MINUTES

LITCHFIELD SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE

LITCHFIELD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL LIBRARY

NOVEMBER 4, 2004

A meeting of the Litchfield School Building Committee was held on Thursday, November 4, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. in the Litchfield Intermediate School Library.

Present were: Lynn Chapman, Acting Chairman; Mac Bramley; Robert Blazek; Kent Gilyard; Gary Waugh; and Jeff Zullo.

Also Present: John Tindall-Gibson; Andrienne Longobucco; Tim Breslin; Joanne Moore; Peg Perusee; BOE Members Frank Simone, Jonathon Costa and Wayne Shuhi; Tim Callahan and of Herbert S. Newman Partners; Bruce Walpole of O & G Industries; Public and the Press.

Meeting was called to order at 7:02 P.M. by Lynn Chapman.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes were tabled for approval due to lack to quorum of members in attendance from the last meeting.

Public Participation - None

Communications - None

Finance Subcommittee Report

Mac Bramley – Received and remitted for payment an invoice from the Recording Secretary for 12 hours from September 1, through October 27, 2004.

Mac Bramley - Presentations for payment:

1. Request from the Town of Litchfield for reimbursement of $58.80 for a legal ad for the call of the Town Hearing. Recommendation of the Finance Subcommittee that this bill of $58.80 be returned to the Board of Selectman as it was their call and their meeting.

Motion was made by Mac Bramley to return the bill for reimbursement of $58.80 for a legal ad for the call of the Town Hearing to the BOS, as it was their call and their meeting, seconded by Robert Blazek.

Motion Carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.

2. Action by Chairman – Contract with High School Duct Work Survey Consultant. The Ducts were cleaned two (2) years ago and the condition was recorded. The Finance Subcommittee moved to table the request until a review of the existing report.

Tim Callahan – Our engineers could use the information. If the information is not adequate, we can move forward with the survey. Mac Bramley – The total proposal is $4,600.00. I would feel comfortable authorizing the Chairman to make the decision based on a review of the existing data. Tim Callahan – They will look at the ducts, video tape and see if they are okay. If we find damage, we will then go into a second phase and we would get another proposal. Peg Perusse – The ducts were cleaned and video taped. John Tindall Gibson – I’ve looked at the pictures, they are not good quality.

Motion was made by Mac Bramley to authorize Chairman to enter into a contract with Hygenix, Inc., if necessary, after the Architect and Bill Buckley review the existing data, seconded by Kent Gilyard.

Motion Carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.

Technology Update

Jonathon Costa – With Wayne Shuhi I met with district technology team and library media and reviewed the educational specifications (“ed specs”). We want to create an environment that generates the most access, capacity and flexibility.

The following information was handed out:

Litchfield Public Schools Technology Planning

- Draft Ed. Spec Modifications -

Mission/Purpose: As we prepare for integrating technology into the renovated Intermediate and High School buildings, the Board of Education wants to ensure that the invested technology resources best prepares us for the instructional needs of the future. For the Board of Education, this means the essential design question is;

How do we create a learning environment which generates the most access, capacity, and flexibility of use for the greatest number of students and staff?

To ensure we get the best answer to this question, we believe we must adhere to the following philosophical technology design principles:

ð Long-term (infrastructure) before short-term (workstation capacity)

ð Greatest practical bandwidth from pole to port (information pipeline capacity)

ð Maximizing “time on” usage for all instructional assets.

ð Maximizing contact impact per dollar (flexible use before fixed use)

ð Interaction and customization capacity before broadcast capacity

This means we must invest in:

- A robust wiring infrastructure – lots of “highway” space.

- Server and handling capacity

- Wireless access point wiring capacity.

- A mobile and flexible workstation (laptops/carts) capacity.

- Smart-use fixed workstations

This will require a shift in the Educational Specifications for technology so that:

We will redirect existing allocations in outdated planning elements…

1. Fixed, single-use, language-lab hardware – (controllers etc.) - $100,000
2. Reduced investment in general classroom workstations (for this purchase) $90,000
3. Reduced numbers of general area teacher workstations. $22,000
4. Message boards - $21,000
5. Rethink video system broadcast and storage capacity plans - potentially $50,000 - $80,000 – (we are looking into upgrading what we have, not rebuilding a totally new system that might have a limited future lifespan due to a changing content delivery landscape).

…so that they can be invested into a more up-to-date and educationally sound planning configuration which includes:

1. Gigabit to the port/Cat. 6e information pipeline and switching capacity throughout LHS.
2. Server capacity – internet and intranet data storage and handling district wide.
3. Common areas permanent wireless access points.
4. Lab workstation quality.
5. Networked printer capacity.
6. Centralized technology support and security area.
7. Mobil/wireless hardware capacity.

We need the architect’s support, through their technology consultants, in helping us to redirect these resources and resolving two other key planning issues.

- Investment in data monitors vs. data projectors.

- Capacity, requirements, and cost of the planned video distribution upgrades.

Discussion

Mac Bramley – I have a difficult time seeing it on a list. Is there a way we can see the obsolescence of each of these items?

Jonathon Costa – We can do that based on past experience. Regarding cost, we need help with the Technology consultant to fix costs.

Jonathon Costa – Wireless carts are traveling points. You can basically have a wireless building without having to wire the entire building.

Gary Waugh – The Category 6 wiring. LHS the wiring will be replaced; LIS will be using the current wiring.

Jeff Zullo – Have you looked at external best practices or forecasts?

Jonathon Costa – Wayne Shuhi is a technical consultant in a public school, we have a tech team and Joanne Moore, Library/Media who is updating her skills constantly.

Mac Bramley – Several years ago we spoke with Laurel Cablevision. Will this system be friendly to such off-site entities and are they compatible? Will other schools be this advanced?

Jonathon Costa – Many schools have this now.

Jeff Zullo – Are you looking at Smart Board for teaching technology?

Jonathon Costa – It will cost more money. We need to do research on how much we have currently.

Jeff Zullo – What action do you expect from us?

Jonathon Costa – We need the BC to endorse it and the Architect to work with us to plug this in.

Motion was made by Jeff Zullo that the Building Committee endorse the plan of the Technology Task Force contingent on the Board of Education approval of the Ed Specs revision, authorizing Architect to work with the BOE and Technology group to incorporate plan into detail design within the BC budget, seconded by Robert Blazek.

Motion Carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.

Architect and Construction Manager Update

LHS

Tim Callahan reviewed the LHS plan with one minor change: The Aerobics and Weight Room will be changed from two rooms to one large room. The Team Rooms will be changed to two smaller changing rooms and a larger storage area. The number of classrooms stays the same; the plan is just shifted around. The Weight/Aerobic Room becomes more flexible open space to move equipment around or have it function as another space.

Kent Gilyard – I am concerned about where the entry to the Gymnasium is located. People entering may be walking on the court.

Lynn Chapman – Are the bleachers handicap accessible?

Tim Callahan – We will find tune that and add in handicap spaces.

Gary Waugh – The area where the Guidance currently is; when we take out that space, does that change our reimbursement formula?

Tim Callahan – No, it does not.

Gary Waugh – The Lobby space, we eliminated the sky light. Will there be adequate artificial light to make up for that?

Tim Callahan – The larger entrance will help add natural daylight.

Mac Bramley – The new east entrance, did you think of bringing it in diagonally to the center of the lobby?

Tim Callahan – The cost was too prohibitive.

Gary Waugh – The BOE mentioned the outside wall space that faces the bus loop has taken a lot of abuse over the years. Have you thought about using another material in that space?

This is a renovated space and the wall will not be replaced.

LIS

Tim Callahan – The Ed Specs call for 16 core classrooms and we have them. We meet all of the Ed Spec requirements. He reviewed the plan at LIS. We met with Mark Papas and the Fire Marshall to go through the building. They would like stage area sprinklers and sprinklers in the lower level of the building. The rest is in order.

Discussion

Gary Waugh – The Guidance Office should be on the first floor. Keep it in the vicinity of the office, because of its central location. Why did you decide to leave it where it was?

Tim Callahan – I had a discussion with Jack Healy. We would like to keep the plan as flexible as possible.

Gary Waugh – Teachers have their classrooms work space. I think it’s more important to have Guidance near the central office. The building has to function once it’s built.

Tim Callahan – Externally accessible bathrooms will be below the Gym with room for storage.

Motion was made by Gary Waugh that the Building Committee approve design changes at LHS as presented by Tim Callahan, seconded by Robert Blazek.

Motion Carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.

Motion was made by Gary Waugh that the Building Committee approve design changes at LIS as presented by Tim Callahan with a contingency that the Board of Education and Staff examine the use of space #17 for utilization as a Nurse’s Office or Guidance Suite, seconded by Robert Blazek.

Motion Carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.

Jeff Zullo – Are these motions affecting cost?

Bruce Walpole – If we don’t change the square footage, no. We have to solidify the foot print of the buildings.

Gary Waugh – Has any work been done regarding sprinklers versus break wall?

Bruce Walpole – We left the sprinkler funds in and changed it to Fire Code Compliance.

Mac Bramley – Has anybody looked at the valves to find where the flow is disappearing?

Jeff Zullo – Have you coordinated with Ed Fabbri regarding flow requirement?

Tim Callahan – We have emailed back and forth but don’t have that. I also need data regarding electrical needs and water connections.

Jeff Zullo – The schedule on fencing; the track area will be paved May – June 2005. The fence needs to be coordinated with that time period.

Gary Waugh – Are you hiring a specific company to put down the track? They just did a tack at Pomperaug; the subcontractor did everything, including the fence. It really came out nice.

Future Agenda Items

Gary Waugh – If the Architect and CM presentations can be further up on the Agenda. During large public attendance, people will not have to stay through the entire meeting.

Motion to adjourn was made by Robert Blazek at 8:38 PM and second by Mac Bramley.

Motion Carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.

Respectfully submitted,

Kelli L. Green, Recorder