the project, including facts with respect to educational, physical, administrative, budgetary and fiscal matters related to the project will be presented and will be available for consideration at such public hearing. The booklets will be available September 1, 2017 during business hours of the School District (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday) at the District Administration Office located at 511 Highland Avenue, Grove City, Pa The Board of School Directors of the School District, by resolution duly adopted, has authorized a Maximum Project Cost of $ 37,600,000 and a Maximum Building Construction Cost of $19,429,693 in connection with the Hillview project. This public hearing is being held pursuant to requirements of the Pennsylvania Public School Code of 1949, approved March 10, 1949, as amended and supplemented, including amendments made pursuant to Act 34 of the Session of 1973 of the General Assembly. All residents are invited to attend. Anyone wishing agenda time, or wishing to submit written testimony or both, should contact the Secretary of the Board of School Directors until 12:00 noon, Friday, September 22, Additional testimony will be received from the floor at the hearing. Public comments will be limited to five minutes per individual. Written comments regarding the projects will be received by the Secretary of the Board of School Directors until 12:00 noon, Wednesday, October 25, GROVE CITY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT Mercer County, Pennsylvania Mrs. Kimberly Buchanan Board Secretary Notice of Public Hearing Page 5 of 57

8 PROJECT NEED Located in western Pennsylvania between Pittsburgh and Erie, and easily accessible from route 80 and route 79, the Grove City Area School District encompasses the borough of Grove City and the surrounding townships of Liberty, Pine, Springfield, and Wolf Creek. The District covers 86.8 square miles, and serves a local population of approximately 17,770 residents. In the school year, the district provided educational services 2,489 students. Currently, the District s elementary programs are serviced through two separate school buildings. Highland Elementary houses grades Kindergarten and 1, and grades 3 through 5 are provided at Hillview Elementary. Highland Elementary consists of approximately 40,000 square feet and was constructed in 1961 with renovations in Hillview Elementary consists of approximately 79,000 square feet and was constructed in 1974 with renovations in During the summer of 2014, District leaders began an initiative named Grove City The purpose of Grove City 2040 was to look strategically at the public education system and prepare the District to thrive educationally, remain fiscally solvent, and to serve as a cornerstone for community use well into the future. The planning for this initiative evolved over a two-year time span involving small and large group meetings that engaged the community, architects, administrators and the Board of School Directors. Early in the process, three guiding questions were identified and used to support the framework of this initiative. The questions were: 1) What role will the school system play in the community in the future? 2) What type of learning will occur? 3) What learning spaces are required to facilitate future focused learning? In order to investigate the answers to these guiding questions, a citizen s action group was formed. The purpose of the group was to explore possibilities, consider opportunities and generate a community dialogue. The scope of the project was narrowed into seven areas of expertise that included: real estate, community partners, learning tools and pedagogy, safety and security, athletics, facilities and educational spaces. The citizen s action committee met three times in a large group setting. Each committee was assisted by a School Board member who served as a facilitator, an architect who served as an expert and an administrator who served as a liaison. The groups also met in small group meetings to accomplish predetermined goals. As a result of this great effort, the Grove City 2040 report was submitted to the Board of School Directors on September 8, 2015 by ECKLES Architecture and Engineering. The report included detailed information in the categories of: 1) Strategic Vision and Forward 2) Executive Summary 3) Existing Conditions (of all existing District facilities) 4) Citizen Advisory Committees 5) Short Term Recommendations Project Need Page 6 of 57

9 6) Potential Future Options During the school year, the effort of the District to involve community stakeholders in the decision making and design process continued with a series of three organized community engagements named charrettes. District leaders invited community members, higher education, business and industry partners to participate in activities designed to help identify educational program needs in relation to the potential design of a consolidated Kindergarten through grade 5 elementary building. The project now being developed for Hillview Elementary is a direct extension of the concepts explored during the Grove City 2040 Study and a thoughtful response to the needs identified in the community charrettes. When considering the original guiding questions, the following response help to illustrate the project needs in alignment with the multiyear effort of an engaged community: Q What role will the school district play in the community in the future? A The proposed Hillview Elementary design will help the school district play an active role in the community in the future. The programmatic design will be such that the community will benefit greatly from features of the facility and the accessibility of the various elements of the facility will welcome increased utilization by a greater scope of community members. Spaces within the facility will be safely secured from the rest of the building and be easily accessed during the after school hours. Community partnerships can be developed with neighboring institutions to provide educational programs that may not be available to community members at the present time. The design of the building will enable flexible spaces that can evolve as community partnerships present unique and creative needs. Q What type of learning will occur? A The goal for the future of learning will be to develop project and performance based learning that is highly collaborative and takes advantage of current technology while enabling growth as new technologies become available. Hillview Elementary has the potential to become the incubator for this learning culture and will influence the students in the elementary grades by providing a foundation for change in the middle and high school educational programs. Q What learning spaces will be required to facilitate forward-looking learning concepts? A The traditional classroom setting is evolving into a more dynamic classroom environment that will allow for collaboration and differentiation based on the real-time needs of unique students. Spatial arrangements should be flexible, transparent and highly motivational. Classroom adjacencies will be designed to locate supporting programs that leverage labs and exploratory spaces. The concept of integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) as a dynamic process for complex learning should allow for the breaking down of traditional departmentalized learning. Additionally, the design of learning communities with shared performance Project Need Page 7 of 57

10 based learning spaces should allow students to work with in their skill sets while learning from both older as well as younger students. The mission of the Grove City Area School District is to Equip All Learners for a Successful Future. The need for the proposed Hillview Elementary project is primarily based on the fact that the current elementary buildings do not empower the collaborative and dynamic learning strategies that the District is striving to develop and provide to prepare students for the future. Furthermore, the existing spaces are compromised by age and wear. Practical structural and mechanical repairs to the existing buildings would not provide the physical enhancements that are needed to meet the educational goals established, by the community, through the Grove City 2040 initiative. Project Need Page 8 of 57

11 OPTIONS CONSIDERED The Options considered as part of this project were all focused on the guiding principles developed during the Grove City 2040 process.. Each option, once developed, was tested against the goals of the district to determine if it was appropriate to explore further. The following design options are a culmination of the Grove City 2040 study and each were tested against the short and long term goals of the District developed throughout the process. The options considered were broad at first and then more focused as the explorations continued. The initial design options considered included the following: Option 1 Stay Put / Maintain Status Quo Option 2 - Consolidate Hillview Elementary School Selected Option Option 3 Consolidate High School with New High School on Middle School Campus Option 4 Elementary Middle School Option 5 Reconfigure Grade Level Groupings Close Highland At a Board work session which was open to the public on October 19, 2015, the Board directed that further analysis of short-term/deferred maintenance needs and the following long-term strategies be prepared. These options included: Option 2 - Consolidate Hillview Selected Option Option 4 - Elementary Middle School Option 5 - Reconfigure Grade Level Groupings Close Highland The following pages provide brief descriptions of the options considered as well as graphic illustrations developed along with each option. You will see in the graphic illustrations that all district owned facilities are included in the option. Each facility is explored with short and long term maintenance and/or improvements. The District understands that each individual option has an impact on the planning of the District as a whole and therefore looked at each option in a very comprehensive way. Options Considered Page 9 of 57

12 OPTION 1 Stay Put / Maintain Status Quo This option focused on a strategy to maintain the existing facilities and keep the current grade level groupings in each facility. This option considered both short and long term goals for the maintenance of each facility throughout the District. The improvements were prioritized in levels, good, better and best. The improvements needed in the two elementary schools, Highland and Hillview were significant. The shortcoming of this option was that the educational goals and spatial needs of the district for the primary grade levels were not easily accomplished in the existing facilities. Highland s existing building s age, organization, size and infrastructure is very limited and presented challenges to maintaining this facility. Options Considered Page 10 of 57

13 OPTION 2 Consolidate Hillview Elementary School. Selected Option This option focused on a strategy to consolidate all K-5 students at the Hillview Elementary School through an additions and alterations project. This option realized the benefits of the Hillview facility over the Highland facility. Hillview provided more building space to develop the educational program as well as more property to develop building additions, parking and play areas. By consolidating grades k-5 on the same site as the Middle School, a k-8 grade level campus would be created. Eliminating the operational cost of Highland is also a benefit of this approach. This option considered both short and long term goals for the maintenance of each facility throughout the District that is to be maintained following this primary project. These are illustrated in the graphic below. Options Considered Page 11 of 57

14 OPTION 3 New High School on Middle School Campus / Consolidate Elementary at High School. This option focused on a strategy to construct a new High School facility on the Middle School Campus. Utilizing existing site as well as purchasing additional property was explored. This would develop a campus that accommodated grades The elementary grades would be consolidated in the existing High School. The primary challenge with this option was that the High School building was not designed age appropriate for the elementary grades. The cost of this project would be significant due to the need to renovate the existing High School as well as construct a new High School building. This option also considered both short and long term goals for the maintenance of each facility throughout the District. Pros and cons were developed. These are illustrated in the graphic below. Options Considered Page 12 of 57

15 OPTION 4 Elementary Middle School This option focused on a strategy to construct a new Elementary School addition to the existing middle school. This approach would create a contiguous building to serve grades k-8. This option would also create a new elementary building that could address the educational goals of the district in a state of the art facility. The opportunity to utilize shared spaces was worth exploring. The primary challenge with this option is the separation of younger students from older ones. Also challenging is the amount of site available at this location for both the building addition as well as parking, site access and play areas. Some spaces could be shared, however many duplicate spaces would be required making the building addition much larger and with a larger cost. This option like the others, considered both short and long term goals for the maintenance of each facility throughout the District. Pros and cons were developed. These are illustrated in the graphic below. Options Considered Page 13 of 57

16 OPTION 5 Reconfigure Grade Levels Close Highland This option focused on a strategy to reconfigure the grade levels throughout the district buildings and close Highland. Grades 7-12 would be at the High School. Grades 4-6 would be at the Middle School. Grades k-3 would be at Hillview. Each facility would require renovations and possibly additions to accommodate the realignment of the grades. This option like the others, considered both short and long term goals for the maintenance of each facility throughout the District. These are illustrated in the graphic below. Options Considered Page 14 of 57

17 At a Board worksession which was open to the public on October 19, 2015, the Board directed that further analysis of short-term/deferred maintenance needs and the following long-term strategies be prepared. These options included: Option 2 - Consolidate Hillview Selected Option Option 4 - Elementary Middle School Option 5 - Reconfigure Grade Level Groupings Close Highland The information below was prepared to further study these three options. The tables estimated square footage needs per student and estimated construction cost and project costs. OPTION 2 Consolidate Hillview Elementary School. Selected Option Please note that the costs provided here are estimates based on the Architect s understanding of the project at the time of the option preparations and do not benefit from the detailed programming discussions that occurred during project design with the Administration and Faculty. Updated project costs are provided in this document in Section II Options Considered Page 15 of 57

18 Options Considered Page 16 of 57

19 OPTION 4 Elementary Middle School Options Considered Page 17 of 57

20 Options Considered Page 18 of 57

21 OPTION 5 Reconfigure Grade Levels Close Highland Options Considered Page 19 of 57

22 Options Considered Page 20 of 57

23 Options Considered Page 21 of 57

24 PROJECT DESCRIPTION Option 2 was selected by the School District to develop further. In comparing the options considered it was the one that provided the most value to the district. An elementary school consolidation at Hillview would also align with the educational goals developed as part of the Grove City 2040 process. This option provides the most benefit to the District for the potential cost. Consolidation of the primary grades with the intermediate grades permits maximum utilization of the elementary specific building. The building program permits sharing of facilities throughout the entire elementary grade alignment. Consolidation also allows sharing of support spaces that would result in operational cost savings. Additionally, shifting the primary enrollment to the Hillview site would allow the current Highland Elementary School site to become available for reconfiguration. The building could be demolished to make room for athletic facilities, parking or improved site circulation at the High School. Option 2 has the potential to improve two District schools/sites. During the design process the school Administrators determined a need to get a diverse opinion on how the building should be designed. They sought the opinion of faculty, administrators, parents, students and community partners. A design charrette process was developed to engage these members into focused explorations that would ultimately influence the design of the project. The charrettes were a three part process 1) Learning Communities, 2) STEAM Programs and 3) Community Partners. The Learning Community charrette focused on exploring the layout of the building and creation of adjacencies that supported one another and focused on specific grade levels. The group of participants were divided into teams and asked to create spatial relationships for three grade level groupings, K-1, 2-3 and 4-5. Their explorations looked at classroom configurations, support spaces, storage, circulation and a collaborative zone that all students in each area could use for hands on learning. At the end of the exercise, each team presented their findings and a general consensus became apparent. The learning community concept was very favorable and became the primary design influence for the building. The STEAM Programs charrette developed the concept of the learning community further by defining the program for each collaborative space. The charrette participants explored various STEAM programs and were asked to participate in STEAM based projects including, life sciences, math, and art. After their group activities all people completed questionnaires that helped to define the appropriate STEAM programs for each grade level, K-1, 2-3 and 4-5. The questionnaire responses directly influenced the design of the collaborative spaces in each learning community. The Community Partners charrette explored relationships between the school and the community. For this exercise the charrette participants included community members Project Description Page 22 of 57

25 from various organizations that would benefit from the relationship with the school district and the new Hillview Elementary School. Members from Grove City College, the YMCA, General Electric and many others spent their evening discussing how a partnership would benefit students as well as the community as a whole. Spaces available to the public that would enhance the partnership opportunity were discussed and included a community room, media center, performance space and manufacturing spaces(secondary art room). The discussions during this charrette influenced the building layout and located community spaces near the building exterior and secure entrances. These locations could be secured from the rest of the building while providing access to the community through secure vestibules. First Floor Plan Project Description Page 23 of 57

26 Second Floor Plan The goal of the additions and alterations project is to maximize the existing building to its fullest potential. By reusing as much of the existing building as possible the size of the additions could be reduced. Maximizing building renovations where appropriate rather than constructing larger additions was a fiscally responsible approach taken by the entire team. Project Description Page 24 of 57

27 Learning Communities The K-1 learning community focuses on the kindergarten and first grade levels. The kindergarten and first grade classrooms are grouped around a collaborative space, the Gross Motor Skills area. The needs of these younger students will be provided in this open space. The Gross Motor Skills area contains storage located around the perimeter of the space. Sinks for project clean up are provided. The focus of this space is flexibility which will allow many different furniture configurations to support the multitude of uses the space can offer. A feature of the space is the recessed reading area. The reading area recess is an existing feature of the building which will be enhanced as part of the project design. Adjacent to the open floor area are Small Group Instruction (SGI) rooms that will accommodate smaller focused instruction and hands on projects. The rooms will have direct sight lines to the open space for maximum control by the faculty. The general classrooms are grouped around the Gross Motor Skills area which will support ease of collaboration. The learning community provides toilet rooms both inside the classrooms as well as in the general circulation area for large groups. Project Description Page 25 of 57

28 The 2-3 learning community focuses on the second and third grade levels. This learning community is very similar to that of the K-1 community. The second and third grade classrooms are grouped around a collaborative space labeled as the Maker Space. The needs of these slightly older more mature students will be provided in this open space. The Maker Space area contains storage located around the perimeter of the space. Sinks for projects and clean up are provided. The focus of this space is flexibility which will allow many different furniture configurations to support the multitude of uses the space can offer. Adjacent to the open floor area are Small Group Instruction (SGI) rooms that will accommodate smaller focused instruction and hands on projects. The rooms will have direct sight lines to the open space for maximum control by the faculty. The general classrooms are grouped around the Maker Space area which will support use of the space for fluid collaboration. The learning community provides support spaces such as utility rooms, storage and shared group toilet rooms. Project Description Page 26 of 57

29 The 4-5 learning community focuses on the fourth and fifth grade levels. This learning community is more advanced than the others and provides programs based on the STEAM curriculum. The fourth and fifth grade classrooms are grouped around a comprehensive collaboration space that provides computer lab, life sciences and an art room focused on the older students. The needs of these slightly older more mature students will be provided throughout this community. The computer lab is intended to be used in conjunction with the life sciences lab or separately. A large overhead door will provide the separation or connection between the spaces as desired. The Life Sciences Lab provides opportunities to explore hands on science projects with flexible lab tables and dedicated wet areas for aquariums and water based projects. The Secondary Art Room provides opportunities for the students to explore fabrication and project design by using small scale equipment like drills, sanders and saws. Small Group Instruction (SGI) rooms that will accommodate smaller focused instruction are provided. The learning community also provides support spaces such as utility rooms, storage and shared group toilet rooms. The lab spaces in this community will also be made available and shared with the students from the other learning communities as their curriculum requires. Project Description Page 27 of 57

30 Shared Spaces In addition to the learning communities there will be shared spaces throughout the building that will be used by all students. Spaces for physical education, arts and music will be provided. Music The music department is located in one area of the building which will provide collaboration and use of these spaces as the curriculum requires. This area is an extension of the arts or A in the STEAM program. The music classrooms will be very flexible with open floor plans and storage built in around the perimeter of the rooms. General music, choral and instrumental instruction can occur in any of the spaces. One design feature of this area is the proximity of the music classrooms to the Large Group Instruction (LGI) space. Large Group Instruction (LGI) The LGI space is being developed as a black-box type theater with sophisticated lighting, acoustics and sound control. The space is the current gymnasium which is too small to accommodate the students of the building. The LGI will have retractable seating to provide flexibility in the seating capacity and open floor area. The space also has an ADA accessible elevated performance area which will have curtains and rigging to accommodate performances of all levels. The adjacency of the LGI to the music classrooms allows it to serve as an extension to the music department by providing additional practice area for large groups. The LGI is also intended to become a community asset and will be used as a venue for community performances throughout the year. Project Description Page 28 of 57

31 Gymnasium In addition to the physical education function, the gymnasium will also serve as a large performance venue capable of accommodating the entire student and faculty population. The gymnasium is a full size space which will provide regulation size basketball and volleyball courts. The space will have retractable seating and a divider curtain to allow maximum use for two gym classes. When the LGI space is too small for presentations or performances the gymnasium will accommodate these larger groups. The sound and lighting systems will not be as advanced as the LGI space but will provide adequate sophistication for movies, performances and presentations. Locker rooms and storage spaces are located adjacent to the gymnasium for use by the students as well as the community. Project Description Page 29 of 57

32 Media Center The media center is a shared space within the building which will serve the students but will also be an asset to the community during evening and weekend hours. The space is designed with flexibility in mind. The seating areas offer a variety of seating types from soft movable seating to classroom settings with tables and chairs. The space will be used in conjunction with the collaborative STEAM spaces in this building and will provide a space to research and strategize projects before heading into the Computer Lab or Secondary Art Room for hands on learning. The location of the space at the exterior of the building will take full advantage of the main entry plaza which will have a tiered seating area for reading or presentations. The location will also permit the community to access the space by way of a secured entrance vestibule which will provide direct access to the Media Center while securing the rest of the building. Project Description Page 30 of 57

33 Art Rooms The building will contain both a primary art room and a secondary art room. The two art rooms will be developed around the grade levels that they are intended to serve. The two rooms used in conjunction will increase the instructional possibilities by offering 2-D and 3-D types of curriculum. The primary grade level art room will focus on 2-D projects but will also provide for clay modeling. The kiln and pottery wheels will be located in the primary art room. The primary art room is located adjacent to an outdoor classroom which will be used during favorable weather to expand the art room to the outdoors. The secondary art room is located in the 4 th /5 th grade learning community and will be the location for fabrication and materials handling and will serve the older students and their curriculum. This space is also located along the main corridor for ease of access from all areas of the building. Safety will be a key consideration and tools will be selected accordingly. The younger students will also benefit from this space when the curriculum provides this opportunity. The secondary Art Room will also be used by the community during evening and weekend hours. Project Description Page 31 of 57

34 Project Description Page 32 of 57

35 Other Building Features Entrance The main building entry will be spatially oriented to arriving visitors and shall include a secure vestibule with remote locking controls. The entry will have visibility of visitors and students arriving through the main entry from the reception area by way of direct line of sight as well as remote cameras. The new main entry will create a more accessible approach for the public by locating parking near main event spaces such as the gym, cafeteria and large group instruction space. The entrance will be fully accessible and will be on the accessible route into the building from the accessible parking spaces. One unique feature of the main entrance is that it is adjacent to a plaza area that will provide an exterior gathering space that incorporates tiered concrete seating similar to an amphitheater. The space can be used by the students and faculty during the school day. The space can also be used by the community during evening and weekend hours. Project Description Page 33 of 57

36 Cafeteria The cafeteria is in its existing location but will be expanded to accommodate the additional students in the building. The cafeteria will also serve as a large space for presentations to students or staff. The space will have a projection screen and Audio/Video controls for these presentations. The cafeteria is centrally located between the main and secondary building entrances and will be the location where students will be dropped off and picked up at the end of the day. The adjacent kitchen will be reconfigured to enhance the existing function in order to serve the additional students to the building. Increased storage, freezer and refrigerator space will be provided. Project Description Page 34 of 57

37 Administrative Offices The administrative offices are the location for the Principal, Assistant Principal, guidance counselors and nurse. The location of the administrative offices is central to the building for ease of access for students and faculty. The offices are located adjacent to the main building entrance for control of the building during school hours. Offices, toilets, storage, work rooms and faculty services such as mail are all provided in this area. Community Use: The building will be an asset to the community and equally the community will be an asset to the building. The community partnerships available to the District are a great asset and the building design will accommodate these relationships. Adjacent to the main entrance will be a small group instruction space that will serve as a community room both during school hours and after. The community room will have an internal toilet room for use within the space. The LGI Black Box theater will be available to the community for performances, meetings and presentations. The gymnasium will be available for sporting events. The media center and cafeteria will be available for meetings and/or research. The Secondary Art Room will also be available for the community to craft and construct projects after hours. All community accessible spaces are strategically located on the perimeter of the building adjacent to the main parking Project Description Page 35 of 57

38 areas and building entrances. By utilizing carefully placed security gates these spaces as well as public toilets can be isolated from the rest of the building for security during these after school hours. Emergency egress will also be provided from these spaces. The playgrounds on the site will also be made available for community use following normal school hours with adjacent accessible parking spaces and sidewalks for access. Community (SGI) room Energy Efficiency: The building incorporates energy efficient design principals to reduce the cost of operating the building and improve the comfort and safety of the occupants. The form of the building also supports natural daylighting by utilizing exterior windows to bring light into interior spaces. The exterior envelope of the building is highly insulated to take full advantage of the HVAC system and reduce heat loss and heat gain through the walls and roof. Materials used throughout the building will be from local resources, recycled where possible and have low emissions for the safety of the indoor air quality. Project Description Page 36 of 57

39 By incorporating these energy efficient design principles the building will be an efficient, comfortable and healthy environment for its occupants. Building Infrastructure Building Envelope The building s exterior walls shall be a combination of brick veneer, concrete block veneer, metal panels and fiber cement board cladding. The use of brick and masonry on the exterior will provide a durable finish for the life of the building. The fiber cement board and metal panel cladding is a recycled product that provides the look of traditional wood siding and trim but with minimal maintenance, high moisture resistance and insect resistance for the life of the building. Roof The roof system will be primarily low sloped roofs. The flat roof system will be an insulated EPDM system with a 20 year warranty. The substrate for the sloped roofs will be an insulated nailbase panel system which provides highly insulated panels for energy efficiency. The roof areas will be fully accessible from within the building for service of mechanical equipment and roof drains. Doors and Windows Insulated aluminum doors and windows will be used. The glazing in these systems will be insulated as well and include a Low-E coating to reduce heat loss and gain through the glass. Mechanical/Electrical & Plumbing Systems The building shall be designed with state of the art building systems that maximize energy efficiency and ease of maintainability. The building mechanical systems will include hot water heating and chilled water air conditioning in all teaching spaces. The lighting of the building will be energy efficient and utilize light sensors and occupancy sensors to reduce the amount of artificial lighting used in the building. Telephones will be installed in each teaching space along with computer network system and public address system. Security Systems: School safety is a major priority. A system of cameras and alarms shall be incorporated into the building design. The location of the Administration offices near the main entrances also allows for a safe entrance where all visitors must check into the main office before entering the building. Security gates will also be provided to isolate spaces used by the community from the rest of the building. During school hours all exterior doors will be locked and visitors will be directed to the main entry where their entrance will be reviewed and granted/denied by school staff. Technology Technology shall be state of the art and integrated into the design of the building. Interactive technology shall be designed into the Classrooms and collaborative shared spaces. Project Description Page 37 of 57

40 Code Compliance The design of the renovations and new construction is in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and gives full consideration for making accommodations for persons with disabilities. The new building will incorporate up to date code compliance in areas such as energy efficiency, air quality, safety and emergency egress. The building will be compliant with the International building code. Summary: Technology integration, collaboration, educational program spatial improvements, safety improvements, district-wide organization and flexibility for the future are the key ingredients in the planned new building. Maximizing the existing building and appropriately sizing the building additions is a primary goal. Energy conservation is a significant consideration in the design of the new school. The architects have evaluated the various materials, equipment and systems in the design of the building to improve the utilization of energy and other resources and minimize the impact of the facility on the environment. Additionally, the architects and engineers have given appropriate consideration to the ability and cost impacts of maintaining the various systems included in the design. The use of learning communities will provide age appropriate environments while encouraging hands on, collaborative learning. The incorporation of STEAM principles will provide a learning process that the students will take with them as they move throughout the district into the Middle School and High School. The learning community concept is one that will begin in this building and will be an incubator for this approach throughout the district s other facilities Project Description Page 38 of 57

41 ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS Notes: 1. Excludes students in full-time out-of-district special education, comprehensive AVTSs, charter schools, stateowned schools, consortium-operated alternative high schools, and juvenile correctional institutions. 2. Enrollment projections beyond five years are subject to errors in the lower grades resulting from inconsistencies between actual and projected live births and should be reviewed closely. 3. Four year old kindergarten students, if any, added to K enrollments. 4. Elementary and secondary ungraded students were distributed among the grades. Therefore, enrollments by grade may differ from those reported by the local education agencies. Sources: 1. Public School Enrollment Report (ESPE) and Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS) 2. Resident Live Birth file, 2010, supplied by the Division of Health Statistics, Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Department of Health specifically disclaims responsibility for any analyses, interpretations or conclusions. In addition to the PDE enrollment projections, the District hired Dr. Shelby Stewman to conduct a demographic study. The summary of Dr. Stewman s study is provided below. Enrollment Projections Page 39 of 57

42 Enrollment Projections Page 40 of 57

43 Enrollment Projections Page 41 of 57

44 Site Plan Grove City Area School District Site Plan Page 42 of 57

45 FIRST FLOOR PLAN Floor Plan Page 43 of 57

46 Second Floor Plan Ground Floor Plan Floor Plan Page 44 of 57

47 Summary of Owned Buildings PlanCon A Summary of Owned Buildings Page 45 of 57

48 PLANCON D Project Accounting PlanCon D Project Accounting Page 46 of 57

49 PlanCon D Project Accounting Page 47 of 57

50 PlanCon D Project Accounting Page 48 of 57

51 PlanCon D Project Accounting Page 49 of 57

52 PlanCon D Project Accounting Page 50 of 57

53 ANALYSIS OF FINANCING ALTERNATIVES We have analyzed four alternative methods of financing the proposed designing, constructing, furnishing, and equipping renovations to the Hillview Elementary School (the "Project"). We also estimated the direct costs of financing as required by the Department of Education regulations issued November 4, ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES The four alternatives of financing that we examined are: 1. Cash or a short-term loan. 2. General obligation bond issue. 3. A local authority issue. 4. A financing through the State Public School Building Authority (SPSBA). Analysis of the School District's financial statements for recent years, and of the financing projections prepared in connection with this Project, and discussions with the School District's Administration indicated that a financing the entire project with cash is not feasible. The School District does not have the funds necessary to pay enough cash for its share of the Project, nor does it appear that the School District would be able to raise the required amounts from its anticipated cash flow to meet the proposed construction schedule. We then analyzed in detail the three alternatives which would require the School District to incur longterm debt. For each alternative, we estimated a bond issue size and calculated the average annual debt service requirements. We then constructed a repayment schedule assuming equal annual payments over 20 years at current interest rate levels for the General Obligation, Local Authority, and SPSBA Bond Issues. Financing costs for the local authority and SPSBA were slightly higher, which resulted in a larger bond issue and higher average annual payments. Bonds issued through either a local authority or the SPSBA would be classified as revenue bonds instead of general obligation bonds. Interest rates on revenue bonds are slightly higher than interest rates that would be received on general obligation bonds. This would result in higher annual debt service payments for the School District. The General Obligation alternative offers the School District the advantage of lower interest rates, more favorable refunding provisions and keeps more control with the local school board. Based on these analyses and past performance, the least costly alternative for financing the Project is the General Obligation Bond Issue. Analysis of Financing Alternatives Page 51 of 57

54 COMPARISON OF LONG TERM FINANCING METHODS GENERAL LOCAL ITEM OBLIGATION AUTHORITY* SPSBA Construction & Related Costs $35,038,525 $35,038,525 $35,038,525 Contingency & Supervision 1,820,299 1,820,299 1,820,299 Costs of Issuance 591, , ,500 Bond Insurance 150, , ,000 Total Costs 37,600,000 37,625,324 37,614,324 Less: Interest Earned 269, , ,264 Less: District Cash Contribution 7,495,060 7,495,060 7,495,060 Plus: Original Issue Discount 149, , ,000 BOND ISSUE 29,985,000 30,010,000 30,000,000 Average Annual Payment at 4.00%** for 20 years $2,173,194 $2,212,650 $2,211,913 * A Local Authority would have annual administrative expenses, which have not been included in these calculations. ** Local Authority and SPSBA Annual Payments are calculated assuming 4.20% as a result of higher interest costs associated with selling revenue bonds. The School District is considering other ways to reduce the debt service and local effort needed to fund the Project. 1. The School District will consider the use of bond insurance on the Bonds. The cost of such insurance may increase the size of the Bond Issues but reduce the interest rate the School District must pay on the Bonds, and result in lower debt service. 2. The School District will consider using a wrap around debt service structure on the Bonds in order to take advantage of a drop off in old debt service which will minimize the millage impact. 3. The School District will consider the use of District cash in the approximate amount of $7,495,060 in order to minimize the amount of Bonds issued. 4. For discussion purposes only, we have provided the following amortization schedules which would fully fund the Project: Table 1 - Series of 2017 $9,995,000 Table 2 - Series of 2018 $9,995,000 Table 3 Series of 2019 $9,995,000 Analysis of Financing Alternatives Page 52 of 57