LISTENING SESSIONS
Session 1 - Teachers (met 19 March 2007) - General
1. Building for Children First and Foremost
2. Size and Natural light is better in new classrooms.
3. Lofts – good for storage, not good for learning, too short for bigger kids, too hot
4. Direct outdoor door connection liked, except for messiness
5. Sink in each classroom
6. Teacher area
a. quieter area within classroom
b. needs to be visible and open
c. storage for teacher coat, purse, etc.
i. for guests and volunteers
ii. near entry
iii. space for desk and files, private
7. Classrooms grouped as pods by grades possible with common area
8. Idiosyncrasies are good
9. Lower windows for smaller kids
Special Ed
1. Space is also used for meetings, small group, assessment
2. Space is also used for storage
3. Most work is done in classrooms
4. Space needed for large motor activities and therapies – swing anchored to beam
5. 1 on 1 or small groups, meet with Adults
6. Materials storage space needed
7. Preferably on main floor near HC restroom
Art
1. Space w/ lots of sinks – Water!
2. It would be nice to develop a ceramics emphasis/specialty
3. Flooring material should be appropriate
4. Natural light
5. Table space
6. Ventilation important
7. Flat storage – portfolio for each kid, also drying space
8. Display space – throughout the school!
9. Storage
Storage
1. Coats and boots outside of classroom – but NOT Lockers
2. Extended day clothes are in Gym – need a better location
3. Tech storage for laptops, also closets
Office
1. Fireproof records room
2. Relocate to main floor
3. Visibility to entrance
4. Separate work room for copier
5. Community room - parent meetings, volunteers, young kids, etc., not closed off
Kitchen
1. Too small now, way too small with more people
2. Separate dining space
3. Larger or more refrigeration space
4. Lower countertops for kids cooking
5. Cooking area in older kids classrooms may be desirable
6. Fold out counter for flexible use
Restrooms
1. Family/ teacher restroom
2. Restrooms in classroom for K1 may be desirable
3. Locate relative to classrooms
4. Use sensor for sinks good, not for toilets
Gym/Performance
1. Full gym needed
2. Pull out style stage may offer needed flexibility
3. Noise concerns with classrooms directly off of space
4. Spill out space from classes would be nice
5. Acoustics for speech and music important
6. Band happens at Bridgewater Elem.
7. Backstage area needed
Session 2 - (met 10 April 2007)
1. Serving takes place in Gym with kids eating in classrooms
2. Lunch is delivered to K1 classrooms
3. Happens everyday through volunteer efforts
4. Cooked at Laura Baker
5. Serve 50 kids average, up to 70 on Pizza day
6. ¼ of kids everyday
7. Currently using 2 warming trays – more will be needed with more kids
8. Hot, Cold, & Milk in Kitchen
9. Lunch occurs from 11:15 – 12:30
10. Trays
a. storage location
b. wash trays at school or continue transport to Laura Baker
c. Volunteer or staff?
d. Currently own 90 – 100 trays
e. Set out on tables for serving
f. Is a dishwasher needed/desirable?
11. Generates a large bad of garbage, 2/3 full
12. Dumpster currently gets very full, emptied 1/week
13. Recycling is picked up but is a poor system that does not fit within the enclosure
14. Separate gym from lunch!
Session 3 – Elms & Sequoias
1. Scared of removing woods
2. Field is main 4/5 playing area – kickball, tag, skiing in winter
3. Sledding hill and ash trees valued
4. Like lofts but too short!
5. Separate library for 4/5?
6. Value quirks and traditions
7. Classrooms
a. balance personal vs. public space
b. personal on edge of room near door
c. bigger storage (same size as little kids!)
d. bigger classroom desired
e. gym noise distracting
f. more computers
8. Better restrooms
9. Bigger gym
10. Green aspects
a. greenhouse, school garden
b. light sensors
c. solar
Session 4 – Maples & Pines
More space for everything
1. Outside issues
a. Bigger playground
b. Skating rink
c. Expand woods wider – un-streetlike
d. Full basketball court
e. More 4-square
f. Expand parking
g. More swings
h. Sheds – warmth, fortune telling, etc.
2. Inside issues
a. Bigger gym
b. Bigger classrooms – coats, desks, storage
c. Cafeteria
d. Classroom reading area
e. Gymnastics
f. Keep lofts
g. Library bigger
h. More restrooms
i. Science spaces
j. Computer spaces
Session 5 – Parents: Community Council, Auction, Room Reps.
Tonya Kjerland
Deb Olien
Michele Reese
Amy Goerwitz
Kelly Scheuerman
Amy Pagel
Kim Loecher
1. Balance closeness and space
2. Natural elements
3. Entry is not welcoming because it is crowded and noisy
4. Gym gets very muddy – need mudrooms or cloak rooms
5. Paved parking lot?
6. No place to do parent volunteer work
7. Need quiet learning spaces – in classroom or out
a. share as meeting room
b. share as lounge space
8. Food storage location
9. Artwork display
10. Auction
a. needs meeting location
b. work space
c. storage of materials for community events
11. Parking lot concerns – safety, size
12. Acquiring land could be helpful
13. Green aspects are valued
Session 6 - Specialists
Music
Bob Gregory-Bjorklund
1. Needs quiet space! – soundproof
2. Wants Pam’s room (Aspens)
3. Storage for materials & music
4. Can leave instruments out in room
5. Natural light
6. Acoustics should be “not too live”, deader is better
7. Theater
a. Flexible!
b. Likes Artech arrangement: 50’ x 50’
c. Doesn’t need stage
d. Separate from Music space
Spanish
Amy Haslett-Marroquin
1. Would like to organize materials in space
2. Question of how integrated into regular curriculum
3. Meets twice a week for all students = 2 full days currently
4. Tables for kids
5. Activity space
6. Artifacts on display
Library
Klaus & Susan
1. Skylights in current library would enhance space w/natural light
2. Current fluorescent light fixtures buzz
3. Would like to have reading nooks and crannies
4. Work 10 hours/week
5. Quiet space important
6. Separate library for 4/5 classes possible – Periodicals could be here
7. Whole upstairs area would be ideal
8. Elevator issue
9. Area for sick children to be instead of in library!
10. 3D displays possible in Library
Art
Andy Lum see also comments under ‘Teacher’ session
1. Natural light
2. Display walls for 2D art
3. Power Point for art – presentation wall
4. Water – multiple sinks
5. Storage!
6. New kiln for ceramics
7. Garden/patio
8. Outdoor amphitheater would be useful
Session 7 – Extended Day 3:30pm
Andy Lum & staff
1. Up to 30 kids
2. More popular this year
3. 3rd graders and below
4. Use playground, woods, open green spaces
5. Need storage for kids things inside
6. Table space – extended day overflows to stage
7. Quieter spaces
8. Share storage w/ PE closet
9. Storage for on-going art projects
10. Food storage – where to serve?
11. Recess – back doors and courtyards helpful
Session 8 – Janitorial Staff (Service Master) 4:00pm
Danny & Jim
1. Recommend a matting system for keeping mud off
floors – 6’ mats recommended
2. Washer and Dryer for cleanup
3. Floor coverings – recommend to see Montessori
school
4. Garbage area in each classroom
5. Janitor’s closet larger for indoor recycling,
currently wheeled out, paper only
6. Can do furnace filtering if needed
7. Shoe brushes at doors recommended
8. Ability to keep things off floor
Session 9 – General Session for interested parents
Jan Rohwer Parent and past Council Chair
1. Appreciates strong classroom to outdoor connection
2. Need meeting spaces
3. Need storage
4. Quiet space
5. Art needs
a. Common walls for hanging
b. Boards on a track system
c. Pins OK
d. 3D pieces location
6. Art Room
a. How to integrate with other class activities?
b. Studio – artist in residency
7. Loves pine trees
8. Community garden idea
9. Imagination play areas
10. Fundraising concerns
Session 10 – Wrap Up
1. Common threads from the afternoon
a. Green space appreciated
b. Parking/paving concerns
c. Storage needed everywhere
d. Quiet Areas needed
e. Quirky/Idiosyncratic spaces appreciated
Session 11 – Neighbors
Present Eric Andringa – Castle Rock Bank
Carolyn Dilley – neighbor, mother of Lee Dilley
Lee Dilley – neighboring property owner and graduate
of school, his father was a graduate
Vicki Dilley – spouse of Lee Dilley
Caroline Jones – PCCS
Bo Aylin – Committee
Steve Wilmot – SMSQ
Ildze Canfield – SMSQ
Spencer Jones – SJLA
1. Concerns re: survey vs. flood plain discrepancy were discussed
2. Parking, paving, road issues important
a. need 20 staff spaces
b. need 10 volunteer spaces
c. need ample event/parent parking
d. desire to separate bus and parent drop offs
e. growth at other end of townships from school
f. School is in Eureka township, road is dividing line to Castle Rock township
3. Eric will check property w/ Bank/FEMA database for flood insurance requirements
4. History lessons
a. School built in 1923 after tornado destroyed school in town in 1921
b. Big spruce trees planted next to school at same time
c. Row of spruce at south end of ball field are a Memorial to Mr. Topp’s son, planted later
5. Offer of property from Lee Dilley to school, would like to have road south of spruce trees to access his
land to west
Recent Comments