Most Cedar Rapids school buildings considered satisfactory in facilities study; three schools ranked “excellent”

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Cedar Rapids school district's newest elementary school - Viola Gibson - is its best elementary facility, according to the facilities needs study.

Viola Gibson is one of three schools to be ranked “excellent,” according to the study guidelines. Franklin Middle School and Kennedy High School also achieved that ranking.

George Kanz, Bruce Harding and Rebecca Mahon of Shive-Hattery, Inc. shared the results of the study with board members Monday. The purpose, Kanz said, was to rank schools by the amount of facility need based on the type of facility.

Using the Guide for School Facility Appraisal, created by the Council of Educational Facility Planners International, the study ranked each facility in six areas: school site; structural/mechanical features; plant maintainability; building safety and security; educational adequacy; and environment for education.

Facilities were scored in each area, with 1,000 points being a perfect score.

Viola Gibson scored 933 points. In contrast, Cleveland Elementary School scored 603 points.

Most of the district's elementary schools fell in the “satisfactory” range, with a score somewhere between 700 to 899 points. Six schools - Johnson, Arthur, Wright, Garfield, Polk and Cleveland - scored in the “borderline” ranking. Schools in this category received 500 to 699 points.

None of the district's facilities fell below 500 points.

For the purpose of the study, Wilson, which serves elementary and middle school students, was considered an elementary school only. Lincoln Elementary was included in the study even though it has not been used as an elementary school since the early 1970s. Lincoln received the lowest score of all district buildings with a total 541 points.

At the middle school level, Franklin achieved the highest score with 902 points. All other middle schools were determined to be “satisfactory.”

Kennedy is the only “excellent” high school with 910 points. Washington, Jefferson and Metro high schools were ranked “satisfactory.”

The facilities needs study included a list of possible projects that would bring each district building up to the 80 percent ranking. The estimated cost to complete all projects is $111 million dollars.

Despite how school buildings ranked, the facilities needs study won't determine a school's future. Instead, the study will be paired with the district enrollment study.

Board members reviewed the first enrollment study report during a May board meeting. Both studies will now be combined for the district's next step – a superintendent-appointed committee of district employees, parents and community members to decide what changes, if any, need to be made.

Superintendent Dave Benson told board members that the committee members will be introduced, by name, at the July board meeting. The committee will begin meeting in August.

The district doesn't have a set timetable for recommendations, but Benson said the committee will meet throughout the summer and likely give its report to the school board late in the calendar year. Public input will be sought after that report, followed by recommendations to the board report in February 2012.