Why are we building a new school instead of renovating Conners Emerson?

We started our research by getting a building survey that reviewed the costs to update and renovate the existing buildings. The cost of building a new structure is projected to be 2.49% more than renovation. The building survey concluded that there are water infiltration issues at the ground level in multiple locations, roof leaks, window leaks and a lack of insulation and numerous other issues. While replacement of windows and the roof may help with those water infiltration issues, multiple repair attempts have failed to fix the infiltration at the ground level and have not held over time. Given the need for these extensive repairs and renovations needed at Emerson, combined with the requirement to expand to accommodate mandatory Pre-K, and keeping in mind that taxpayers would have to repair any further issues as they arise, it was decided the most prudent option was to build a new school on the property. It would improve energy efficiencies, fix water infiltration issues, add much needed space, fix traffic issues and also provide a safe learning environment for 23,000 students over the next 70 years (current age of Conners).

 Here is a partial list of the issues our current school has and the needs we as a school system have.

1.     Repair Water infiltration issues. We have already made costly repairs to the foundation according to the industry's best practices but the leaks have returned.

2.     The existing structures no longer meet our current needs for students, faculty or staff. Rebuilding allows us to address the structural space issues we have with the current building. 

a.     Lack of Security, the current campus is very open spread between two buildings and it is easy to gain access to the roof of the Emerson building.

b.     Student pickup is combined with bus traffic and this creates safety concerns.

c.      Not enough classrooms to house the upcoming State mandated Pre-K.

d.     Not enough educational spaces to meet the needs of how school is taught now - gone are the days of 30 kids lined up in a row in a classroom.

e.     We don’t have enough offices for administration and teachers to use with students when 1-1 instruction or space is needed.

f.       The cafeteria is too small and does not adequately meet the needs of our school. Kids currently take 15 minute rotations to get and eat their lunch.

g.     Inadequate insulation. When the existing buildings were built, fuel oil cost around $0.15/gallon. It was decided that insulation was not required in the building as heating oil was cheaper than insulation. Retrofitting insulation is possible but not practical or affordable. The new school will be built with current insulation standards.

h.     Heating Systems have drastically improved in the last 71 years. With adequate solar panels, the heating & cooling costs will be greatly reduced. 

When you take all of these issues we have with the physical structure combined with the failing infrastructure, it is easy to understand why a new structure is the best solution.