The Fort Smith School Board had the chance Monday to review some of the findings from a facilities assessment on the district’s buildings.
Overall, the district’s buildings received a fair rating on a scale of poor, fair and good. Each school was assessed based on site (parking, sidewalks, etc.), interior, exterior, educational adequacy and building systems (mechanical, electrical, plumbing and security).
“It's important to to note that teachers can teach, students can learn anywhere … Facility ratings are ratings of the condition of the building, not the condition of the educational environment,” said Stephen Hulsey of Dallas-based architectural firm Corgan at Monday’s school board work session.
Hulsey recommended that one of the first things the district do to improve its facilities is to switch to LED lighting.
“Accelerate it. Get it done in the next couple of years because changing from fluorescent to LED is a five-year payback … in five years it's paid for,” he said.
He also recommended that the district conduct an energy use study to see where it is using how much energy.
Hulsey and the board attributed some of the low ratings to older buildings. Belle Point Center, which School Board member Bill Hanesworth said was built in 1908, received a poor rating in each of the five categories. One of the issues is that it does not have elevator, which raises a problem with Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
Although Northside High School received a better overall rating than Southside High School, neither of the schools received a good rating on any category and had a mix of poor and fair ratings.
Three schools in the district, including Kimmons Junior High, Howard Elementary and Sutton Elementary, received good ratings across the board. Sprawling Elementary came close with four good ratings and a fair rating for site.
Belle Point was the only school to receive a poor rating in every category, although Ballman, Beard and Trusty Elementary each were rated poorly in all but the site category, for which they were rated fair.