Architects present facility options without middle school

Architects present facility options without middle school

    PENN YAN—Representatives from King + King Architects presented two possible plans for student distribution if the Penn Yan Central School District closed the middle school, at the Wednesday, June 27, board of education meeting.
    King + King did a building utilization study of the district.  Amanda Thomas explained they looked at student numbers and available facilities if  the middle school students had to be housed in either the elementary or academy.
    Currently, grades sixth through eighth are in the middle school building.  King + King ran two scenarios: pre-kindergarten to sixth at the elementary and seventh to 12th at the academy, or pre-kindergarten to seven at the elementary and eighth to 12th at the academy.  Thomas said at the elementary, the district would need to add a second music room for both scenarios and one art room for the second option.
    Thomas added there would be too few lockers at the academy; the school would need 177 more under the first option and only 43 in the second option.  She said the entire student body at the academy would not fit in the auditorium for either plan, but could all be seated on the gym bleachers.
    However, Thomas said the district would not be in a good condition to make either change for several years.  She explained given the space requirements, Penn Yan could implement the first option for the 2017-18 school year or the second plan for 2015-16.
The district formed a committee to look at possible changes due to shifts in student enrollment.  Other schools in the area have pursued plans of closing a district building and consolidating students, including nearby Hammondsport and Watkins Glen.
    In other business:
    •  Middle school Principal Rebecca Perrault was assigned to be the director of student information.    Howard Dennis was then approved to be the interim middle school principal, effective July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013.
    •  The board accepted four donations: a baby grand piano for the academy music department, $190 for the elementary Helping Us Build Better Assets club, $100 for the Nora Bartlett Award, and $25 for the middle school band.
    •  The annual professional performance review (APPR) for teachers and principals was approved by the board.  The state mandated the creation of the review, which required negotiations between the district and teacher’s union.
    •  The board approved the senior trip for the class of 2013, Nov. 9 to Nov. 11, 2012, in Boston, Mass.
    •  An agreement between Penn Yan and Dundee’s school districts for use of fitness equipment was approved.
    •  The board declared five old voting machines and assorted bulk scrap metal as surplus.
    The next regular Penn Yan school board meeting is Wednesday, July 18, at 7 p.m.  A reorganizational meeting will be held July 11.