HOLLIDAY ISD LONG-RANGE FACILITIES PLANNING PROCESS
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
6:30 p.m.
The Holliday ISD Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee met on Tuesday,
June 26, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. in the Holliday Elementary Cafeteria with the
following members present: Steve Ahrens, Jamie Alexander, Nicki Bomer,
Stacia Boyd, Kathy Bullard, Kelly Carver, Sheila Davis, James Elms, Kara
Fluty, Chris Gravitt, Brad Hardin, Stacie Kidd, Kristy Lawson, Shannon Owen,
Donna Reynolds, Michele Schrandt, Ginger Shirley, Dale Thomas, and Barry
Wright. The following guests were in attendance: Betty Rasmussen, Paul
Simmons, Kelly Smith, Mel Hadderton, Dustin Scobee, Laura Weatherread,
and Corey Walker.
Chairman Hardin called the meeting to order. He asked about corrections to
the minutes of the June 12, 2012, meeting. Sheila Davis made a motion to
accept the minutes, and it was seconded by Stacia Boyd. Motion passed.
Dale Thomas explained the purpose of the meeting (which was originally
scheduled as the Fourth Meeting). At this meeting, committee members had
the opportunity to interview the Holliday ISD Department Heads
(Maintenance Director, Transportation Director, Food Service Director,
CATE – Agriculture and Consumer Family Sciences, Band Director,
Technology Director, Elementary Principal, Middle School Principal, High
School Principal, High School Counselor, and Athletic Director).
Members of the Committee as well as guests were asked to introduce
themselves.
Corey Walker, Transportation Director, was the first to report about his
needs. He reported that there have been 9 routes in the past but there will
be 8 for the coming school year. The Special Needs bus route will not be
running. He indicated that the biggest expense he has (other than the cost
of buses) is for fuel with repairs and salaries next. There is no air
conditioning on the buses other than the small buses, and all routes are
under one hour in length. There are 16 buses with 5 that are older and have
high mileage. The two newest buses are reserved for sports/fieldtrips with
the older buses running the routes. When asked if the facilities were
adequate, he said, “No!” There is a severe drainage problem when it rains.
The area outside the bus barn is higher than the actual floor of the bus
barn. When it rains, the water from the high school parking lot runs into the
area and causes water to stand which causes very slick conditions when
getting off the buses. The floor of the office area also floods. Additional
buses (newer ones) are needed. He indicated that 6 will need to be replaced
within the next 10 years. Ideally, the school needs an activity bus such as a
chartered bus. He said the yellow school buses are not designed for driving
on highways for long distances, and this cause problems with the buses,
causing them to breakdown. Traffic after school is a problem for the buses
and parents that are picking up their children. Members discussed ways to
help with this problem, and this included using the front parking lot in the
afternoon for buses instead of parents.
Next to talk was Mel Hadderton, Band Director. She reported that the
building used for band at one time had over 200 students throughout the
day without rest room facilities. The school allowed the high school band to
move to the old cafeteria. A lot of work was needed for this to be adequate
and the work was done by the Holliday Band Parent Association with help
from the Maintenance Department. She indicated that the items needed
are a faculty bathroom (it is there but does not have plumbing), a fenced in
and graveled area behind the band hall to park the band trailer. At this time
it is parked at the bus barn. The school rents a truck to pull the trailer each
time it is used. Ideally, the school could buy a cab for this purpose. It
would cost between $20000 to $25000 to purchase a used one. Now it
costs between $130 to $150 per day to lease one plus 12 cents per mile. The
Transportation Director is responsible for picking it up and returning it. She
reported that there are currently 3 band directors working with 110 high
school band students (grades 8 – 12), 125 Jr. high school band students, and
68 fifth grade band students. Besides the band program, they teach 2
Music Therory classes and one guitar class. Their technology is ok and the
instruments are ok. The school furnishes 85 to 90% of the instruments to
students.
Kelly Smith, Science Department Chair, reported on the conditions of the
science department. There are 3 science teachers teaching 18 sections of
science each day, and there is one science lab for all of these. The State of
Texas recommends that science classes include 40% lab time. He reported
that the “eye wash station” has to be run for a while before a lab because of
the metal pipes causing the water to be “rusty” looking. He also reported
that the electrical outlets are located under the water faucets (which tend
to leak) so the electricity has to be turned off of the outlets. Most of the
electrical outlets do not work. He did indicate that the basic equipment
works but more “up-to-date” equipment is needed. Probe readers were items
that were mentioned. There are typically 20 to 25 students per class.
Ideally, classrooms would be a lecture/lab combination and you would use the
experiment tables only for experiments with desks used for the lecture
portion of the class. Also, Biology classes need tables that are appropriate
for sitting while chemistry and physic tables should be higher and made for
standing. He reported that the ventilation (for Chemistry) does work.
Paul Simmons, Vocational Agriculture Chair, discussed the conditions and
needs of the Ag Department. There are two teachers that teach
approximately 125 students and of these students, 15 to 20 show animals
for their projects. In order to offer FFA, each student is to have a record
book which is now computerized. The Ag Department has purchased
notebook computers but lap top computers would be better for this and
more of these are needed for the students. He indicated that they need
about 20 lap top computers. He also reported that more space is needed for
the students to work on projects. Electrical outlets are located in the floor
(which cause a tripping hazard) and that they have added a few electrical
drops. More shop and classroom space is needed. The building received
some damage from the 2004 storm and this has not been corrected. Other
schools offer classes that Holliday ISD cannot offer (tractor restoration,
horticulture, advanced animal science) because of the lack of space, tools,
and facilities. Run-off from the high school parking lot flows to the area
and causes students to have to wade water to get to the building. The
Project Center (which houses the students’ animals) floods and is not
designed for larger animals. Also, security is a problem. If the department
had a plasma cam cutter, they could offer services to the community. Also,
tig welders would offer the welding class to be able to learn to weld on
aluminum and other types of metal. More ventilation is needed for the
welding classes.
Betty Rasmussen, FCCLA teacher, reported on her department. She
indicated that the classes are moving toward more service/tourism careers
with culinary being a new focus area. With this trend, bigger equipment is
needed as well as a gas stove. She reported that her largest expense is the
food used for the classes, the sewing machines, and the “babies” used for
the Child Development classes. When students are in her culinary/nutrition
classes, they take the Food handlers course to receive certification in that
area. She has 5 kitchen areas, 1 dishwasher, 1 refrigerator, and 1 freezer.
She needs more and larger equipment in the kitchen areas and also more
electrical outlets. The only computer in her department is the teacher
computer so student computers are needed. She has 25 sewing machines
and about 5 of those need to be replaced. There is only one vent for all of
the kitchen areas. Hot water is limited when all of the kitchens are being
utilized.
Terry Wolf, Athletic Director, discussed the needs of the Athletic
Department. The parking lot around the fieldhouse and gym area is terrible.
A bigger and better parking lot with lighting is needed. Schools in our
district have approximately 3 gyms and we have one that is used for
everything including sports and P.E. The school currently rents gym space
from local churches. Ideally, a new competition gym would be built but a gym
shell would help with the situation. The track is 23 years old and in terrible
shape as it is has potholes. It needs to be replaced. More computers are
needed as the district voted to use technology to share videos online.
Cables are being run to handle this but new computers are needed. Tennis
courts are also a need. The baseball and softball fields are in good condition
because of the work of the Athletic Booster Club and parents. He reported
that it would cost approximately $777,000 to place turf on the football
field and redo the track. Pests continue to be a problem in the fieldhouse
and gym.
Laura Weatherread, Cafeteria Manager, reported on the cafeteria. She
reported that everything works well. The cafeteria is a multi-use facility
and is used for various school functions and also by the community. Lunches
begin around 10:45 a.m. and end around 1:30 each day and serve all grades in
the school. The main problem is the middle school and high school students
having to walk during bad weather (rain and/or cold).
Corey Walker also discussed maintenance issues. The high school roof
leaks. He indicated that maintenance reports are turned in to the high
school and then given to the superintendent. Dr. Dyes then delegates the
needs to maintenance. Major items (plumbing, air conditioning/heating) are
done by outside sources.
The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, July 10, 2012. Tours of the
facilities will be held on Tuesday, July 17 beginning at 6:00 p.m. July 31,
2012, will be the 5th meeting.
Sheila Davis made a motion to adjourn the meeting. James Elms seconded.
Motion carried. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Reynolds, Secretary