The Peoria Public School Board of Education will meet tonight to discuss this agenda. I’ve reprinted it below for your perusal (click on the “Read the rest of this entry” link below). I’d just like to comment on two items.
First, under item #9, they say they want to “engage the firm LZT / Perkins + Will to work . . . on the programming phase of the new school construction.” The programming phase is where they write up a “program statement” which explains exactly what they want to get out of the new building: what spaces are needed (classrooms, lunchroom, auditorium, lab, etc.), each space’s size and purpose, how the spaces relate to each other, etc. This is used to help them come up with cost estimates and conceptual designs.
My question is, why do they need two architectural firms to do this, and how were they chosen? They list “LZT / Perkins + Will” as if it’s one business. But LZT & Associates is a separate company (based in Peoria) from Perkins + Will, based out of Chicago. Are they saying they’re going to choose one of these two based on who will provide the service at a lower cost? If they’re planning to engage them both, what unique deliverables are expected of each firm? LZT has designed expansions for Columbia and Von Steuben Middle Schools, and is currently working on the Civic Center exhibit hall expansion. Perkins + Will doesn’t appear to have ever done anything in Peoria, if their website is any indication.
Secondly, I’m fascinated that they are poised to renew their contract with Aramark (item #10), the food service vendor that provides food so horrible that Oliver Twist would rather have gone hungry than ask for more of it. Is nutrition an area where we really want to take the lowest bid? Does quality count for anything in this process?
PEORIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BOARD OF EDUCATION
ORDER OF BUSINESS
April 24, 2006
EXCUTIVE SESSION
A. CALL TO ORDER – 4:30 P.M.
B. ROLL CALL
C. MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 3, 2006
E. ADJOURNMENT
REGULAR SESSION
F. CALL TO ORDER – 6:30 P.M.
G. ROLL CALL
H. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Special Meetings – March 27, 2006 and March 29, 2006
Regular Meeting – April 3, 2006
J. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Community Foundation Grant Winners; PFT Presentation to Chess Tournament Winners & Moon Walk T-shirt Contest Winners; College Bound Nursing Excellence Program – Patti Polk; Service to Education Award
K. PRESENTATION BY AUDIENCE ON ACTION ITEMS
(Board Policy 2:230 – Each speaker will give his or her name and address and identify the specific action item he or she wishes to address. Not more than five minutes may be allotted to each speaker and no more than twenty minutes to each subject under discussion, except with the concurrence of the majority of the Board.)
L. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Action by the Board of Education in Adoption of the Consent Calendar at this point of the agenda means that all items appearing in the agenda which have asterisks (*) (which items constitute the consent calendar) are adopted by one single motion, unless a member of the Board or Superintendent requests that any such item be removed from the consent calendar and voted upon separately. Generally, consent calendar items are matters which the Board and the Superintendent consent are routine in nature and should be acted upon in one motion to conserve time and permit focus on other-than-routine matters on the agenda.
M. ACTION ITEMS
Routine Matters
AGENDA ITEMS
1. GIFTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT (This meeting – $ 2,870.00; Year to date – $ 284,878.60
Proposed Action: That the following donations be accepted and letters of appreciation sent to the donors:
$1,000.00 donated to Hines Primary School for books and materials for ESL students from HOI 19 “Kids Count One Class at a Timeâ€
$20.00 donated to Hines Primary School by Rita Ali
$1,500 donated to Peoria High School to benefit the “archives†by Ms. Martha C. Guarin
$200 donated to Richwoods High School for the 2006 Jr. Prom by the James and Elizabeth Kater Fund
Microwave oven, valued at $150.00, donated to the Maintenance Department by Mr. Bruce Witzig
2. PAYMENT OF BILLS; REQUEST TO PURCHASE; CONSIDERATION OF BIDS
3. HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT
4. TRAVEL REQUESTS
5. REVOCATION OF BOARD PROBATION
Proposed Action: That the Revocation of Board Probation listed on Report No. 10 dated April 24, 2006 be approved as presented.
6. REVIEW OF SUSPENSIONS
Proposed Action: That the Review of Suspensions listed on Report No. 12 dated April 24, 2006 be approved as presented.
7. EXPULSIONS
Proposed Action: That the Expulsions listed on the report dated April 24, 2006 be approved as presented. (Students expelled by the Board are referred to by number, thereby insuring privacy. Board action concerning the student(s) has been decided in executive session.)
Unfinished Business
New Business
8. CANVASS OF ELECTION RETURNS FOR THE ELECTION MARCH 21, 2006
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education move to receive and file the Canvass of Votes that have been received from the City of Peoria Election Commission.
9. ENGAGE ARCHITECT FOR NEW SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMMING PHASE ONLY
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education authorize administration to engage the firm LZT / Perkins + Will to work with the School Design and Construction Committee on the programming phase of the new school construction.
10. FOOD SERVICE CONTRACT CAHILL
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education award the Food Service Management contract to ARAMAK for the low, responsive bid of $2,513,735.67 (memorandum total).
AGENDA ITEMS
11. DECLARE SURPLUS PROPERTY & AUTHORIZE DISPOSITION THROUGH AUCTION OR OTHER MEANS
Proposed Action That the Board of Education approve the declaration of surplus property as found at Attachment A and authorize its disposition through auction or other means.
N. CONFERENCE ITEMS
Preview of Topics for Future Agendas
General Discussion to Guide Future Agendas
Presentations and Suggestions by Board Members
O. INFORMATION ITEMS
Reports from Superintendent and Staff
1. DISCUSSION OF SENATOR SHADID’S REQUEST HINTON
2. FINANCE REPORTS
3. PURCHASE ORDERS OVER $2,500 CAHILL
4. REPORT OF REQUESTS UNDER THE FREEDOM ON INFORMATION ACT AND STATUS OF SUCH TATE REPORTS
Reports from the Board
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Written Communications
P. PRESENTATION BY AUDIENCE
Q. ADJOURNMENT