Consultant Says Elementary Campus Should Be Replaced

GRAND SALINE—An independent consultant has confirmed that Grand Saline Elementary School’s current campus is no longer suitable for classroom instruction.

Dr. Paul Trautman, hired by Grand Saline ISD through the Texas Association of School Administrators, said in a report given Tuesday the 80-year-old conglomeration of buildings should be replaced "as soon as possible."

In discussing future uses of all the buildings owned by Grand Saline ISD, Trautman said, "The elementary school should be taken out of service…the current kindergarten building really needs to come down."

However, he stopped short of saying the elementary’s main building — it was a Works Progress Administration project in the late 1930s — should be razed as well.

"It has many problems, structural issues, leaks and other problems, that would have to be fixed for any future use," Trautman said.

He gave a two-hour PowerPoint presentation of a district-wide facility study in a special school board meeting held in the Grand Saline High School Cafetorium. About 30 teachers, school administrators and members of the public were in the audience.

By the end of it, school board president Walt Bryant admitted the board had plenty of work ahead.

"I thought it was a great presentation. He (Trautman) did a lot of work and asked a lot of questions," Bryant said.

"This gives us some direction, but we’ve got a lot of thinking to do as a school board," he added. "I do feel we need to develop a master plan as to which direction we will go and not just jump in on a building project."

Trautman himself strongly encouraged the district develop a long-range master plan for all facilities and also touched on issues such as future enrollment levels, possible realignment of campuses and traffic control at the schools.

After explaining the criteria used for his study and the related scoring system, Trautman cut to the heart of the matter about all four of the district’s current campuses.

With all buildings used by each campus entering into the formula, the elementary school was given an abysmal 44.2 percent (on a scale of 100).

"What that score effectively says is it is probably wasting money to try to fix it," Trautman said.

That was about what Grand Saline Elementary Principal Brandi Dyer was expecting to hear.

"I was not surprised at the findings, especially with the kindergarten building. There are just so many things at our campus in need of improvement for the health and safety of the kids," she said.

It was a somewhat dramatic report presented in January about the structural and safety woes of the elementary campus that led to the school board going though TASA for a district-wide facility study.

That earlier report showed serious foundation problems, water damage and leak problems in some areas, and wildlife — particularly skunks — nesting beneath the main building.

Trautman also determined there were short usefulness expectancies ahead for parts of the intermediate and middle school campuses, which got overall scores of 58.1 and 50.8 percent, respectively.

"You should look to replace or redevelop the middle school in the next five to 10 years," he said. "It is 42 years old and has significant age issues and design needs."

Trautman later pointed out that the building’s hallways were too narrow, becoming easily congested as students moved between classes. He also noted that throughout the district, 58.5 percent of the classrooms — all of the elementary school rooms included — were below current state standards in size.

The high school, which opened five years ago, fared the best in the score rankings at 77.1 percent.

In determining future facility needs, Trautman said the district should look at the possibility of a three-campus system, essentially going with one elementary school for early education programs through fifth grade.

After the presentation, Grand Saline Intermediate School Principal Brenda English said there are "pros and cons" to that system.

"I think the larger the campus is, the more you start to lose that personal touch and involvement with the kids," she said.

However, English said she feels confident the school board will come up with a well-devised plan.

"It was nice to hear an outside person say the same things we (administrators) have spoken about as far as our campuses’ needs…I think the board will come up with a plan that will not just meet the needs of some kids, but all of our student populations and provide a support system for all students," she said.

Trautman touched upon the traffic situation in the school zone, labeling it "controlled mayhem."

He suggested closing off parts of Stadium Drive, and developing a plan that separates student drivers at the high school from all other traffic, as well as separating parents’ vehicles from school buses during mornings and afternoons.