History & Need for the Project

The Wellsboro Area School District undertook a feasibility study in the Spring of 1998 to review the condition and needs of all district facilities. The study was conducted by architect Vern McKissick REFP. Utilizing a three part process, the architect first evaluated existing conditions, conducted a blind questionnaire process with the entire District professional staff, then established a Community Advisory Committee consisting of nearly thirty Board members, staff, school administrators, PTA members, parents, and community leaders to review the findings. The second phase consisted of working with Community Advisory Committee to develop options and ultimately select one option for recommendation to the Board. The third phase included refinement of the final option for presentation to the Board. Following the acceptance by the Board of the committee recommendations, the District undertook a District-wide mail-in survey of community support and goals. The Board of School Directors identified the Charlotte Lappla Elementary School as a top priority and retained the architectural firm of McKissick Associates PC to begin the planning process.

At the beginning of the planning process, McKissick Associates worked with the District's Superintendent of Schools to develop the project educational specification. As part of this effort, McKissick Associates interviewed key staff, including teachers of the core subjects, art and music, Physical Education, and other itinerate subjects, as well as administrative, cafeteria, and janitorial staff. During the interviews, issues of classroom configuration, building function, adjacencies, and site concerns were reviewed in depth. Comparing the educational specification to the current facilities at Charlotte Lappla Elementary School, the following needs could be clearly identified and include:

• Additional classroom space
• Improved bus loading and unloading, parent drop-off, and staff parking areas
• Improved function and safety of outdoor play areas
• Expanded indoor play areas
• Expanded Library/ Media Facilities
• Separated Administrative, faculty, and nursing facilities
• General, ADA, and code compliance upgrades to the existing building which has not gone through a major renovation since it was built in 1955-56

Although enrollments are expected to remain steady for the most part over the next 10 years, the additional classroom space is needed to accommodate the change to full time Kindergarten. In essence, this change doubles the effective Kindergarten enrollment. It is also expected to attract greater numbers of students than the half-time Kindergarten has in the past because the School District will be more attractive to families who had been utilizing local private schools that already provide full time Kindergarten.

In addition, classroom space is needed to replace the inadequate special education facilities, which now consist of vestibule areas. These new classrooms will be made divisible so that special education classes can be held in small or large groups as needed. These classroom areas should also be large enough that they can temporarily accommodate full classes should enrollments increase or the educational program change.

The current busing, parking, and parent drop off at Charlotte Lappla occurs in one small area at the front of the building. There is a concern for safety, especially during morning arrival and afternoon departure when the area is extremely busy and crowded. A safer and more efficient system is needed. There is also a need for additional onsite parking spaces to adequately serve the entire school staff.

Also located toward the front of the building is the playground, which is bordered by the staff, parking area. The play area should be separated from any traffic for better safety and security.

During the staff interview process, it became apparent that the multi-purpose room is in high demand a majority of the school year and doesn't allow for an indoor play area when other functions are carried out, such as lunch and music programs. The school would benefit from an area where the Kindergarten children can play indoors without disturbing others.

Currently, the library shares a classroom with music and art. The single classroom is not adequate enough in size or storage facilities to be shared by these three different functions, nor is it available for library use when there are music and art classes being held. Ideally, the library should be accessible by the staff and students all day long and provide storage shelves and tables for a plethora of materials and media. This area should also be outfitted to accommodate large group computer assisted instruction.

Today at Charlotte Lappla the office staff, faculty, and nurse overlap facilities in one small suite. These facilities need to be separated and enlarged to provide adequate workspace, storage, and offices as needed. Also locating the school office near the main entrance would improve building security.

Existing infrastructure and building systems at Charlotte Lappla Elementary School were built in 1955-56 and have never undergone a major renovation. The architectural, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems require upgrades to meet current ADA and code requirements. This will enable this building, once the project is complete, to accommodate and support the districts educational program in an economical manner for the next 20 to 30 years.