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Community Forums

Community Forums
 
A strong educational infrastructure is vital to our local economy and to the next generation in our community. Focusing on the future of our high school facilities, we invited all residents of the State College Area School District to participate in a series of community forums.
 
◊  Sixth Community Conversation on Design - November 18, 2013, 7 p.m., High School South Cafeteria
Give your input on the architects' presentation of design concepts and floor plans.
 
◊ Fifth Community Forum - September 11, 2013, 7 p.m., High School South Auditorium
One optional tour will be offered departing the High School South lobby at 5:30 p.m. returning at 6:30 p.m.
 
◊ Fourth Community Forum was held August 13, 2013 at 7 p.m.. High School South Auditorium
The presentation focused on the downselect process and the outcome of the survey resulting in the decision to eliminate all but two of the concepts: B and D.
One optional tour of the high school buildings was offered beforehand.
 

◊ Third Community Forum - two options:
Thursday, April 25, 7 to 8:30 p.m., High School South Auditorium
or
Saturday, April 27, 10 to 11:30 a.m., High School South Auditorium
◊ Second Community Forum was held Feb. 28, 2013 from 7 - 8:30 p.m., High School South Auditorium. 
           The purpose of the second Community Forum was to give an overview of preliminary concept options along with cost ranges and site considerations.  
            Tours were offered starting at 5:30 p.m. Student-led groups left every 10 minutes from the cafeteria until 6 p.m
.  
 
 
◊ First forum was held Wednesday, January 23, 2013, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in State College High School South auditorium. Prior to the forum, District staff and students hosted optional tours of our high school buildings.
The purpose of the January 23 forum was to share:
a) an overview of why we are asking the community to consider a building project;
b) an update on the project’s calendar and process, including a referendum;
c) an update regarding site options being studied at this time; and
d) aspects of the educational planning process to date.
During each part of the agenda, attendees provided feedback to the District and Board of School Directors. The forum concluded with a question and answer session. 
 
* Board Work Sessions on the High School Project were also scheduled at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room on the following dates:
February 18, 2013
March 18, 2013
April 15, 2013
May 13, 2013
June 17, 2013
September 16, 2013
October 21, 2013
November 18, 2013
 All Forums and Work Sessions were broadcast on CNET's channel 98 and streamed on their web site, CNET1.org.
The preliminary work conducted by our contracted architects (Crabtree Rohrbaugh & Associates), and by the educational planning firm (Brainspaces, Inc.) follows upon the 2009 District Wide Facilities Master Planning process, led by Dr. Bill DeJong. The 2009 process has already succeeded in the opening two new elementary schools in our district, Mt. Nittany Elementary and Ferguson Township Elementary. We do not intend to duplicate work that has already been done on the high school but to build upon that foundation and to update our plans in accordance with community guidance.
 
We are working toward a referendum on this project and will ask the community, at the voting booth, to give the District permission to proceed.