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GoogleHe also asked the board to consider community members who might serve on a school bond advisory committee. He suggested the board consider forming the committee between now and the July regular board meeting.
The next step would be to present the district's plan and ask the community to advise the district on how it can succeed in presenting the plan to voters.
Have them tell us what we need to do, because it's not going to be our building. It's going to be the community's building," he said.
Noah also suggested that the invitation to serve on the committee be open to anyone who's interested, including people who aren't necessarily sold on the project, noting that the district could benefit from listening to those who have concerns about it.
Noah said the board had received three new site proposals, in addition to two that were considered when the district last proposed new buildings and are still available.
One of the new sites was proposed by Josh McCracken. It is located about 4 1/2 miles south of Marshall on the west side of U.S. Highway 65.
Another site, offered by Todd & Associates, is at the end of Vest Street west of U.S. 65. And the third, represented by Don Garst, is in the triangle where U.S. 65 and Business 65 split, currently the site of a golf driving range.
The Gieringer property on Route WW is still available, Noah said, as is the Banks property near Stone Hedge Country Club, offered by Ruth Cott.
Noah said the next step would be to ask the district's architectural firm to conduct a site review study. He said company representatives had already made brief visits to each site under consideration.
Contact Eric Crump at marshalleditor@socket.net
Related story:
Marshall school board on the hunt again for new school:
www.marshallnews.com/story/1545810.html
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Eric,
Can you clarify something? When Superintendant Noah said the district was considering renovating the existing buildings, did he mean to use as schools instead of building a new one, or renovating for another use in addition to building a new school?
A couple of points of clarification:
1) Although building a multi-story building potentially saves on land costs, it increases the cost of the building because there are more federal (and probably state) regulations regarding students and others with disabilities that come into play. That particular point was made at the first meeting on this subject in early June.
2) No specific dollar figure was ever agreed on in previous (informal) discussions about using the Marshall Plaza site for school expansion, but what discussions there were brought out a possible price of around $5 million.
We contacted Bernard Simons, Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities at Missouri Department of Mental Health about the status of the Hab Center. In an email to the newspaper, Simons said, "There are no plans to close Marshall Hab Center."
I think if there is going to be a new school built, the place to do it, from the available sites, would be the property on West Vest. It's somewhat centrally located, and more importantly, it's close to the high school and district offices. There would have to be some work done though to widen West Vest and something would need to be done to the intersection of Vest and 65.
Some people have mentioned the plaza, old walmart and old hospital as locations, but it would cost more to buy those properties with existing buildings and to tear down the existing buildings than to buy undeveloped land and build.
The biggest problem facing the district may be what to do with the old schools. If I remember correctly from previous discussions on this, the school district doesn't have clear title to the land the buildings are on. The land was donated to the district for district use, but if/when the school district no longer has need of the land, the title reverts back to the heirs of the original owners. That means the district cannot sell the buildings, because they can't sell the land their sitting on.
There are several rundown areas in Marshall that would be great places to build the school, yes there would need to be updates to the roads and other services in almost all of them but that will need to be done with most any place a new school would be built.
The problem with getting land to build a new school on around Marshall is the oweners tend to get greedy and want a small fortune for the property.
"I wasn't slamming athletics" Sounded to me like you did.
As for the football stadium, it does a glorious job of handling it's 6 varsity games per year.
I hate to break this to you but most years it's only 5.
What about the JV, Freshman & the few Jr. High games that get played there?
Plus all the track meets and Graduation most years?
Do you have any idea how much money the sports complex brings into the schools?
TrailerTrash,
What you're saying works in theory but not in reality. Here's why:
First, Northwest School is a single story structure. It was built and designed that way. I doubt seriously the existing walls, structure, and foundation are strong enough to add to vertically. So that means the entire building has to come down and start from scratch.
Is that going to happen in one summer? No way in hell. So what do you do with the 200 or so kids that attend that school while it's being demolished and rebuilt?
Also, the current road system in and around NW School is BARELY adequate just for that school's bus and vehicle traffic--let alone mulitiple grade levels on that one lot.
A new location and a singular construction for the several grade levels is the only concept that makes viable, economical, and logistical sense. The problem is.....where?
Personally, I'm not terribly fond of a multi-level structure for a lot of reasons I won't list here. But to accomodate 800 to 1000 kids in a single story building is going to require a building at least the size of the current high school...
I wasn't slamming athletics, just questioning the planning on whole layout. Look down on it from Google Earth. The buildings look small compared to the area. I'm just saying the original planners weren't very forward-looking.
As for the football stadium, it does a glorious job of handling it's 6 varsity games per year.
What about the Hab Center is it not closing, what will become of that property?
I wish they would DO something!! I have two children 3 yrs. apart and you have to show up 30 min. before school gets out so you can get one child picked up so the other isn't waiting for 30 min. These schools are all so old nothing has changed(for the good)in 25 years. They are either hot or cold and the gymnasiums are a JOKE. I really don't care where they put it though the plaza desperately needs something done with it. It is as sad as the schools.
The Plaza is an obvious choice. HOWEVER...the owners want a whole lot more than $500,000 for their property. Last I heard, the price was closer to $5 million than to $500,000! Does anyone really know how much it will eventually cost to rehab the courthouse? I don't, but my guess is that it would have been cheaper to build a new one. That is not to say that I am in favor of abandoning the old courthouse, or any of the old school buildings. It all boils down to how and where you want to spend your money.
The old buildings are old and out dated. When i went college and told stories of getting out because it was to hot, everyone laughed because they said that's what AC is for inside the school so how is that not safe, i had to explain it was because the middle school had either no AC or a few window units!! The plaza is the obvious place, the only problem being your looking at paying the owners in NY minimum $500,000 just for the land itself!! The key is getting someone to donate the land for free (they then get huge tax write off). You get the land for free than you can use the $500,000 to whatever we have for the building to just go to the school building itself. It would be great for the kids, great for the community. Would be more attractive to businesses, good teachers, and just people in general looking to move to town. Seriously, what is more important to you than the building your children get educated in and spend 50% of the young lives (by the way i don't even have kids). If your kids aren't that number one option, than you have failed as a parent and your kids are screwed anyway!
1OFTHEGALS some problems with your way of thinking in my opinion are.
One of the first things any new business looks for is what are the schools like?
It will never be any cheaper to build than now.
We should not put our children's education at stake ever.
All the elementary schools have need replaced for years they are old and cost a small fortune to maintain.
Picking up a child at any of these schools is a nightmare!
I understand that people think this issue should be put to rest. However, being a teacher myself I understand the necessity of having classrooms and a school that is benefical to the teachers and students. When the schools are old and we just keep patching them up it isn't safe. Wasn't it just this past winter that one of the school had issues with the heating and when the kids came in the building on Mondays it was very cold. What about those window air conditioners. Those cost alot of money for electricity. If you can build a school that is more economically effeciant and can accomidate all of the elementary kids why not build it. The other buildings are too old. T here will never be a good time to spend money. Don't you want your kids to excel in school and be able to have the latest technology available to them. Why not spend the money in the education of our children.
Well as much as I love art...perhaps those buildings can be put to better use..Nothing is more important than educating our children in a safe environment. And hey, when the 4 elementary schools are closed...they could use them for art studios.
ONCE AGAIN HERE WE GO...IF THE CHILDREN WENT BACK TO GOING TO THE GRADE SCHOOL WHICH THEY LIVE CLOSEST TO MAYBE WE WOULDN'T HAVE SO MUCH BUSING GOING ON,( SAVING ON FUEL, MAINTENENCE...)
THIS SOUNDS LIKE IF YOU JUST KEEP STUFFING FOOD IN YOUR MOUTH AND KEEP CHEWING IT, EVENTUALLY IT WILL GO DOWN. DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL STAY DOWN THOUGH. OUR ECONOMY AND THE JOB SITUATIONS ARE VERY SHAKY. LETS NOT FORGET ABOUT THE LAW SUIT THAT IS HANGING OUT THERE EITHER.
I'M GLAD WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THE COURTHOUSE INSTEAD OF ABANDONING THE COURT HOUSE. KIND OF WISH THE SCHOOL PEOPLE WOULD WAKE UP AND SEE MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN TOWN AT NOT IN FAVOR OF BUILDING NEW BUILDINGS. (EXCEPT THOSE WHO MIGHT BENEFIT FROM SELLING THE PROPERTY.)
Let's sell some 911 Address signs to help pay for the new buildings.
Our priorities are mixed up folks. Yes, 911 is a vital service to the county but our children's education is certainly vital. The ideas shouldn't be tabled because of the economic issues.
Whats the old hospital being used for now? How about the old wal mart?? I like the plaza idea as well...
I personally think this needs to rest a bit, and out of curiousity who is paying for this site review study ? My opinion is to buy out the plaza and build there. Would be a shame to abandon all that has been done there in the past few years !
Outsider,
Also almost all of the space taken up by the athletic complex was set up to be just like it is from the start, the bond issue way back then even had that in it.
Like it or not athletics is a large part of small town life!
Well I don't necessarily disagree with the location out on 240/Miami, but a thought to add would be a crossing guard at the corner of High and Miami. I live in Boonville and am glad they have a crossing guard to cross Main St. and another so the kids can cross Bingham Rd. Both crossing guards are stationed about 3 blocks from each school. I am glad our school district is concerned about its students safety.
With a little better planning earlier on, and maybe a slightly less emphasis on athletics, there would have been room on the area where the high school sits and we wouldn't be hearing about this every couple of years.
Arojr,my problem with the area you list is that many kids who live in the north end of town get themselves off to school in the morning. They wouldn't qualify for bus transportation because they live too close. That would mean they would cross Miami, which is a busy street with lots of truck traffic. This area has been up for consideration before.
I personally like the Gieringer property as well.
How about across road from bowlen alley between 65 and Miami Street.With driveway entrance on 240.Its in city limits and plenty of room for any mods later down the road.It will be safer for buses than at the 65 split and wont bring down propety value down on homes around ww and will be quiter for home owners that work nights.Just an idea that just might make more people happy if they decide to put plan in action.
Wouldn't the site proposed by Josh McCracken (the one 4 1/2 miles south of Marshall) be out of the city limits?
My personal opinion on the 65 triangle site is that it's not a good place for children. Between two highways? No, wouldn't vote for that one.
I tend to favor the Gieringer land myself.
But as someone posted the other day -- with the economy as it is, it's not a good time to be putting this before the voters. Also, this lawsuit with the teachers and school district is still hanging over the town. Lots of bitter feelings on both sides of that issue.
It will be interesting to see how this goes this time.
Why dont they put in on the square