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II. C. 1. Construction and Purchasing
General Policy Statement
Providing for proper school plant facilities is a major responsibility of the West Warwick School Committee and the West Warwick School Department superintendent. The design of the school plant, adequacy of space and flexibility of use all combine to impinge upon or enhance the instructional program.
Since school construction is costly and buildings when constructed become a permanent part of the community to be used by large numbers of people, great care must be taken to be sure that the facilities may be appropriately designed for best use both now and in the future.
Policy adopted: 4/23/81
Long Range Plans
A constant effort shall be made to assess projected student enrollments, physical facilities and financial position of the district. When funds are available, school sites shall be acquired in advance of use and school facilities shall be planned with the greatest practical economy.
On or before the first of September, the superintendent shall submit for review by the West Warwick School Committee a report of current factors of community growth: projection of enrollment, financial resources, and conditions. Such long-term reports shall be kept in a file for the use of the West Warwick School Committee and the general public.
Policy adopted: 4/23/81
New Construction Needs Assessment
Determining Needs
The significance of providing school facilities that enhance the district's educational program is recognized by the West Warwick School Committee. To assure a comprehensive approach to projecting and planning needs, at least the following aspects of need may be considered:
1. The expanding and-changing educational program of the district.
2. Relations with the total community, and projected developments in those relationships over the years.
3. Plant and site aesthetics as they affect the education of pupils and feelings of people about their schools.
4. Changing make-up of our population as to age distribution, educational levels, and the like.
5. Community planning and zoning.
6. Financial ability of the school district.
7. Safety and welfare of pupils.
8. Relationship between the projected new facilities and those already in existence.
9. True economy reflecting full value for each tax dollar expended.
The superintendent of schools is directed to establish such administrative arrangements as he or she may consider necessary to determine such needs. In so doing he or she may draw upon a wide industrial, and governmental entities, as well as the West Warwick School Department staff and educational consultants.
Policy adopted: 4/34/81
Educational programs are neither unchanging nor simple to incorporate into a facility plan. Anticipation of program change makes flexible buildings necessary so that the period of "updatedness" is extended. At the same time, it is necessary to accommodate the existing program. The natural interest of parents, professional interest or, educators, public relations interest of the school committee, neighborhood development interest of local residents, and the varied interests of many other is sufficient to both complicate the program and challenge the abilities of all concerned with school planning.
The school construction program must represent the cooperative endeavors of many people- Its success is a measure of the ability of many functionaries to cooperate. No single person or group isolating itself from the overall educational process can satisfactorily design a school building that is intended to enhance the instructional program of others. Organization and communication planning school facilities is tantamount to success.
To insure that the school construction program proceeds as smoothly and rapidly as possible, the following step by step process for planning and building shall be utilized. Generally speaking, a school construction program involves four broad phases:
1. Identifying school building needs (school committee and administrative staff)
2. Planning the school plant ( joint building committee and school district administrative staff)
3. Constructing the building (joint building committee)
4. Accepting and using the plant (school committee)
Policy adopted: 4/23/81
The West Warwick School Committee accepts its responsibility for keeping the public informed as to the processes to be followed in planning for needed school facilities.
The office of the superintendent may provide informative news releases through mass media organs or by other means as the superintendent deems necessary and desirable.
Policy adopted: 4/23/81
The West Warwick School Committee may work with state and federal agencies as prescribed by law, and may in addition cooperate with all governmental units in order to provide the best possible school facilities while obtaining efficiency and economy in the use of the tax dollar.
Policy adopted: 4/23/81
Site Development
The West Warwick School Committee believes that site selection and development should start from the premise that the school is an integral and inseparable part of the total community. Since the school is a community institution, it should reflect this relationship physically as well as ideologically.
The manner and extend to which a site serves a school district's educational needs should be considered as only one aspect of its adequacy. Its adequacy should also be appraised in respect to its potential for contributing to the scope and depth of many other cultural functions in the community.
The processes of selection concern the entire administrative and supervisory staffs, and others with special skills and insights. The superintendent of schools, therefore, is instructed to establish such criteria and procedures as are necessary to assure the citizens and West Warwick School Committee that the best possible sites are being acquired for the least expenditure of public funds.
Policy adopted: 4/23/81
Building Design
Minimum standards for school building design, as specified in the state school laws, should not be looked upon as limiting factors in creative school design.
The primary guiding principle in school design must be the educational program to be served. There is, in addition, the extremely important but intangible matter of aesthetics, particularly as they reflect the aspirations of people for their schools. We must be proud of our schools, else we who are responsible for their design and construction must admit failure.
Cost is, of course, a serious matter. But true economy is a combination of original cost and long-term maintenance costs, on the one hand. On the other hand, it may more adequately be estimated in relation to the effects of the site, building and equipment on the unfolding minds of children.
The West Warwick School Committee recommends that drawings and specifications be submitted to it by the school building committee from time to time for review in light of the above statements.
Policy adopted: 4/23/81