11.4 - 8401 Hathaway Dr - Burnet Middle School - ESA Report — original pdf

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Educational Suitability Summary Report Burnet Middle School Date: 10/22/2020 Score 51% Average Burnet Middle School, serving a student enrollment of approximately 950 students in north central Austin, has a focus on dual language, STEAM, and agricultural studies. A large, covered walkway around four mature elm trees at the front of the building creates a welcoming and distinct entry. The building configuration with three parallel studio wings connected by a main hallway gives ample daylight in the learning spaces. In the learning spaces, the lighting and temperature controls do not meet modern standards. The original windows from 1961 are single pane and inefficient. Blinds to control daylight are generally in disrepair, and many of the mini blinds do not function. Acoustic separation between studios and the hallway is undermined by large return air grilles. Acoustics are also reported to be inadequate in the administration space. The campus amenities are numerous and in good condition. The spacious Learning Garden is well equipped and well maintained, providing an excellent space for environmental education. An Austin Energy pavilion provides space for an outdoor studio and is equipped with solar panels near the front of the school. However, many of the original features are not functional. In addition, three secure courtyards have the potential to be ideal spaces for outdoor learning. Sports fields and a full running track are in good condition and well secured by a perimeter fence. There are two tennis courts as well but are in poor condition. Interview Overview The interview took place virtually with Principal De la Rosa, Admin Secretary Izela Thomas, and District Project Managers Jorge Ledesma and James Belle. The interview highlighted many of the shortcomings with the current building. Burnet Middle School sits on a large site, and the school could have outdoor learning spaces, but upgrades are needed. They use the field for SEL classes for the 6th grade, but Wi-Fi coverage is spotty past a certain area outside the building. The Austin Energy pavilion is used as an outdoor studio, but additional outdoor learning spaces could be created with increased furniture and covered areas. The school has a few items that should never change. The campus has heritage trees, two stone memorials in the courtyard dedicated to students, an anchor at the front of the school, a plaque to commemorate the school’s history, and a teacher memorial. There are programs not in suitable space. Dance takes place on the gym stage and is not accessible. There is no weight room on campus. There is a skills for living course that is conducted in a studio that does not meet current culinary teaching standards. The Life Skills unit does not have an adequate accessible restroom, functional sink, stove, or washer/dryer. Only one art studio has a proper sink and has a kiln room adjacent. Band does not have adequate practice rooms. 310 Comal Street, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78702 | perkinswill.com Page 1 of 9 Educational Suitability Summary Report Burnet Middle School The school has some wish-list items. The vertical team is strong in coding, media, and agriculture, but Burnet currently only offers agriculture. The school does not have any collaboration space, and the layout of the school is from a different era in teaching and does not reflect current educational standards. The studios are undersized and cannot even accommodate a small table for group work. The acoustics are very poor in the studios due to the grills in the corridor walls. The school has some security concerns. The Principal noted that the number of cameras have been tripled in the past couple of years, but they still have holes in coverage and many times, certain key cameras will be down. They have added cameras to the goat area, which has helped with security of the animals. The fence around the school has helped, but also prevents the public from using the track after-hours. The Principal in closing voiced that even small incremental changes that she would like to make are hampered by the age of the building and trigger other issues that become cost prohibitive. For instance, upgrades and maintenance to a tile mosaic cannot be completed because of asbestos. Assessment Findings The Educational Suitability Assessment of Burnet Middle School earned a 51% overall score and places the campus in a category of Average. The assessment consists of seven General Building categories and four Academic categories to determine areas that need more attention. Unsatisfactory Categories (36-50%): General Building Score is unsatisfactory. The building exterior has largely remained the same since the school’s construction in 1961. Several areas on the exterior need obvious repairs, and the bus drop-off canopies are damaged and rusted through. The cafeteria and library cannot be secured from the rest of the school, giving after-hours visitors full access to the school. Environmental Quality Score is unsatisfactory. The studio spaces in the main building have ample natural light, with continuous windows along the exterior wall. The school reports that the window material is easily cracked and scratched and is a safety concern. Views are limited because many teachers keep the blinds permanently closed due to the poor condition of the blinds. Acoustics in the studios are unsatisfactory. Each studio has large return air grilles open to the hallways that allow conversations to be easily heard from the adjacent space. Surfaces in the hallways and studios are generally hard, causing slight echo. Controllability of Systems Score is unsatisfactory. The temperature and lighting controls in the studios do not meet modern standards. Lighting is controlled by a single switch, with no ability to zone or dim the lighting. Each studio has many windows, but many of the blinds are damaged or nonfunctional. No thermostats are present in the studios. The school reports consistent high humidity levels and requests a HVAC reset weekly. 310 Comal Street, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78702 | perkinswill.com Page 2 of 9 Educational Suitability Summary Report Burnet Middle School Academic & Co-Curricular Support Score is unsatisfactory. Most of the studios are undersized at 750 square feet, inflexible, and lacking adequate storage. Learning neighborhoods are not configured per the Ed Spec. There are few breakout spaces, and a lack of transparency makes it difficult for students to be supervised outside the studio. There are plenty of spaces in the school that could be reconfigured to better support collaboration and informal interaction. Athletics and Wellness Score is unsatisfactory. Both gyms and support spaces are undersized and require updates. The is no weight room on campus. There is a full-size track, but there is no spectator seating for outdoor athletic UIL events. Food Service Score is unsatisfactory. The cafeteria is undersized for the campus capacity by approximately 1,000 square feet. The serving line is in the cafeteria and cannot be secured with the kitchen. Handwashing stations are not present in all serving lines. Technology Score is unsatisfactory. Almost all the studios are provided with a moveable flat-panel TV, but few have any other tools to project to the class. Power is not well distributed; the studios often are limited to several wall outlets that do not support “One-to-One” technology. Presentation spaces throughout the school are not well equipped with technology. The cafeteria and library have some A/V equipment, although the two gyms have none. Administration Spaces Score is unsatisfactory. Administration space feels spacious and welcoming, with a large checkpoint area at the main entry. The office is located near the main entrance to the school but without views to the entry. There is not a secure vestibule to control entry into the building. Private offices and conference rooms do not have adequate acoustic privacy, and sound machines are being used to help with acoustic privacy. Average Categories (51-65%): Security Score is average. Campus security is adequate, with a perimeter fence surrounding the play fields and portable studios. The main office is located with some site lines to the main entry doors but is not configured with a vestibule to control access. The school reports that there are multiple areas on campus that cannot hear the PA system and cameras are fixed and prevent full coverage. Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment Score is average. 310 Comal Street, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78702 | perkinswill.com Page 3 of 9 Educational Suitability Summary Report Burnet Middle School The furniture throughout the school is in average condition. Most of the learning spaces are equipped with loose chairs and triangular desks that can be reconfigured for group or individual activities. Some of the science studios have aging cabinetry and countertops that are not in good condition. Some of the library furniture was mobile, but the majority is difficult to move, making reconfiguration of the library a challenge. Visual and Performing Arts Score is average. The Fine Arts spaces are generally in good condition and appropriately configured. There are not enough practice rooms (per Ed Spec) for band and orchestra, and the ones that are provided are being used as storage at the time of assessment. The school reports that acoustic separation is also not adequate. Theater room is small with a small stage, although the cafetorium has a full-size stage in good condition. The dance studio is inadequate and is housed on the gym stage and is not accessible. Media Resources Score is average. The library is located near the main entry, but lack of signage and transparency make it difficult for public to find. Laptops are available for students to check out in the library, with ample seating arrangements that support a variety of study types. Only a small percentage of the furniture is mobile, so it is difficult to reconfigure the space for medium to large group activities. The entry to the library makes it difficult to reorganize space for different presentations. Satisfactory Categories (66-80%): Exterior Score is satisfactory. Building entry is well defined with a monument sign near the road, and a large, covered walkway around four mature elm trees at the front of the building. Bus and vehicular traffic are well separated but signage is inadequate. The building has numerous informal outdoor education spaces, and the courtyards between studio wings provide a good opportunity for outdoor studios. The learning garden is in good condition. It is well equipped and spacious, with a good variety of planting zones. Outdoor Learning and Activity Score is satisfactory. There is an informal outdoor studio next to the garden but is far from the interior studios and needs updates to function well. There is ample opportunity for outdoor studios in between the studio wings. The school has large grounds with a goat pen, full size track, and a playfield. Very Satisfactory Categories (81-100%): CTE and Career Connected Learning Score is satisfactory. The school offers a variety of CTE courses, but spaces for those courses, such as agriculture, need updates to function well. 310 Comal Street, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78702 | perkinswill.com Page 4 of 9 Educational Suitability Summary Report Burnet Middle School Supporting Photographs Covered Building Entry: Large mature trees around campus and general exterior entrance is in good condition. STEAM Center: Robotics lab in excellent condition 310 Comal Street, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78702 | perkinswill.com Page 5 of 9 Educational Suitability Summary Report Burnet Middle School Supporting Photographs Cafetorium is undersized and lacks compost and recycling instructions Outdoor garden: Spacious outdoor learning garden in good condition. Watering through hose, not irrigation. 310 Comal Street, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78702 | perkinswill.com Page 6 of 9 Educational Suitability Summary Report Burnet Middle School Supporting Photographs Media Center: Library in good condition, but most furniture is not reconfigurable or easily movable. Studio Acoustics: Open return air grilles in all studios have negative impact on acoustics 310 Comal Street, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78702 | perkinswill.com Page 7 of 9 Educational Suitability Summary Report Burnet Middle School Supporting Photographs Fine arts: Theater studio is small with insufficient storage Outdoor Studio: partially covered but unsecured. School reported that this is used as an outdoor studio but is far from the school and needs updates to function well. 310 Comal Street, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78702 | perkinswill.com Page 8 of 9 Educational Suitability Summary Report Burnet Middle School Supporting Photographs Evidence of Learning: Display board for robotics Studio Environment: Ample natural light in studios, but blinds are not in good condition and all studios are undersized. 310 Comal Street, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78702 | perkinswill.com Page 9 of 9