In the spring of 2004, the HPCSD Facilities Steering Committee, in collaboration with consultants from The Thomas Group, performed an in-depth analysis of the Hyde Park Central School District facilities, their current state and their ability to satisfy future needs of our district. Reports containing the assessment of the current state of our facilities are available.
In addition, the committee identified fifteen alternatives for addressing one or more deficiencies in the ability of our current facilities to satisfy our current and future capacity and functional requirements. These alternatives were collected and refined over the course of many Facilities Committee meetings as well as "Listening Sessions" conducted with the community, staff and students. In the course of collecting these possible approaches, no attempt to evaluate or rank them was made. The alternatives fell into one of four fundamental categories: No Permanent Construction, Rennovation Only, Grade Realignment and Construction.
Once the committee felt there was a sufficient number of different approaches, comment was requested on the advantages and disadvantages of each approach as well as whether community members felt each alternative was desirable or unworkable. Advantages and disadvantages were collected as comments on the Pros and Cons or each approach. Participants were given the opportunity to mark each alternative as desirable or unsupportable. The results of these comments are given below.
| A - No Construction | B - Rennovation | C - Grade Realignment | D - Construction> |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-1 Facilities "Status Quo" | B-1 Accessibility, Health & Safety | C-1 Current Grade Alignment | D-1 New Elementary School |
| A-2 Year-round School | B-2 Priority 1 Items in all Buildings | C-2 K-4,5-6,7-8,9-12 Grade Alignment | D-2 New High School |
| A-3 Temporary Space/Modular Classrooms | B-3 Athletic Fields, PE, Site Facilities District-wide | C-3 K-4,5-6,7-9,10-12 Grade Alignment | D-3 New Technology Center & Building |
| B-4 Refurbish One Building at a time | C-4 Kindergarten Center | ||
| C-5 Tiered Elementary K, 1-2 & 3-5 |
| B-1 Accessibility, Health & Safety | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| B-2 Priority 1 Items in all Buildings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| A-2 Year-round School | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| D-2 New High School | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | ||||
| B-3 Athletic Fields, PE, Site Facilities District-wide | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | ||||
| D-3 New Technology Center & Building | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | ||||
| C-1 Current Grade Alignment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | |||||
| A-3 Temporary Space/Modular Classrooms | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ||
| C-2 K-4,5-6,7-8,9-12 Grade Alignment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | ||||
| D-1 New Elementary School | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |||
| C-4 Kindergarten Center | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ||||
| C-3 K-4,5-6,7-9,10-12 Grade Alignment | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ||||||
| A-1 Facilities "Status Quo" | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ||||||
| B-4 Refurbish One Building at a time | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ||||
| C-5 Tiered Elementary K, 1-2 & 3-5 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |||
This alternative would leave facilities in their current state.
| No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Not as expensive as building now - Saves $$. Although only for a short run. |
Too crowded to do nothing This is not an option. Increased cost with future construction. Will incur building cost eventually plus extra expenses as conditions worsen. Not acceptable to move into the future Only acceptable if willing to see District spiral down inadequacy. At what cost? We are already suffering from the "Status Quo". Not solving problems. Too much maintenance has been by passed. "Status Quo" is really backwards motion is this case. |
Operate school year-round with staggered school years. Each student would still go to school 180 days but the buildings would always be occupied.
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Maximum usage of facilities Facilities Staff can take vacation "off-peak" Move to Tech-Age (High tech schedule to include family) Shift population to 12 months - Create space. Solution - But temporary |
Changing the culture of the community State aid not available during summer for operating cost. Staffing issues If more than 1 child in family at different buildings - Difficulty to schedule vacations. Need to air-condition buildings. Hugh disruption, diversion to planning for this, and managing the process, change and outcome. NO State Aid - Can't Afford Family vacation Student work Not sensitive to students and families. Planning has been done - Software available to create schedule. Not sure if "society" is culturally ready for this. All buildings will need major upgrades, could mean increases staff expenses. Parents of children will object. May have issues with teachers union. |
Add temporary classrooms to the current campuses to alleviate overcrowding.
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Quick fix Low cost - Maybe Temp fix while present buildings are remodeled. Short Term, cheap? Modulars for District Offices near a school. Modulars are like classroom inside. They are for education, not for enjoyment. Reality is - We may have to do this while waiting for buildings to be buld. Temp solution at best. |
Might never move out of temps/modular classrooms. They are lousy, not meant for the long haul, but they usually end up being quasi-permanent. Not a final solution. We would be making the problem worse. A waste of time and money End up permanent Less effective classroom space Ugly No way - You will never get rid of them. Rent s throwaway money. |
Address the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility issues aong with health and safety issues at each building.
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
MEET(S) NEEDS Less Change of injury/Liability concerns Get Building in Compliance Minimum Basic Needs - Urgent You must follow the Law - Even at a huge expense Would make HPCSD complaint with Federal laws Legally required - Needs t be dealt with Not an issue - Has to be done Addresses concerns of Handicap (Access) Needs to be included in whatever schedule we suggest |
Could be viewed as expense with limited benefit or limited academic benefit None Cost/Architectural Concerns Won't be seen as a substantive improvement by the General Public |
Identify top priority needs in current buildings and develop a plan that addresses those needs equitably across all buildings.
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Basic needs required for maintaining and improving School District Visible, gives community a sense that facility needs are being addressed. Deals with basic needs - Extends life span of building air circulation Storage Rooms are not designed for Instructional Areas Leaking Roofs More classroom and instructional space is desperately needed |
None Does not address overcrowding issues at High School and Middle School Does not address overcrowding in all buildings Band-Aid Solution. |
Address athletic fields, physical education facilities and general site issues equitably at all buildings.
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Urgently necessary to have quality schools and degree of competitiveness Greatly needed, highly visible to community needs to be done Improves school and community morale Some improvements avoid future expenses (e.g. Putting up vehicle barriers avoid field repair work) Yes - Needs to be done no matter what. Would give student athletes a sense of pride Is a sorely needed item when compared to other Districts |
Costly to do all Costly and does not address much needed work on buildings Can't be done a single (only) project - Other need as/more important Enough for now - More exercise with the brain needed to achieve reports. Cannot be justified if done exclusive of academic and Health/Safety Projects. Has to be done in tandem with academic improvements otherwise athletics versus academics Cannot out weigh the definite need to renovate all buildings. |
Address all issues at one building before moving on to the next.
| No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Lesser impact to taxpayers Gradual pay off Lower cost (At one Time) |
More expensive in long run Costs will keep increasing as buildings deteriorate further. Costs rise over time Doesn't deal with Safety/Health issues at each building promptly. Difficulty to enlist community support for "other" Elementary Schools. Until last Elementary School is completed there is inherent inequity. Risk of dealing with a few and not the whole District. (Do people stop supporting props half way through). Will run out of time for students' demographics. Might need to "start all over" when the cast building is completed due to changing demographics. Takes too long. |
Keep the existing alignment with K-5 elementary schools, a 6-8 middle schools and a 9-12 high school.
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Less change, less redistricting, less community upset. Minor changes - No redistricting Community Support |
Existing K-12 buildings may require enormous additions/major space changes. Band-aid solution. Not good for long term. While buildings are fixed - Keep as is. All buildings would require additions (major modifications to keep the "status quo" educational. The demographics may not allow it. Still have to rent District Office Space Does not meet need to growth if major renovations are not done to each building. If classrooms are added - Core areas (Cafeteria, Libraries, Gyms) would have to be added. |
Make elementary schools K-4, create a Grades 5 & 6 building, a Grades 7 - 8 Middle School and a Grades 9 - 12 High School.
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Aligns with state standards, assessments, and curriculum development. Minimizes redistricting which would otherwise be considerable. Though it would be one more move, 5-6 housed at current Middle School would possibly create adequate space long term. 7-8 in current High School, 9-12 new facility. Common fields, etc., good possibility. Would create smaller school communities Maintain length of bus rides as opposed to other alignment. Grade alignment, shared resources Separate grade 6 from Grade 7/8. |
Too many transition for students (1 more than now) Two years in building is not enough time to feel "Part of the School" Students need more time in class, less on bus One more move per student than now. Community likes neighborhood school - Would be too small if classroom additions are made. Cost of new building. |
Make elementary schools K-4, create a Grades 5 & 6 building, a Grades 7 - 9 Junior High School and a Grades 10 - 12 High School.
| No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Could create a more gradual transition from Elementary Self Contained thru Middle School thru Senior High School. |
Limited High School Opportunities for 8th and 9th grade students. Does not align well with current NYS standards and curricula. Bad for younger kids mixing with kids who may be much older. Athlete Schedules Not just physical plant change but a philosophical change. Community likes neighborhood schools concept. A neighborhood school goes from 1-6 Stability is important. 9th graders belong in the High School for Academic "C" purposes and cours need to be added if classrooms are added. |
House all Kindergarten in one building and make the elementary buildings 1-5.
| Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Consolidate all Kindergarten Resources in 1 plate Consolidation of Kindergarten could have a more flexible schedule (hours) In a "new High School -> Middle School Move to current High School" scenario, would be a good use of current Haviland Building. |
Too much family movement Destroys neighborhood schools concept. Difficult to convey students strengths/weaknesses to 1st grade teachers. Extra transportation K Center - too specialized Would have to be an early childhood center, (ie., Pre-K, K, 1st) Kids could spend 1 hour on buses. Significant renovations would be needed in this scenario. Isolation, not good for grade level / opportunity. No opportunity for grade level or content level acceleration. Most disruptive for bussing, family, its own "entity" - opposite community. |
Realign elementary grades with a Kindergarten building, buildings for Grades 1 & 2 and buildings for Grades 3 through 5.
| No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Too much movement - Destroys neighborhood school concept. Can existing bussing handle change? Not just a physical plant change, but also a philosophy change, also. No student interaction. Don't see the educational merits of this type of reorganization. Not supported by community, which appears to like neighborhood schools. Already enough neighborhood destruction by malls etc., community "feel" very important - Much social value. Preserve towns beauty and historic look. No point Academically Overcrowding in core areas (Cafeterias, Gyms, Libraries) if classrooms are added. |
Build a new elementary school.
| Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Appropriate for the future growth at both the north and south end of the District. 2 very aged buildings - VAS, HPE need major renovations - Newer more modern facilities will attract more families (that could be a negative). Immediately alleviate Elementary Overcrowding. |
Redistricting will need to occur Not addressing overcrowding at High School and Middle School Additional staffing cost (principal, custodian, food services, etc.) The replacement of the High School and Renovating the old High School as a new Middle School will free up space down the line. Renovate Elementary Schools yes, additional, no. Isolated benefit to some. Redistricting all K-5 school boundaries will need to be drawn. Most families affected/political upheaval. |
Build a new high school.
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Current Building is worn out Could be most cost effective in long run. A place for all District Offices at Haviland Saves rental - Less overhead. Can be designed to meet new standards Marginal Auditorium. Would have a ripple down effect of addressing overcrowding at all levels. Could also incorporate athletic field improvements in site planning. Time to bite the bullet. Would be "flag-ship" building for the District. Opportunity to offer more courses for our students. Current building built 25 years after original High School - Curriculum/Program significantly changed more than the 1st 25 years. Would provide new High School facilities to address Science Technology. New High School would relieve crowding from top ripple through all grades 800 new housing units expected. |
Only if necessary clean out junk in present buildings. Put records on to computer or film. Only if part of a total restructuring significant cost impact Can't be done a the expense of Middle School and Elementary School. They need to be addressed as well. |
Build a new Science & Technology Center on the FDR campus, connected to the existing building. Build either a new high school or middle school, also connected to the new Technology Center. The high school and the middle school would share the science and technology facilities available in the new center.
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Reduce overcrowding Address Science/Tech needs at Middle and Secondary Level. Cost effective way to teach technologies. 7-8, 9-12 both benefit from state of the art. Hyde Park needs to address 21st century needs. Could also house a computer center and videoconference. New Auditorium could be part of the center as a vehicle for teaching the Science of Media Communications. Make a "Community Science and Tech Center" it will be more attractive. Best alignment from academic perspective. Addresses major academic needs with the least amount of redistricting and family disruption. Groups students by developmental needs. Provides Science and Technology Facilities to meet High School requirements and makes the facilities available to 7/8. |
Bad for younger kids - Exposure to High School Kids Too much focus on 1-2 programs - Need to address all academic programs Results in a large campus More work needed in basics None, exempt possible cost. Assumes a new secondary building will be built on original High School property (in addition to the Science/Tech Center) What about other areas such as a Specialized Performing Arts Center. |
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