Fairview’s indoor training facility – a glimpse of what LHHS might have under the proposed RISD bond
All four Richardson ISD high schools would receive indoor practice facilities in the 2016 bond under plans revealed at Monday night’s school board meeting, and Lake Highlands High School would be enlarged to accommodate expected enrollment growth. Details of the proposal will be discussed with the community as RISD staff members go out on a “listening tour,” visiting Exchange Clubs, PTAs, booster clubs and school staff meetings.
The bond, which exceeds $435 million, will pay for construction, maintenance and enrichment of facilities in a wide variety of categories.
In addition to LHHS, district magnet Richardson High would also receive a new wing of classrooms under the plan, and Aikin, Prestonwood and Yale Elementaries would be updated. All libraries at all campuses would be renovated, with revamped teaming tables, circulation desks and technology. Career and technology educational (sometimes called “vocational”) programs would be built. Technology would be purchased to put mobile instructional devices like iPads in the hands of students of all ages.
“We’re not trying to take a completely refined list to the community, because we would like to hear what they would like to see,” said Tony Harkleroad, Deputy Superintendent for Finance and Support Services.
The line item which trustees seemed most interested to receive stakeholder input on was the “21st Century Learning Center,” which would house both Early College High School and non-traditional programs.
“Discussions have led us to rethink that design,” Dr. Jeannie Stone, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction, told the board. The program could be accomplished by building a stand-alone facility or – less efficiently – by incorporating classes into current facilities, she said.
“We are the only 6A high school in the state without a non-traditional high school program,” Stone said, since RISD currently offers only an evening program with 65 spaces at the Christa McAuliffe Learning Center. “These students would receive comprehensive counseling, dropout recovery and an RISD diploma.”
The proposed bond includes $21 million for a stand-alone facility, housing non-traditional students downstairs (up to 360 students) and the district’s Early College High School (ECHS) upstairs (500-600 students).
Having choices is appealing to many students, Stone said, and the ECHS may be of particular interest to the first generation college student. Enrollees will attend some classes on the Richland College campus and graduate high school with up to two years college credit.
The cost of the indoor training facility is about $20 million per campus and details, such as exact locations on campuses, weren’t given, but Superintendent Dr. Kay Waggoner expects the impact to be felt by a large number of students.
“We’ve consulted with [RISD Athletic Director] Coach Dubey and [RISD Director of Band and Fine Arts] Jeff Bradford and it is a high dollar cost, but it’s a critical element which impacts a lot of kids. Students in football, band, drill team, country and western dance, other sports and numerous extra-curricular activities will benefit from using the facility.”
RISD staff will begin putting together reflector committees immediately and will begin scheduling meetings on their listening tour to begin in mid-October and continue through mid-December.
