| Over a year ago, the Spring Lake Park School Board began an extensive process to review all district facility needs. At the same time, the district was engaged in an ongoing study to determine necessary repairs. Also during this time, the district went through a process to determine—and act on—the most effective methods of providing services to our students in the elementary schools. The middle school and high school are going to take that same intense scrutiny as this district lays out its blueprint for providing students and staff with the tools for success.
A basic foundation for that success, however, must be facilities that provide safety, security, and academic opportunities. School facilities are much like our homes and businesses. Like it or not, they require daily and annual maintenance, but even with proper maintenance, they will require periodical major upgrades and renovations. Unfortunately, just like homes and businesses, if some of the projects require greater outlay than simple maintenance, we tend to put those off until we are more economically prepared to withstand that cost.
Quick… tell me what year Gene Autry made "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" a top ten hit. In what year did Bill Hayes make the "Ballad of Davey Crockett" famous, and when did "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles hit the charts? Finally, in what year was Tony Orlando and Dawn’s "Knock Three Times" a number one tune?
Here are the answers in order: 1950, 1955, 1964, and 1971.
Before you ask, "what’s the point," our district’s oldest building is Woodcrest Elementary, and it was built in 1950. Our next oldest is the high school, built in 1955, followed by Kenneth Hall in 1964. Westwood Middle School, our "newest" school was actually built in 1971, making it 34 years of age.
While the Tony Orlando song is still somewhat popular today, the fashion accompanying that era would not! The significance of these dates and songs are that they represent the ages of some of the buildings in District 16. Actually, this light-hearted information reveals the serious issue with the Spring Lake Park School District facilities: it simply takes more resources to keep older facilities up-to-date.
This month, a Facilities Utilization Task Force, comprised of parents and community members, staff, and administration, will begin to analyze the information gathered since March of last year by architects and engineers as well as the input of staff. The Task Force will review the Facilities Study Report, visit each of the schools and facilities, and then prioritize the needs of District 16.
As good stewards of the community’s schools—and of students’ academic needs—we must continue to do all we can to provide students and staff with the tools for success.
Some of the needs relate to the actual structure of the buildings, others relate to mechanical and electrical needs, and still others relate to grounds, physical education, and athletic fields.
By May, the Task Force will prepare and present a preliminary facilities improvement plan to the School Board. That will begin a period of time for discussion of the plan, with numerous opportunities in the fall for parent, community, and staff comments and suggestions.
This is a critical time for our school district as our buildings are 34 to 50 years old. We will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our first graduating class in 2007. Because we value tradition and maintaining our community’s schools, it will be with a great deal of pride that we will celebrate 50 graduating classes from the same facility.
Much has changed in the decade since we last asked voters to provide funding for facilities, but some needs haven’t—they have simply grown greater.
Security was an issue then, but it's an even greater issue now. Technology was an issue then, and we are trying even harder to keep pace with it now. Our furnaces and other building infrastructure have remained the same over time. After anywhere from three to five decades of use, it will be time to not only repair, but to replace much of the faithful, but worn infrastructure.
Each month, the Board will get an update on the Facilities Utilization Study. Periodically, the district will provide all members of the community an update on the progress of the Task Force. Most assuredly, everyone in the community will have an opportunity to ask questions and to respond to the many issues that will be raised as the district seeks to not only bring our facilities "up-to-date" but to help our students and our community prepare for ten years—and more—into the future.
We appreciate the support and interest the community has shown our school community and, as always, we welcome your comments.
The is a reprint of a column published in the February 11, 2005 Blaine-Spring Lake Park Life, the official local newspaper of District 16. | 
