School board hears from architects vying
for East Area 1 job

December 10, 2014
Santa Paula News

Two architectural firms, each hoping to get the contract to design the new K-8 school in East Area 1, made their presentations to the Santa Paula Unified School District board last week at a special meeting.

Flewelling & Moody, with  offices in Los Angeles and Lancaster and PJHM Architects out of Laguna Hills and Oceanside each were given 20 minutes to present their ideas to the board.

Representatives from both firms showed the board examples of their work in designing schools and each had a suggested site plan for the new school. The board will discuss the two presentations at their regular Wednesday meeting tonight at 7:00 pm at Glen City School.

Also on the agenda was an informational item on the planned traffic study, covering access, circulation and parking surrounding Santa Paula High School. The study is a joint effort by the district and the city. The School district will pay the cost, estimated at around $18,000.

Stantec Consulting Services said that traffic counts will be conducted during the peak one-hour AM and PM school traffic periods. Board member Michelle Kolbeck said that this needs to be expanded to read, “During peak evening and weekend activity due to sports and facility use.” She said appropriate dates would be Saturday, January 3 with a girls’ wrestling tournament all day, Youth basketball from 8:30 to 1:30 and New Life Church services from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. She added that another should be Wednesday, January 14 with a home wrestling match, three home soccer games and three home basketball games. Kolbeck said, “By adding these dates it would give a better picture of after school hours traffic flow.”

She also said, “The traffic study is a start. We need to continue to work together to not overbook facilities whether it be multiple sporting events, school events and/or outside groups using the high school facilities.”

Kolbeck also handed out some correspondence from area residents, highly critical of SPUSD administration. One stated, “We have cancelled family events and, in general have been displaced and inconvenienced.” Another neighbor wrote, “Please do not draw into question the integrity and efforts of the people whom the high school has negatively impacted.” The same writer indicated they will not tolerate the same problems next year, saying, “Whether by cooperation or litigation this will not happen next year.”

Since last week’s meeting Assistant Superintendent Donna Rose said the New Life Church will be relocating to the Isbell Middle School Cafeteria in January. She said their attendance runs between 55 and 65 people each Saturday and they felt Isbell would be a better choice for them.





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