District architect leads meeting on Colfax facilities

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | May 04, 20170

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Colfax facilities, architect

A wide-ranging discussion took place Tuesday night, April 25, at the Colfax High School library in the effort to improve district facilities.

Led by Ned Warnick, a principal architect at Pullman's Design West – which was approved by the school board three weeks ago by unanimous vote – a group of 15 people talked about aspects of what could go in front of voters next February as a bond measure or capital levy.

Warnick and Cameron Golightly, project manager, met with Colfax Superintendent Jerry Pugh and facilities chairman Wes Claassen the day before, going on a walk-through of Jennings Elementary and the junior/senior high school.

Warnick came to the library last Tuesday night and opened the meeting.

“Passing a bond requires a lot of effort,” he said. “I won't be the person who passes the bond.”

Warnick asked for introductions and comments about what brought each person out on a Tuesday night.

Boardmember Terry Huber, a Colfax High graduate, commented that he wants the Colfax school facilities to stay in good shape in the event that more students come in from outlying areas.

“We are a hub school,” said Colfax Principal Carrie Lipe. “I think that's going to be happening more and more. Especially if our facilities are kept up.”

Warnick exchanged a few replies.

“Is Colfax going to become a speed bump on the way to Seattle? I don't think so at all,” he said. “This is a great building. It's got great bones. ... The concern about passing a bond is you don't have anything falling down. You've done such a good job maintaining it.”

The subject of HVAC came up, with the district's Maintenance Supervisor Mark Brown adding information.

“The high school is a little more obvious for me to walk through and say we have a problem,” Warnick said.

The subject of comfort of students followed, from temperature of classrooms to noise from the building's original 1960 heating and ventilation units in each.

“All three of my high-schoolers would say the school is always cold,” said Claassen.

Warnick had not yet talked with Dax Logsdon, a consultant hired earlier this year by the Colfax district from state Educational Service District 123 (Pasco). Logsdon recently acted as a consultant on Pullman's new school construction projects.

Locker rooms were discussed next, with Warnick saying he had visited the boys' but not yet the girls'.

“They're not great,” he said, noting the “Band-Aid approach” over the years. “My approach now would be to go in and gut and start over.”

An extended discussion followed on the weight room and the mezzanine level of the high school gym, which is used as the wrestling area.

“My impression is that it's too small,” Warnick said of the weight room.

“You're assessment is right,” said Mike Morgan, band director and head football coach. “The ventilation is ...”

“Nonexistent,” said Brown.

Previously, the weight room was on the mezzanine level, which led to concern over the weight of the equipment on the second floor.

“I like the idea of it in the mezzanine up there if it's structurally viable,” said Lipe.

Brown wondered if it was crazy to move the locker rooms upstairs.

Difficulty of elevator access to the mezzanine came the reply from Warnick.

Bob Lothspeich, a longtime head of district levy committees, asked about a “structure due north of one of the locker rooms.”

Warnick indicated that to be cost-effective the work should be kept within the buildings the district already has.

He asked if the cafeteria was adequate, which led to discussion about whether wrestling could take place there, as it does in other schools. Principal Lipe wondered about it as the cafeteria is used many nights for various events.

“It's a three-month program that's taking up nine months of space,” said Superintendent Pugh, noting that he is a fan of the sport and a former high school wrestler. “The wrestling area is used for wrestling and then what? I think we can be more efficient.”

The woodshop was the next topic broached.

Warnick asked if it was now solely used for a crafts class.

“It could be moved to the art room,” Lipe said, confirming.

Pugh then spoke, laying out a vision for the room.

“I see metal and wood coming together,” he said, talking about the emphasis on STEM education – science, technology, engineering and math. “STEAM – I want the arts in there still.”

The superintendent then laid out an idea for the woodshop room to be a workspace, in which students convene to work on various things.

“What about falling numbers ... our kids taking ownership of that ... what about that we have a space that those kids can go to solve problems in their community?” Pugh asked.

He noted the library as the assembled sat in it at long tables in a U-shape.

“This can be part of the R&D right here … above the woodshop. Isn't that industry? Isn't that what this is about?” Pugh said.

Warnick then spoke again, saying he agreed on STEAM.

Referring to other school projects he has done, he expanded.

“On STEM, storage is everything,” he said. “What we've learned from other projects. I'm not sure you need the whole space. Structurally, it would be an ideal STEM lab right now.”

A room like Pugh described would take minimal work, Warnick indicated.

“The investment is relatively small but the excitement is big,” Warnick said.

“What if our kids, and I believe they can, make a difference in our community in solving problems?” Pugh reiterated.

Warnick asked about security, the last topic.

“The secretaries have specifically asked me not to fix the squeak on the door,” Brown said.

The front doors at the high school are not visible to the secretaries.

Warnick talked about how a dominant percentage of student deaths at schools nationwide have to do with transportation zones – student drop-offs and parking areas.

Classrooms came up next as the meeting neared its 7:30 end-time.

“When you do not make kids comfortable, they're minds are shot,” Claassen said.

Warnick, on the subject of classrooms, said more.

“Computer labs are really on the way out with most districts,” he said. “The idea is that technology comes to kids where they're at.”

The meeting continued past 7:30 with Warnick careful of the time.

Claassen asked a final question of music teacher Cary Cammack and Morgan, the band director, asking them what they would like to see in the auditorium.

“Something that when people walk in, they will see something different,” Cammack said. “So they see, my dollars went to something.”

Brown said the auditorium is “rustic, nostalgic but it's rundown ... Can we put in new chairs that are wood-backed?”

Warnick said seating does not make much of a difference in cost.

“I would love to see the balcony reclaimed,” Pugh added.

Janel Goebel, attending as an interested citizen, asked that more room be created for people in the seats.

“The girth of our society has increased,” she said.

Warnick suggested redesign of the entry to the auditorium may coincide with redesigning of the main entrance to the school – just outside the auditorium doors.

In conclusion, he left the assembled with a question to be thinking about.

“There is a number,” Warnick said. “In just a number, what is it the community will support? I will never be as in touch with Colfax as you.”

As Pugh and Claassen asked around for a day to set the next meeting, Warnick noted that the plan now is to reach detailed cost estimating in August.