Brian Templeton discusses progress on Cleveland High gym with the Cleveland School Board
Brian Templeton of the Upland Design Group told members of the Cleveland School Board on Monday that the new gym at Cleveland High School is still on track for completion near the end of February.
But he could not guarantee that it would be ready in time for basketball games this season.
Mr. Templeton said, "It's starting to take shape. We're excited about the way it looks."
On the planned new elementary school on Georgetown Road, he said cost concerns are requiring some cutbacks.
It was once envisioned that there would be "safe rooms" in every classroom. However, he said the focus now would be to provide corridors with strengthened roofs and walls for students to assembly in the event of a tornado.
Mr. Templeton said officials may have to forego a large multi-purpose space due to costs.
He said school construction costs had jumped $3 million to $4 million in just a year and likely would continue to increase.
The cost last August was projected at $18.1 million.
Mr. Templeton said the school will be constructed to eventually house as many as 700 students, but it would not initially be able to house that many. He said classrooms could be added later at the 20-acre site.
Dawn Robinson, vice chairperson, said, "The way Cleveland is growing, it would be foolish to build a core for 400 students."
She also said the school should include "Jack and Jill bathrooms," noting there had been court cases on the subject. She said, "You can't go changing all the old school buildings, but this is the time" to include the design.
School officials said there are now 28 teacher leaders, who receive $1,500 annual stipends. They mainly focus on instructional and curriculum matters.
Dr. Martin Ringstaff, director of schools, said he previewed new instructional gaming systems at an all-expense-paid trip to Boston.
He said the video sales team advised that textbooks would be a thing of the past in 2-3 years and that the gaming systems were more economical.
Dr. Ringstaff also said that a move has started to install laptop carts in grades 6-12. The various subjects will be phased in over the next three years, then "we will give out laptops."
He said the schools are moving to a system in which the teacher is "more of a facilitator that the sage on the stage."