FACTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE VOTING

Older Junior High Section

  • Unreinforced masonry and glass block construction receives a -1 on a (1-11 scale) for seismic stability
  • "Temporary" portable classrooms dating to the 70's have deteriorated to near condemnation conditions but three are still being used as classrooms
  • Boiler is unreliable and costly to maintain and operate
  • Maintenance tunnels are condemned due to asbestos and flooding
  • Restrooms are being used for special use classrooms (urinals are covered with plywood boxes)
  • Rooms used primarily for computer facilities are not properly wired resulting in increased fire, electrocution, and tripping hazards
  • There are no science labs in the junior high
  • Substantial crowding within the common areas, hallways, and available classrooms


    • Newer Junior High Section

  • Physical education space is undersized if planning for a middle school


    • High School

  • Poorly designed roofs have led to leaks and mold problems
  • Boiler is unreliable and costly to maintain and operate
  • Maintenance tunnels are condemned due to collapse, asbestos, fuel leaks and flooding
  • Electrical system components are valued for their "antique" appeal and are barely functional, difficult, and expensive to maintain
  • Plumbing is failing and in some cases, impossible to repair without replacing total system of current pipes and fittings
  • Restrooms are not ADA accessible
  • Shop space has been converted into classrooms resulting in improper lighting, heating, ventilating, and acoustics
  • Agricultural space has been converted into special use classrooms that lack proper layout, equipment, and connectivity to the main building
  • Classrooms do not support technology upgrades
  • Physical education locker rooms are disproportionate in size and a violation of Title IX
  • Cafeteria repairs costs are escalating due to pre-code installations
  • Cafeteria cooler has full southern exposure and is merely an insulated plywood room with a compressor
  • Science labs are inadequate in number and do not meet state mandates
  • In 2007, the Banks School District paid for a "fire watch" employee because the fire detection system was inoperable
  • Substantial crowding within the common areas, hallways, and available classrooms


    • Campus Infrastructure

  • School district lacks the physical space recommended for school facilities
  • Current traffic flow is not safe and nearly gridlocked before and after school
  • Available parking does not meet code requirements
  • Lighting for safety is limited
  • Athletic fields are of inadequate numbers and condition to support our programs


    • Without immediate action by the community to improve our facilities we face a potential risk of costly lawsuits resulting from not complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title IX - Equal Opportunity in Education Act, and wrongful death or personnel injury suits as a result of unsafe and unhealthy facility conditions.

    HOW DO FACILITIES IMPACT PEOPLE?

    ED459593 - Facility Conditions and Student Test Performance in the Milwaukee Public Schools
    Council of Educational Facility Planners International
    9180 E. Desert Cove Dr., Suite 104, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Tel: 480-391-0840 http://www.cefpi.org

    ABSTRACT: This study of 139 K-12 Milwaukee public schools examines the effect of building condition on student test scores compared to other influences such as family background, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, attendance, and student discipline. The study analyzed performance on the Wisconsin Student Assessment System Mathematics, Science, Language, and Social Studies tests of fourth, eighth, and tenth grades of each school in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Results show that student success is significantly related to facility condition. Facility condition was found to be a stronger predictor of academic achievement than many family background factors and socioeconomic conditions.

    School Facility Conditions and Student Academic Achievement
    A Research Report prepared by UCLA’s Institute for Democracy, Education, & Access
    Williams Watch Series: Investigating the Claims of Williams v. State of California
    Glen I. Earthman October 2002

    ABSTRACT: School building design features and components have been proven to have a measurable influence upon student learning. Among the influential features and components are those impacting temperature, lighting, acoustics and age. Researchers have found a negative impact upon student performance in buildings where deficiencies in any of these features exist.

    Linking School Facility Conditions to Teacher Satisfaction and Success
    National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities
    1090 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20005–4905 888–552–0624 www.edfacilities.org

    ABSTRACT: Teachers were asked to evaluate their surroundings, including the degree of overcrowding, the availability and adequacy of such specialized facilities as science labs and music rooms, and physiological factors, including indoor air quality, thermal comfort, classroom lighting, and noise levels. Poor school conditions make it more difficult for teachers to deliver an adequate education to their students, adversely affect teachers’ health, and increase the likelihood that teachers will leave their school and the teaching profession."

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