1. High School study space committee report

2. Committee members and role
25 members representing parents,
educators, senior citizens, students,
business and community leaders
Met over the course of 8 weeks
Serve in an advisory role to the School Board
Conducted a comprehensive review of the capacity issue
Recommending a solution for overcrowding to School Board
Serve as community ambassadors on the issue of high school capacity and the options to solve it

3. Committee’s three-phase process March through may 2017
Phase 1 – Understand the High School Capacity Issue
Examined enrollment trends from two research firms,
Weldon Cooper and K12 Enrollment Inc.
Gathered high school teacher and administrator input from a survey and personal testimonies.
Subcommittee toured Harrisonburg High School during instructional day.
Reviewed enrollment data from surrounding area high schools.
Committee agreed that a significant capacity issue exists at the high school level that needs a solution.

4. Phase 1 – Understand the High School Capacity Issue
Studies show that Harrisonburg City has had a 7.5 percent increase in its population over the last five years and is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

5. Phase 1 – Understand the High School Capacity Issue
Harrisonburg City Public Schools is one of the few school divisions experiencing growth in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with a 34.6 percent increase over the last 10 years.

6. Phase 1 – Understand the High School Capacity Issue
Two different studies show continued significant growth throughout the school division in the coming years.
Source: Weldon Cooper and K-12 Enrollment, Inc.

7. Phase 1 – Understand the High School Capacity Issue
Harrisonburg High School’s current enrollment is 1,730, which is already 400 above ideal capacity, and is projected to grow steadily for the next five years and beyond.
Source: Weldon Cooper and K-12 Enrollment, Inc.

8. Committee’s three-phase process March through may 2017
Phase 2 – Explore Solutions to Address Overcrowding
Committee considered multiple options -- including
alternative schedules but concluded it was impractical
and did not meet sustainable long-term student
instructional or social needs -- and thoroughly explored three options: an annex, an addition and a new high school.
Reviewed conceptual plans and budgets for an annex and an addition prepared by Moseley Architects.
Reviewed current and projected operational and staffing costs of each option.
Heard a presentation by VMDO Architects on a new high school.
Committee identified pros and cons of the three options.

9. Committee’s three-phase process March through may 2017
Phase 3 – Host a Community Open House on Options
Pros and cons of three options were presented to parents, school staff, and citizens at an open house on May 11.
Highlighted the Committee’s recommended option.
Comments and feedback were collected from attendees.

10. Option 1: annex
An annex would add space for 800 more students and would be limited to a 17-acre parcel on the east side of Garber’s Church Road. Estimated cost is $48.3 million (current cost). Planning, design and construction time is estimated at 30 months.

11. Option 1: annex Pros Cons
Construction without disruption to the current high school.
Creates one large high school.
Close proximity to the current high school.
Does not increase leadership or extracurricular opportunities for students.
Would not have to duplicate spaces such as an auditorium and media center.
A large high school could result in impersonal experiences for students and teachers.
HHS continues as a one-community high school.
Would increase common space for students and teachers.
Large high school will be classified by VHSL to compete with other large high schools, requiring more distant travel and more time.
Could be designed for expansion, if necessary.
Would duplicate some staff.
Access to main building would require extra travel time and logistics (bridge, tunnel or crossing Garbers Church Road).
Would require land purchase.
Could split programs such as athletics, art, music, CTE, and STEM and reduce team collaboration among teachers.
Short-term solution to a long-term challenge.

12. Option 2: addition
An addition would add space for 800 more students to the existing high school. Estimated cost is $45.1 million (current cost). Planning, design and construction time is estimated at 36 to 40 months.

13. Option 2: addition Pros Cons Already have land.
Disruption of the current learning environment.
Security is already in place.
After the addition opens, the high school would be at capacity.
Students would have a big community.
There would be no rivalry with a second high school.
Land is currently not adequate.
There would be no perceived inequity between two high schools.
Does not increase leadership or extracurricular opportunities for students.
A large high school could result in more impersonal experiences for students and teachers.
Large high school will be classified by VHSL to compete with other large high schools, requiring more distant travel and more time.
Fewer leadership and coaching opportunities for teachers.
Infrastructure of existing building, such as halls and bathrooms, would not be improved.
Short-term solution to a long-term challenge.

14. Option 3: new high school
A new high school, as well as the current high school, would each accommodate 1,300 students. Estimated costs will be presented this evening by VMDO Architects.

15. Option 3: new high school
Committee Recommendation
Option 3: new high school
Pros
Cons
Presents a long-term solution to address growing enrollment.
Potential initial cost is higher.
Schedule for completion could take three to four years.
Doubles the opportunities for student participation in leadership and extra-curricular programs.
Time for community to adjust to two high schools.
Land acquisition and site requirements to meet energy and infrastructure needs.
Would provide 21st century learning environments that are adaptable.
Energy efficiencies could result in a net zero energy use.
Students could compete with more local schools of similar size.
Both schools have expansion capacity to address continued growth.
Smaller high schools contribute to a greater connectedness and community among teachers and students

16. Public feedback from open house
An estimated 50 citizens attended the Open House on May 11.
Of the 26 written comments turned in, 21 indicated their full support of building a second high school. None were against.

17. Video produced by hhs students

18. Discussion / q&A