Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
After discussions with students, teachers, coaches, maintenance staff and administrators over the past three weeks, Colfax School District architect Ned Warnick took in more input from the public Monday night as plans move ahead for construction at school facilities in the next two years.
The timeline is, as of now, for the school board to consider a set of educational specifications (what will be done to classrooms) May 23 followed by first schematic designs from Warnick and Design West in Pullman in late June/early July, followed by revisions and construction documents in the fall.
“Bidding will occur very early in 2019,” Warnick said.
The work is to be paid for by the $18.9 million bond passed by Colfax voters in February.
Some small construction will get underway before this summer, but mainly the summers of 2019 and 2020 will be full-bore.
During the ensuing school years, work will go on, with students moving to certain zones while other areas of school buildings are under construction. For example, students may not be in the south wing of the junior/high school for six to eight months.
“Eventually the schedule will get very geographic,” said Warnick.
Among the specifics established Monday night were that all lockers will be replaced in the high school and the decision has been made to take out the dugouts of the old baseball field, which may be partially encroached on for improved traffic flow, parking or bus access.
With that set, Monday’s meeting at the high school library moved on to talk about the list of priorities of work to be done, a top priority list, a medium and a low.
Warnick told the small crowd gathered in the library why the meeting was called.
“To hear from outside the school district circle itself,” he said.
Discussion started on the locker rooms.
“I love your locker rooms because it’s such a low bar to get over,” Warnick said.
Those seated in the group concurred, a few of them alumni.
The locker rooms were in better shape in the late ‘70s, said one, early ‘80s; 2005 said another.
“That set of locker rooms are gonna be gutted from stem to stern,” Warnick said, before explaining Title IX requirements for boys and girls’ locker rooms. The law says that they need to be equally accommodated for the largest sport that it is used for – for example, a boys locker room would be biggest because of the number of players on a football roster.
Discussion turned to the high school’s entryway, which will be remodeled to improve sight lines and security.
“With taxpayers spending $18.9 million, I’d like to see something different at the entrance,” said Mark Mackleit, alumni and new Colfax city councilman. “Something that shows somebody spent some money.”
Warnick explained that plans at this point are for an entry sequence in which people would likely come into a “secured vestibule,” then a person at a teller-type window would grant entry. Some exterior doors on the building may be eliminated for security purposes.
Warnick also said he will look at making the school automatically secured when a panic button is pushed, as opposed to teachers needing to lock their classroom doors.
Someone asked about the Vo-Ag entrance – the door at south end of the high school which students exit and enter on their way across the street to the ag shop. How to secure it since it is open for five minutes at a time between classes, and then locked by timer.
“I think it’s always gonna be a hole in the skin,” Warnick said.
One option that has been broached is to lock those doors completely, and have kids go in and out the main doors and walk from there to the ag shop.
“When its 10 below, that’s ridiculous,” said Wes Claassen, chairman of the district’s levy committee, which worked to pass the bond.
More discussion followed.
“The yes rate of your bond is the envy of every school district in Washington,” Warnick said. “The challenge is then the points we say no.”
One of which, he noted was the crowning of the football field. Among the low priorities, it likely will not make the cut onto the final project list.
Someone mentioned the auditorium.
“The auditorium is a gem. It sets Colfax in a different strata,” Warnick said.
Then talk moved to the Kennel, a gathering area reserved for seniors on the second floor of the high school next to Mike Morgan’s band room.
“My goal is to have the hallways be the hallways, not hangout spots,” Warnick said.
An example of an airport terminal was put forth for what a revised Kennel may look like.
Discussion continued.
“Colfax restores my faith in humanity with the level of support this district gets,” Warnick said.
He asked about aesthetics such as Bulldog signs on various parts of the building.
“I like the painted Bulldog in the gym, I don’t like the one on the flag,” said one member of the public, referring to the most recent Bulldog logo, a streamlined, lunging graphic.
“I like the traditional stuff myself,” said Superintendent Jerry Pugh.
The floor of the high school was mentioned.
“The green floor, despite it being green, is the best floor you can find, it’ll be here after my kids die,” Warnick said.
Lockers at the high school will be replaced.
“The lockers aren’t big enough for kids’ backpacks,” said Principal Carrie Lipe.
A discussion followed on a place to put sport bags near the gym. They now line the hallway by the trophy cases before players board a bus for a trip.
“You need more trophy cases anyway,” Warnick said.
Casey Jones, Colfax Little Guys wrestling coach, asked about plans for the mezzanine where the wrestling team practices.
An extended discussion followed. Warnick indicated he expects the weight room will be moved to the mezzanine floor.
A suggestion was made for using the former woodshop, below the library, for a wrestling area.
“It’s a dangerous conversation to put weights vs. wrestling,” said Warnick. “We want them both to win.”
“It has to be a useable, workable and prideful product,” Jones said.
“Tune back in in June; we’ll have things to look at and react to in the drawings,” Warnick promised.
The district is still taking input from the public. Anyone interested can fill out a feedback form on the district website: (www.colfax.k12.wa.us).
“We’re happy to listen, I’m happy to sit down and talk, we certainly want people to feel heard,” said Pugh.
“I’m looking forward to having more substantive discussions when we have more to show,” Warnick said.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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