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Secure Entrances
Secure Entrances
Why It's Needed
Keeping kids safe is one of the most important things a school can do. The Bethel and Royalton campus both have regularly used entrances that do not meet Vermont recommended school safety standards.
The rear entrance on the Royalton campus (see image) is the primary entrance used by high schoolers and staff that parking in the high school parking lot. There is currently no way for staff at the front desk to monitor who is coming and going from this entrance. This is also the entrance used for events in the elementary gym, including plays, concerts, town meetings, and recreational basketball games and practices. This will frequently be kids and families from other communities main experience of visiting our school, and the entrance is not welcoming or obvious for visitors. With the increased number of students in the high school wing this entrance also is not large enough to comply with fire codes.
What's Planned
The Royalton campus rear entrance will have a new aesthetically pleasing entrance with a secure vestibule. Visitors can enter the vestibule and cameras will allow the front desk staff to unlock the inner doors for access to the building. In addition a new lobby with additional restrooms will provide a more welcoming area for people coming to concerts, plays, town meetings, or other events in the elementary gym.
The White River Valley Middle School entrance on the Bethel campus will be revamped to create a secure vestibule where visitors can enter and be checked in by office personnel before being allowed access to the building.
Current White River Valley Middle School entrance
Proposed White River Valley Middle School entrance
The Bethel elementary layout will remain the same, but new hardware will be installed to make it more secure, allowing office staff to better control visitor access. There will also be upgrades to the door teachers use for playground access.
Cost: Royalton campus - $726,000 Bethel campus - $642,000
We applied for $600,000 worth of grants for entrance security improvements, but are unlikely to be awarded extra funds this year. We will apply again next year.
Savings: The new entrances will minimize heat loss and are projected to save $1,450 per year.
Music Rehearsal Room and Classroom space
Music Rehearsal Room and Classroom space
Why It's Needed
Our high school band and chorus programs are thriving with participation from over 30% of the student body. However, our current music room size and location are causing challenges.
Having so many students in a small space leads to unsafe noise levels during band rehearsals. Noise levels during rehearsals are regularly measured at 110 dB, which exceeds the WHO recommended safe listening levels. Given the amount of time students spend in rehearsals, a safe listening volume would be 95 dB.
The current music room is shared between the elementary school and the high school, leading to schedule conflicts and limiting music department offerings. Elementary music is frequently held in regular classrooms instead of a dedicated music space because of a lack of availability.
The practice space is a long way from the performance space. For each performance all the equipment needs to be hauled up a flight of stairs and across the length of the school.
There is a lack of space for private lessons or student practice.
Many studies have shown that music participation boosts test scores and grades in math, English, and science. Giving our music department the space it needs to continue to expand will provide benefits throughout our school.
performing_arts_center (1080p).mp4
What's Planned
A 3000 sq ft addition next to the existing elementary gym and stage area will include:
A large rehearsal room with plenty of room to accommodate our growing ensembles.
Four sound proofed small practice rooms to allow lessons or student practice in sound isolated spaces.
An office for the music department staff
A dedicated storage area for the music and theater departments.
Lift access for moving heavy equipment directly onto the stage from the music room area.
With the high school music program receiving dedicated rehearsal space, we will be able to repurpose the currently used music room. Elementary music will have a dedicated space without having to work around the high school schedule. It will also free up the music department office and lesson room, allowing extra space for elementary intervention and therapeutic use.
The rehearsal space will be available for community use as well, benefitting groups like the Royalton Town Band.
Cost: $3,171,644
We have received a generous $500,000 donation from the Byrne foundation that will help enable this portion of the project. While the bond will enable us to build the basic rehearsal space, there are improvements that were removed, like acoustical treatments and an equipment lift to the stage that would make it a much nicer space. The stage and elementary gym upgrades were also removed from this bond proposal. To donate and help make these improvements happen, click here.
For more information, visit the music boosters Performing Arts Center website.
Shop Expansion
Shop Expansion
Why It's Needed
Demand is higher than ever for tech ed programming thanks to increased enrollment, Flexible Pathways options, and a strengthened middle school maker program. Our high school shop is having trouble meeting the demand. More space is needed for teaching and working areas and storage for materials and ongoing student projects. A lack of space limits the size and scope of potential student projects. The welding station is currently contained to a very tight corner near the overhead door limiting use to one student at a time.
What's Planned
A 1,000 square foot addition to the existing shop area would double the amount of space available for work areas and storage. It will come with electrical and ventilation upgrades to allow for multiple welding stations.
Cost: $350,000
Ventilation
Ventilation
Why It's Needed
The Royalton campus library and science rooms lack active ventilation. Improving indoor air quality in schools has been shown to boost student performance, reduce absenteeism, and enhance teacher and staff well-being (link).
What's Planned
Active ventilation will be installed to ensure the spaces receive fresh air, and heat pump heating, cooling and dehumidification will keep the spaces comfortable. An energy recovery unit will minimize heat loss from air exhausted from the building. The cost of running the ventilation will be offset by the savings provided by the use of heat pump heating.
Cost: $296,500
Heating Upgrade
Heating Upgrade
Why It's Needed
The Royalton campus underground oil tank installed in 1998 is 26 years old and nearing its end of it's expected 20-30 year life expectancy. It's current location would prevent the expansion of the shop area. The Royalton campus boiler however has at least 10 years of useful life left, so replacing it now would not be economical, but it currently burns #2 Fuel Oil which is more expensive and less efficient than other options.
What's Planned
The Royalton campus boiler would receive a burner replacement to convert it from burning #2 fuel oil to propane. The underground oil tank would be removed and replaced by five 1,000 gallon propane tanks located away from the school. Building heating and ventilation controls would be optimized to improve efficiency. This will reduce the Royalton campus heating CO2 emissions by an estimated 30%.
Cost: Propane conversion $310,000 Control optimization $35,000 with $17,500 rebate
Savings: The control optimization is estimated to save $4,500 a year, and the propane conversion is estimated to save $8,500 a year.
Stormwater Abatement
Stormwater Abatement
Why It's Needed
The 2008 WRVHS gym addition did not provide adequate stormwater abatement. We have until the end of 2025 to take steps to comply with regulations.
What's Planned
A drainage swale/catch area for storm runoff will bring us into compliance with regulations for both the gym addition and the new proposed addition.
Cost: $300,000
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