Facilities Are Instrumental to the Educational Process

Over the course of this past calendar year a number of exciting changes in facilities have
taken place in our districts. Discussions continue about the future of some of our existing
facilities and how they can best serve the needs of our students and the communities as a
whole..

The building in Aurelia that houses the Aurelia Elementary and the Alta-Aurelia Middle
School has undergone an extensive renovation and remodel. This was done primarily to
address handicap accessibility issues and ADA compliance. It also was an opportunity to
modernize the building and make it more functional for 21st century needs educational
needs.

The old permanent bleachers have been replaced with retractable bleachers that have
handicap accessible seating. The gym floor was replaced and six retractable baskets were
installed. The area of the building that was formerly the Industrial Arts shop has been
converted into a ground floor kitchen and cafeteria. An elevator that accesses all four
floors has been constructed in the building. The elevator should be complete and fully
operational shortly after the holiday break.

In Alta, the high school was relocated to the south building that houses the elementary
and formerly the middle school grades. A newly constructed wing was built specifically
for high school facilities such as, Industrial Arts, Band, Art, Family and Consumer
Science, and Chemistry/Physic lab. The move to the new high school facility was made
late last fall.

Currently, the Alta Preschool and Head Start occupy three classrooms on the main
floor of the old high school building. For the time being, the superintendent's office and
business office remains on the main floor of the high school as well. This office also
serves as the office for the preschool. Current operational cost estimates for utilities and
routine maintenance, as the facility is presently being used, run approximately $25,000
annually

The FFA continues to use the east bay of the shop for the tractor restoration project and
one classroom off the shop area is used for FFA meetings and FFA storage. The west
bay of the shop has been converted to the athletic weight room.

Moving forward, the Alta Board of Education has stated that they would like to continue
to maintain and use the old high school gym and shop area. They are in the planning
stages of the future of the old high school building that was built in 1916.

In 2009, the Alta district conducted a study for facility renovation or construction.
Handicap accessibility in that building was something that the district was being forced to
address due the recent Department of Education equity visit. Architects were contracted
and a comprehensive study was conducted. Findings indicated that over $1.2 million
dollars of renovation was needed to bring the building up to electrical, mechanical codes
and meet ADA compliance. At that time it was determined that a newly constructed
addition to the elementary/middle school building was more cost effective and
educationally sound long-term.

Over the past few months, the board has held public forums to discuss the possible future
of the old high school building and to gain feedback from the public. It is important that
the impact on the community be taken into consideration no matter the final decision.
School building often time represent fond memories and have served as the hub of
community activities and as such, they hold a special place in the communities they
serve.

One of the options that has been discussed is repurposing the building. Many ideas have
been brought forward. The cost for renovation, asbestos abatement, electrical upgrades
and mechanical renovations still exists, regardless of the projected use.

Another likely option is to take down the old high school and keep the gymnasium and
shop area. Cost for demolition was a part of the 2009 study, but those figures are now
out of date and the architects have been asked to make available to the board updated
costing for demolition of the building to include any construction cost needed to maintain
the old gym and shop area. We hope to have those figures back to the board later this
winter so decisions can be made based upon current data. Relocation of the current
preschool will also be taken into account in these plans.

As new costing data is presented to the Alta school board, that information will also be
shared with the public. There will be additional opportunities for feedback prior to final
decisions being made.