The following are important updates from the Oct. 9 board meeting and study session. Please contact the Public Information Office, 253.571.1015, for additional information. Thank you.
Study session on long-range planning
The Board of Directors received information from district administration on long-range planning of facilities and technology at the Oct. 9 study session. Here is a link to the board Power Point presentation: http://www.tacomaschools.org/information/schoolboard/Documents/20081009-A-5.pdf.
The Tacoma Renewal and Excellence Program (T-REX) proposal consists of four phases of long-range facilities improvement planning for the district. T-REX would complete modernizations at the 24 district schools that have not had a significant renovation. Each of the four phases would cost $300 million.
Board members asked the superintendent to present a formal plan for proceeding with a 2009 capital bond issue for the Oct. 23 board meeting.
T-REX I Proposal – Completes secondary schools
|
Major Projects |
|
Estimated Cost
(in millions) |
|
Baker M.S. |
|
$60 |
|
Hunt M.S. |
|
$57 |
|
Stewart M.S. |
|
$63 |
|
Wilson M.S. |
|
$70 |
|
|
Subtotal Major Projects |
$250 |
|
|
|
|
|
Small Capital Projects |
|
|
|
Secondary schools
(Foss carpet; Lincoln athletic field; Stadium bowl turf) |
|
$21 |
|
District-wide |
|
$29 |
|
|
Subtotal Small Capital Projects |
$50 |
|
|
Total T-REX I |
$300 |
|
|
|
|
|
Completes 2001 Major Projects |
|
|
|
Geiger E.S. |
|
$30 |
Board to integrate planning efforts with Board of Park Commissioners
In addition, the board unanimously agreed to integrate its facility planning efforts with the Board of Park Commissioners that governs Metro Parks Tacoma. The combined board efforts would be aimed at providing more recreational opportunities for the community and improving the efficiency of use of public funds.
Technology plan provides equity standards across district
Shaun Taylor, executive director of Technology Services, gave an overview of the district’s long-range technology plan that uses a total life cycle approach and brings equity standards to all facilities in a predictable, programmed fashion. The current technology plan is Part 1 of a five-step cycle, or the first four years of a 20-year plan. The long-range plan maintains needed instructional technology standards as curriculum and instructional needs change. Another component of the plan is providing professional development so staff members can make the best use of the new technology.
Other board actions
The board approved the hiring of Leslie Meisner as director of Head Start and ECEAP and David Syth as coordinator of the Indian Education Program. Meisner was a program specialist at Madison/ECEAP prior to her new position. Syth was the principal of the Lummi Nation School.
The board also approved:
- The purchase of security monitoring services for the alarm system in the district through Sonitrol of Puget Sound.
- The field trip request for 13 students and two chaperones from Foss High School to travel to Morelia, Mexico, from June 14–27 to increase their Spanish fluency and experience the culture of central Mexico.