The evening of Oct. 15, 2019 marked the second community input night pertaining to the design and layout of Concept 5, a new middle school, high school. and physical education and athletic center (formerly called the Wellness Center, but name changed to better reflect its purpose). Dore and Whittier Architects offered a shorter version of the presentation that was given at the first session held Sept. 25 to allow for more time for questions and answers in a small group setting. Community questions included wonderings about space for farm to school programming, the potential for a swimming pool, and concerns around school security. Inspiration boards were scattered throughout the room showing athletic spaces, STEM, fab labs, arts/performance, and library and media spaces. The inspiration boards presented can be reviewed here

Note: These are only concepts meant to spark ideas

The latest (Nov. 13, 2019) site plans of the middle school, high school, and physical education and athletic center spaces can be reviewed here.

Following the Oct. 15 meeting, a school board meeting was held Oct. 16 where the board unanimously chose a municipal financial advisor, a PR/communications  firm, and a construction cost and timeline estimator to independently review the final design from Dore and Whittier, slated for late Nov. 2019. Please see pages 51-54 of the school board's information packet for further details on the team above.

Community members gathered in the high school library Sept. 25 to learn more about the Master Planning and Visioning process that led up to the school board's decision to pursue Concept 5, a new middle school, high school, and a physical education and athletic center (formerly called the wellness center) on the existing campus. Board member Bridget Burkhardt offered introductory remarks, followed by a brief presentation by Rob Fitzgerald and Lee Dore of Dore and Whittier Architects.

Key items touched upon included congested drop off and pickup areas at both schools, lack of physical adjacencies, crowding, and aging mechanical and electrical infrastructiure. Enrollment projections were provided from 2011-2029 and indicate growth. Examples of wellness centers, performing arts spaces, and small learning communities, including recent work at the Shelburne Community School helped to visualize the possibilities.

As the presentation concluded, community members were divided into two groups and had the opportunity to review design plan ideas in detail with Rob Fitzgerald and Lee Dore. The smaller group format allowed for an easy flowing question and answer session. Heating and cooling systems, security, and the wellness center came up as areas of concern for those present. After the breakout sessions, individuals had a chance to check out whiteboards surrounding the library that displayed exterior images of high schools. Dot stickers were given for people to indicate their preferences. Sticky notes were also an option for providing comments on individual designs.

Dore and Whittier aim to have a design package ready to go to their cost estimator in November. Community members can expect to see ample outreach with numerous opportunities to provide feedback leading up to the March 2020 bond vote.

Please join us for the next community input session: Oct. 15 at 7 pm in the high school library

Come to listen, learn, and ask questions!

The South Burlington School Board, at their regular meeting held Sept. 4, 2019 (see minutes here) made a unanimous decision to direct Dore and Whittier Architects (recently named one of the top 100 green building design firms in the country) to move on to Phase III of the Master Planning and Visioning process using Concept 5 as a guide. The team will now be able to home in on the particulars of a design for a new middle school, high school, and wellness center on the existing campus with an eye toward a March 2020 bond vote. An existing conditions video will be created to highlight current infrastructure and educational challenges. In addition, school tours will be scheduled for those who would like/are able to get an up close look at current MS and HS facilities. For details on all 5 concepts considered, see this presentation.

To hear more details on board members' (as well as school board student representative Cole Patno's) rationale for choosing this option to explore in depth, see the video above.

We want to hear from you!

Please join us at any or all of the following meetings:

Community Input Night 1: Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 7-9 pm in the High School Library

Regular School Board meeting: Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 7 pm in the FHTMS Library

Community Input Night 2: Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 7-9 pm in the High School Library

Regular School Board meeting: Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 pm in the FHTMS Library