New $6.3 million Alto elementary school proposed
BY LELAND ACKER

Alto school board Vice President Greg Duplichain presents a plague honoring the service of board member G. L. Skinner to Rosie Skinner, Mr. Skinner's widow. Mr. Skinner died in June.

Alto ISD may soon have a new elementary school if voters approve a $6.3 million bond package proposed by the Board of Trustees. The board voted in their regular meeting Aug. 22 to call for a bond election.

Melody Witt, elementary school principal, thanked the board for their efforts.

"When I came here two years ago, I saw facilities were the main (problem)," she said. "I came to 'Superintendent X' and told him, 'we need a new elementary school.' He laughed. You didn't laugh tonight. Dr. DeSpain has a plan. I'm excited about that."

Mrs. Witt cited many problems with the current structure, including the bathrooms.

Superintendent Dr. Ray DeSpain said the bathroom problems include plumbing, sanitation and water leaks. Mrs. Witt cited ventilation and odor.

Dr. DeSpain highlighted other problems with the current elementary school. He said the building structure is showing its age and the roof leaks. He said the plumbing problems and leakage problems consume a lot of time to correct. He added some of the gas pipes have been leaking.

"There are electrical issues, asbestos issues, lot's of things structurally," Dr. DeSpain said.

He added the layout of the current elementary school, which consists of several small buildings, creates safety and accessibility problems. Visitors to the campus are able to go to classrooms without having to pass by a central entrance area. Dr. DeSpain also noted the problem with walking distances for the younger kids from the classroom to the library and cafeteria.

"Those issues will be rectified with a new building," Dr. DeSpain said.

Plans for a new elementary school call for an "L" shaped building to be erected around the current elementary school gymnasium.

"The entrance will be across the breezeway from my office," Dr. DeSpain said. "The youngest kids' classrooms will be the closest to the cafeteria. It will be one stand-alone building for pre-k through fourth grade. There will be no satellite buildings. Walking distances will be shorter."

He said the school board will present more information on the bond election in the coming weeks.

Coastal Securities will be the financial firm and Andrews and Kirth will provide legal counsel.

Dr. DeSpain said the new school will have 24 classrooms, a science lab, a computer lab, a language arts lab and several specialized rooms. He said it will be a 41,000 square foot building.

The board honored the life of G.L. Skinner, the board member who died in June. Vice President Greg Duplichain presented a plaque to Mr. Skinner's wife, Rosie, commemorating his service to Alto ISD. A plaque in his honor was also mounted on the wall in the board room.

The board also approved the budget for the coming year at $5.3 million, with a total tax rate of $1.09434 per $100 valuation.

Board members Freddy Johnson, Mr. Duplichain, Britton Tilley, Jay Jones, Randy Low and Lee Pearman attended the meeting. Principals Donald Patton (high school), Kelly West (middle school) and Mrs. Witt, Superintendent Dr. DeSpain, administrative assistant Sherry Dover and secretary Fay Hudson were also in attendance.

The school board meets every third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.