The Austin ISD board of trustees considered preliminary scenarios for several proposed improvements at its Oct. 8 work session. The three annual academic and facilities recommendations, or AAFRs, discussed were upgrades to facilities of the Rosedale School and Clifton Career Development School, secondary athletic programs and facilities, and district fine arts.
Those AAFRs are being considered for referral to the Citizens Bond Advisory Committee to include in possible scope of work for the next bond, according to Superintendent Meria Carstarphen.
"As we think forward to a possible [tax ratification election], these would be some of the areas we would need to consider and understand where they fall in a timeline for implementation," she said.
Improving facilities at Rosedale, Clifton
Rosedale serves students who cannot access education at other AISD campuses because of cognitive and medical disabilities, and Clifton educates students whose career clusters in their areas of interest are not available, or who have a disability that requires changing course content. Both schools' facilities meet federal and state requirements, but significant time has passed since improvements were made, Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Fryer said.
Rosedale Scenario 1 involves renovating the existing school, while Scenario 2 would add a new wing and renovate facilities. Scenario 3 would renovate facilities at Clifton alone. Scenario 4 would combine scenarios to renovate and add classrooms to Rosedale, and renovate the existing Clifton Career Development School in fall 2014 at an estimated cost of $10 million, Fryer said.
Trustee Robert Schneider asked whether building a new site for each school, combining them or moving them to another part of the city might be more cost-efficient than renovating than existing sites. Board President Mark Williams said a cost analysis will be performed.
"I sincerely believe that a major part of our financial problem is we really need to seriously look at the way we do our facilities and make sure that we're doing them as efficiently as possible," Schneider said.
Trustee Lori Moya said the project should be a priority.
"I just don't see how we could not do what's needed there to serve these students and give them what they need to be good citizens and participate in the community," she said.
Athletics plans considered
The athletics AAFR is centered on retaining and recruiting high-quality coaches, increasing access to athletic programs, and repairs and upgrades to facilities.
The base scenario would cost an estimated $82 million and include stipends and flexible duty days for coaches, mandatory middle school athletic periods, improving practice fields and gyms, replacement of artificial turf at some facilities, and replacing HVAC and chilled water systems at Burger Activity Center.
The largest of the scenarios would cost an estimated $179 million and include the construction of concession stands, restrooms, tennis courts, wrestling gyms and a districtwide natatorium in addition to renovating existing facilities.
The board said athletics deserve attention, as studies have shown sports participants have better academic performance and graduate at higher rates.
"There'll be a lot more input over the next four months over what the taxpayers will be willing to support," Williams said.
Fine arts discussed
Trustees discussed proposed upgrades to the district's fine arts program and facility improvements based on the results of a nine-month John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts audit and needs assessment.
The Any Given Child program, which establishes a long-term arts education plan for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, would be implemented during a 10-year period, costing $22 million over 10 years.
Moya noted while she supports the fine arts, she wants more specifics on schools where fine arts and athletics facility improvements are planned.
"I'd really like the details," she said.
