Current D41 proposal to add innovation labs

Hello!  I have not posted in a while, but now that I am a retired D41 board member, I should have more time to post and provide what I hope will be useful information and thoughts to the community.

Recently, D41 is looking into adding innovation labs to their schools.  As an engineer, I am excited to hear this.  However, the recently proposal seems to have ballooned significantly and I have some concerns on what it really is trying to solve. 

Below is my letter to the Board of Education:


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To the members of the Board of Education,

I am writing this letter in regards to the proposal of the plan to add innovation labs at all the schools.  During my tenure on the board, I was a frequent proponent of adding science labs, rather than the courtyards, parking lots and underground water detention which were initiated each year.  I am very excited to now see talk of innovations labs.  That said, I am concerned with the most recent proposal and I have some questions/concerns I think the board should be aware of.

At the Sept. 9th, 2012 Finance meeting, the first proposal emerged for adding in the STEAM labs to all the elementary schools.  The cost of this proposal ranged from $900k-$1.9M.  Later that evening at the Regular meeting, there was information provided on a series of meetings with FGM that fall which would work on 21st spaces to be fitted within the existing footprint of the schools.  This work would continue thru Dec. 2012 at a cost of $78k.  After that, the board was to be presented with the results of this effort in the spring of 2013.  Here is my concern, if the current proposals ($8M-$10M) are to build additions, renovate admin offices and add in underground water retention, where did that come from? What did the district get for their $78k?  Unfortunately, as we saw with the courtyard and other projects, what was original a small number has ballooned into a large number.  I would encourage the board to go back and look at the results of that effort last fall and understand what renovations would have been made from that proposal as opposed to the current one which includes office renovations and water retention.  Until all portables are removed, can the district say in good conscience they are doing everything they can as offices are renovated and water retention is put in?

Thank you for your time and efforts as board members.

Regards,

Dan Smith, Jr.

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What are your thoughts?  As always, the board needs to hear from its customers.  I would encourage anyone to contact the board or show up to the meeting on Monday, Aug. 26th and have your voice heard.