Environmental Studies Academy Proposal

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ACADEMY

At the School Board Retreat this week, we were briefed by the administration on their plans to build a facility to house this academy. I would anticipate the Board voting on this soon. Here are some details:

1. Facility would be built as an extension of the Brock Center. Cost= $1.5 million. School Board would lease the land and would own the building. If approved, construction would begin in summer/fall of 2017, with students beginning in 2018-19 school year.

2. Per year cost for operations/curriculum/transportation are anticipated to be approx $240,000 for year 1.

3. Program would be for Juniors and Seniors only and would accommodate up to 100 students.

MY CONCERNS:

A. We have many facility needs (B.F. Williams, P.A. High, John B Dey ES, etc). Elevating this building project above the others is of concern to me.

B. This is a program, if wanted by the parents/students, that could be housed at an existing facility.

C. If the School Board leases the land, what happens if the Brock Center decides it doesn't want to extend the lease? Then we own a building on land we do not own. I questioned the lease agreement-- the answer was that a specific lease agreement has not been discussed and if the lease agreement ended we still owned the building and could move it.... ???-- how much would that cost??
​
D. The overall budget is going to be very tight this year!

I have asked for feedback from the community.  If you have an opinion on this issue please post here and e-mail all Board members: vbcpsschoolboard@googlegroups.com.