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MCS approves next steps in SHP process

By Sophie Wheeler 2 min read

MARIETTA - The Marietta City Board of Education meeting Monday included an overview of state report card results and a cost analysis for the proposed renovations of district buildings.

Superintendent Mary Schaeffer said Marietta High School received a rating of 4 stars on the 5-star scale while, Marietta Elementary received 2.5 stars. She recognized the work of teachers and said the district staff members are having "data-driven conversations" to look at areas for improvement.

The community advisory team, a group created as part of phase two of the building assessment plan with engineering company SHP, met earlier this month and discussed the essential needs for the school district. Schaeffer said the team’s next meeting will be on Oct. 15 and encouraged additional community participation.

The advisory team is composed of community members, including school district alumni, along with Schaeffer and board member Chris Fennell. Shaeffer said there will be a separate group of community members for an educational visioning team and to focus on learning environments and ensure the readiness of students with a focus on flexible learning spaces.

Dan Leffingwell, client relations manager with SHP, discussed the importance of the educational visioning process and taking into account the needs of students. He also emphasized the "cost of doing nothing" and how costs for the project would increase over time.

The total cost for the entire district’s needed improvements would be $134.9 million, with $30.7 million for immediate needs, Leffingwell said. The overall cost could increase to approximately $170 million if the project spans 10 years.

In other business, the board approved phase three of the SHP process, which the board’s resolution says will use “an interactive, workshop-based framework that will help our school district plan our future learning models and design the physical facilities needed to support them.” They also approved revisions to its anti-harassment and non-discrimination on the basis of sex policies, based on suggestions by the board’s attorney.

The board presented Focused & Fierce awards to Marietta High School student Gage Matthews, Marietta Elementary student Lily Gaines, Phillips Elementary student Benjamin Farley and Washington Elementary student William Gardner. Awards were also presented to staff members Abby Ehrenberg and Karen Lamb and community member Cathy Harper.

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