Some 75 parents, students, community members and district staff recently attended a second community meeting devoted to construction improvements for David W. Carter High School. The project architect displayed drawings and walked the audience through an expanded plan of improvements that included several features beyond the originally proposed scope of work.
The revised plan includes a total facility roof upgrade, new windows throughout the school, renovated science labs, a new school entry with expanded administrative offices, and upgrades to the auditorium and fine arts spaces. The expanded scope also calls for new landscaping at the front entrance of the building and to two interior courtyards as well as removal of existing portables. A major component of Phase 1 of the construction project is a proposed 1,000 seat competition gym to include a below grade tornado shelter sufficient to house the entire school population. The campus’ existing gym would be transformed to an auxiliary gym space with storage.
The community applauded the proposal for expanded improvements, but pushed for additional expansion of the school’s fine arts spaces, insisting that mere upgrades would not be sufficient to serve a growing choir and band program. Concerns were also raised about the need for a substantially improved library.
Reminding the audience that the total package of upgrades must be balanced with available funds, officials of the district’s Construction Services department committed to conduct another tour of the school, revisit the construction plans and return with a proposal to address the remaining concerns.
