HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-10-18 BOT Agenda PacketThe Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees will begin immediately following the conclusion of the
Board of Trustees Workshop but not prior to the posted start time.
Mission Statement
Westlake Academy is an IB World School whose mission is to provide students with an
internationally minded education of the highest quality so they are well-balanced and
respectful life-long learners.
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WESTLAKE ACADEMY
Vision Statement
Westlake Academy inspires college bound students to achieve their highest individual potential
in a nurturing environment that fosters the traits found in the IB Learner Profile:
Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled,
Open-Minded, Caring, Risk-takers, Balanced and Reflective
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
AGENDA
September 10, 2018
1500 Solana Boulevard
Building 7, Suite 7100
1st FLOOR, COUNCIL CHAMBER
WESTLAKE, TX 76262
Workshop Session 5:00 p.m.
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Work Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION BY WESTLAKE ACADEMY STUDENT BELLA
WHITE REGARDING AN ADDITIONAL OPTION FOR THE TRAFFIC FLOW AT
WESTLAKE ACADEMY.
4. REPORTS
Reports are prepared for informational purposes and will be accepted as presented. (there
will no presentations associated with the report items) There will be no separate discussion unless a
Trustee requests that report be removed and considered separately.
a. Report regarding the school year theme and focus for 2018-2019.
b. Report regarding the House of Shine and college readiness support.
5. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Presentation and discussion regarding the 2018 Westlake Academy (WA) student
performance on International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP)
assessments.
b. Presentation and discussion regarding STARR and EOC results.
c. Presentation and discussion regarding Faculty Turnover, student/teacher ratios for
the 2017-2018 school year, including comparisons with surrounding districts and IB
charter schools for the 2017-2018 school year.
d. Presentation and Discussion Regarding Further discussion of a Process for Capital
Improvement Planning for Westlake Academy.
6. BOARD RECAP / STAFF DIRECTION
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7. ADJOURNMENT
ANY ITEM ON THIS POSTED AGENDA COULD BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
AS LONG AS IT IS WITHIN ONE OF THE PERMITTED CATEGORIES UNDER SECTIONS
551.071 THROUGH 551.076 AND SECTION 551.087 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT
CODE.
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the above notice was posted at the Town Hall of the Town of Westlake, 1500 Solana Blvd.,
Building 7, Suite 7100, Westlake, TX 76262, on September 5, 2018, by 5:00 p.m. under the Open Meetings
Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code.
_____________________________________
Kelly Edwards, Town Secretary
If you plan to attend this public meeting and have a disability that requires special needs, please advise
the Town Secretary 48 hours in advance at 817-490-5710 and reasonable accommodations will be made
to assist you.
Board of
Trustees
Item # 2 – Pledge of
Allegiance
Texas Pledge:
“Honor the Texas flag;
I pledge allegiance to
the, Texas, on state
under God, on and
indivisible.”
3. RESENTATION AND DISCUSSION BY WESTLAKE ACADEMY STUDENT
BELLA WHITE REGARDING AN ADDITIONAL OPTION FOR THE TRAFFIC FLOW
AT WESTLAKE ACADEMY.
Board of
Trustees
Item # 3 – No Supporting
Documentation
REPORTS
Reports are prepared for informational purposes and will be accepted as presented.
(there will no presentations associated with the report items) There will be no separate discussion
unless a Council Member requests that report be removed and considered separately.
a. Report regarding the school year theme and focus for 2018-2019
b. Report regarding the House of Shine and college readiness support
Board of
Trustees
Item # 4 – Reports
estlake Academy Board of Trustees
TYPE OF ACTION
Workshop - Report
Westlake Board Meeting
Monday, September 10, 2018
TOPIC: Presentation of Report Regarding the New School Year Theme and Focus
STAFF CONTACT: Dr. Mechelle Bryson, Executive Director
Strategic Alignment
Vision, Value, Mission Perspective Curriculum Outcome
Objective
Academic Excellence Academic
Operations PYP / MYP / DP
Increase the
Capacity of Teachers
& Staff
Strategic Initiative
Outside the Scope of Identified Strategic Initiatives
Time Line - Start Date: August 7, 2018 Completion Date: June 6, 2019
Funding Amount: N/A Status - N/A Source - N/A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (INCLUDING APPLICABLE ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY)
The purpose of this report is to articulate the professional learning focus for the 2018-2019
academic school year.
Professional learning is a critical component in creating the conditions and environment for
student success. In doing so, it is vital that educators remain on the cutting edge of the future of
education and instructional pedagogy. As such, the goal of professional development must be to
train Academy teachers in the IB philosophy, theory and practice along with Visible
Learning. These training opportunities foster teacher efficacy and furnish data to inspire
meaningful change that transforms classrooms into 21st century learning environments. It is
through the professional development of teachers that Westlake Academy becomes the best place
for teachers to teach and for students to learn.
RECOMMENDATION
Seeking continued support of professional learning initiatives at Westlake Academy.
ATTACHMENTS
Report Attachment
1
MEMORANDUM
DATE: August 6, 2018
TO: Honorable President and Board of Trustees Members
THROUGH: Mr. Tom Brymer, Town Manager/WA Superintendent
FROM: Dr. Mechelle Bryson, Executive Director
SUBJECT: 2018-2019 School Focus/Theme
A culture of learning is a critical component of an educational institution. Creating a culture and
environment that will act as the foundation for a learning organization begins with a commitment to
learning at all levels of the organization. As Peter Senge writes, “a learning organization is an
organization that is continually expanding its capacity to create its future.” He further asserts that in the
act of learning, we are able to reinvent ourselves.
During the past four years, Westlake Academy has placed a greater emphasis on organizational
learning. Professional development has been streamlined to cultivate the Academy’s collective teacher
efficacy. In learning together, the Academy has been able to create a shared vocabulary and to
strengthen the pedagogical expertise of teachers serving the organization. In turn, this has improved
the academic achievement of students. We have also concentrated professional learning efforts on the
IB framework with a special emphasis on visible learning’s alignment to the philosophical
underpinnings of the IB’s guiding principles. This has created a sustained effort and continuity of
learning that is often lacking in other school communities.
As a result of building a strong culture of organizational learning, the Academy has reaped the
following benefits:
• Increased student achievement;
• Increased teacher pedagogical expertise and a culture of shared craft knowledge;
• Facilitation of continuous improvement mindset and improved efficiency and productivity;
• Capacity building of leaders at all levels, which helps with succession planning; and
• Increased collective teacher efficacy to embrace and adapt to change.
There is no doubt that there is great work being done at Westlake Academy. We are, indeed, an
exceptional school with great potential. Our quest to become the best place for teachers to teach and
for students to learn is at the forefront of our preparation for the 2018-2019 school year. With that
said, our theme for the new academic year is:
Celebrate 15WA/50IB: A Legacy of Leading and Learning
2
Our new theme is designed to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of
the International Baccalaureate and the 15th Anniversary of
Westlake Academy. As such, Westlake Academy will spend the
year celebrating these two milestones through a series of
commonly held events at the Academy. For example, the back
to school picnic will be a birthday party for Westlake Academy
as will the HOC’s Monster Mash while Grandparents Day will
be a dual celebration for the 50th Anniversary of IB and the 15th
Anniversary of the Academy with a showcase of international
mindedness. As far as professional development is concerned,
our teachers will continue their intense exploration of inquiry
and its role in an IB world school. In addition, the staff and I
will begin preparing for our IB site visit scheduled for the Spring
of 2020. Instead of having three separate re-authorization
processes, as the Academy has done in the past, the Academy
will participate in a continuum site visit in which all three
programmes will be reviewed in tandem. The IB requires
schools to conduct a year-long self-assessment prior to the site visit. The Academy will begin this
process in January of 2019. As a result, we will continue to hone our instructional pedagogy and build
our collective efficacy.
Previous themes have explored best practices in inquiry, formative assessment, effective feedback, and
data-driven dialogues to explore a teacher’s impact on student achievement. Our teachers have
become experts in creating learning environments that foster student growth through authentic
engagement. These themes have included:
⇒ FY 17/18 – I=E³: Inquiry is the Solution ... Engage ... Explore ... Empower!
⇒ FY 16/17 - Know Your Impact: Ignite … Innovate … Inspire
⇒ FY 15/16 - Dream … Create … Achieve: Building a Collective Legacy of Excellence
⇒ FY 14/15 - Reaching New Heights Together ... One School, One Community
⇒ FY 13/14 - Growing Together; One School, One Community
⇒ FY 12/13 - Holding to the Vision, Rising to the Challenge
⇒ FY 11/12 - Continued Excellence in the Face of Change
Building the capacity of our teachers is our priority. As John Hattie of Visible Learning has asserted,
the teacher is the strongest variable in student achievement. Knowing this, it becomes the duty and
responsibility of the Westlake Academy’s administration team to build the instructional pedagogy of
all teachers. In doing so, teachers have a higher probability to impact student achievement in positive
and meaningful ways. This is the ultimate goal of professional development at Westlake Academy.
As I have said before, we have an extraordinary opportunity to transform the very manner in which
education is delivered to our students and, in doing so, lead other schools by our example. This is no
small task, but it is firmly within our grasp.
estlake Academy Board of Trustees
TYPE OF ACTION
Workshop - Report
Westlake Board Meeting
Monday, September 10, 2018
TOPIC: Presentation of a Report Regarding the House of Shine and College
Readiness Support
STAFF CONTACT: Dr. Mechelle Bryson, Executive Director
Strategic Alignment
Vision, Value, Mission Perspective Curriculum Outcome
Objective
Academic Excellence Academic
Operations PYP / MYP / DP
Increase the Future
Readiness of All
Students
Strategic Initiative
Outside the Scope of Identified Strategic Initiatives
Time Line - Start Date: August 7, 2018 Completion Date: June 6, 2019
Funding Amount: N/A Status - N/A Source - N/A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (INCLUDING APPLICABLE ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY)
The purpose of this report is to provide an update regarding the collaboration between the House
of Shine and Westlake Academy in connection with college readiness support.
The House of Shine is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to develop confident, engaged
women and children by providing leadership programs that raise self-awareness and are creative
and experiential in nature. By helping individuals identify their SHINE, women and children
from all walks of life are inspired to ignite their power within and, ultimately, change their world
for the better.
The collaboration between the House of Shine and Westlake Academy is designed to assist the
Academy’s students in identifying their passion. In doing so, students gain powerful insight into
their strengths, hobbies, interests, needs and experiences in order to streamline the college
selection and application process. Add something about naviance.
RECOMMENDATION
Seeking continued support of professional learning initiatives at Westlake Academy.
ATTACHMENTS
Report Attachment
1
MEMORANDUM
DATE: August 6, 2018
TO: Honorable President and Board of Trustees Members
THROUGH: Mr. Tom Brymer, Town Manager/WA Superintendent
FROM: Dr. Mechelle Bryson, Executive Director
SUBJECT: House of Shine and College Readiness Support
“The world continues to change at an ever-increasing pace, which no longer is on a linear path, but an
exponential rate of change. Technology continues to advance and change the way in which we live,
and work, with everything from a robotic lifeguard who recently saved two swimmers in an Oregon
riptide, to a team of scientists who are closing in on how to print a 3D heart from a person’s own cells.
As the world continues to change, how have our schools been asked to respond? By adding more tests,
requirements, regulations, and rules to our existing 20th century school structure and continuing to
prepare students for an outdated world view of leaving K-12 education to enter college. As educators,
we need to focus on creating and embracing a transformational change to our culture and systems; we
are surrounded by endless transformative pressure – both internal and external – that will reshape
public education whether we choose to or not.” These words by Dr. Bill Dagget, founder and
chairman of the International Center for Leadership in education testify to the importance of preparing
our students to work and live in a world that has yet to be created. These are transformative times and
they require transformative action.
There is no doubt that Westlake Academy prepares students for college. Our current college
graduation data clearly demonstrates that our students are not only prepared for college but that they
are prepared with the necessary skills to graduate from college. The question becomes how do we
better prepare students to find their passion and arm them with the skills needed to transform their
world? In pondering this question, the Academy found its answer by partnering with a local
organization, House of Shine.
House of Shine is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to develop confident, engaged women and
children by providing leadership programs that raise self-awareness and are creative and experiential in
nature. Moreover, the House of Shine is a unique North Texas non-profit organization that delivers
leadership programs to educators, children and women, and empowers individuals to become more
confident and engaged by raising individual self-awareness. The House of Shine focuses
predominantly on helping participants understand their SHINE, strengths, hobbies, interests, needs,
and experiences, so that they can ignite their power within and, ultimately, change their worlds for the
better. Better yet, their task is to help participants understand their perfect point of intersection- the
place where they can use their talents and interests to fill any size need in their community.
2
Prior to the 2017-2018 school year, the collaboration between the House of Shine and Westlake
Academy was informal with the House of Shine presenting lessons to a few classrooms each year.
Beginning in the 2017-2018 school year, the collaboration between the House of Shine and Westlake
Academy was formalized. It became clear that the House of Shine’s program could assist the
Academy in strengthening their K-12 college readiness efforts. The Academy’s goal is and has been to
build an inspiring K-12 college readiness program. To do so, the Academy has identified that students
must engage in the following:
• Conversations about college;
• Discovering their passion;
• Identifying their strengths and interests;
• Familiarizing themselves with Naviance and how it could assist them in finding their passion
and their college search;
• Grasping the complexities of the college application and selection process;
• Understanding the challenges of the college financial aid process; and
• Cultivating the self-managing skills needed for a successful transition to college.
Prior to 2017-2018, the Academy was doing an impressive job of helping students understand the
college application and college selection process and conducting conversations about college. The
Academy had definitely built a strong college-going culture while working on improving students’
understanding of the financial realities of college. At the same time, the Academy was challenged by
getting students acquainted with Naviance earlier in the college application process and was struggling
with helping students find their passion.
The collaboration with the House of Shine was designed to assist the Academy’s students in
identifying their passion and to give students a reason to interact in Naviance. Within the last year, the
House of Shine facilitators, in collaboration with the Academy’s curriculum coordinators and teachers,
delivered the What’s Your Shine curriculum at Westlake Academy.
• House of Shine facilitators were on campus 31 days;
• House of Shine facilitators presented 24 lessons to 32 classrooms; and
• House of Shine assisted 280 students in accessing Naviance during a Shine modules
The following lessons were facilitated on the Westlake Academy campus by the House of Shine and
Westlake Academy coordinators and teachers:
• Kindergarten searched for SHINE treasure;
• Grade 1 identified characters of strengths and interests;
• Grade 2 created shoe shine for their hobbies;
• Grade 3 gave the gift of self;
• Grade 4 sealed SHINE capsules;
• Grade 5 learned their top three strengths;
• Grade 6 developed a brand you logo and tagline;
• Grade 7 discovered their Multiple Intelligences;
3
• Grade 8 explored their Holland Code;
• Grade 9 crafted a resume;
• Grade 10 found their point of intersection;
• Grade 11 made purchases in a values auction; and
• Grade 12 built a life map.
College readiness is more than academic excellence. In fact, there are four keys to college and career
readiness: content knowledge; transition knowledge and skills; learning skills and techniques and
cognitive strategies. It is not enough to simply prepare students for the rigors of college. We must also
prepare them for the critical thinking and life lessons that will guide their journey and lead them to
discover their passion. We must assist our student in understanding that if they powerfully believe in
the value of what they have to offer the world. Their love and passion for it will become an
unstoppable force by which they can create a better world for all.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Presentation and discussion regarding the 2018 Westlake Academy (WA)
student performance on International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced
Placement (AP) assessments.
b. Presentation and discussion regarding STARR and EOC results.
c. Presentation and discussion regarding Faculty Turnover, student/teacher ratios
for the 2017-2018 school year, including comparisons with surrounding districts
and IB charter schools for the 2017-2018 school year.
d. Presentation and Discussion Regarding Further discussion of a Process for
Capital Improvement Planning for Westlake Academy.
Board of
Trustees
Item # 5 – Discussion
Items
estlake Academy Board of Trustees
TYPE OF ACTION
Workshop - Discussion Item
Westlake Board Meeting
Monday, September 10, 2018
TOPIC: Presentation and discussion concerning the 2018 Westlake Academy
(WA) student performance on International Baccalaureate (IB) and
Advanced Placement (AP) assessments.
STAFF CONTACT: Stacy Stoyanoff, Secondary Principal
Dr. James Owen, DP Coordinator
Strategic Alignment
Vision, Value, Mission Perspective Curriculum Outcome
Objective
Academic Excellence Academic
Operations MYP / DP
Increase the Future
Readiness of All
Students
Strategic Initiative
Outside the Scope of Identified Strategic Initiatives
Time Line - Start Date: June 1, 2010 Completion Date: Ongoing
Funding Amount: N/A Status - Not Funded Source - N/A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (INCLUDING APPLICABLE ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY)
This presentation will examine and discuss the 2018 student performance on IB and AP
assessments. It will include data analysis in the context of IB global performance, AP global
performance, and WA historical trends.
RECOMMENDATION
Review and discussion of the data for our students.
ATTACHMENTS
To be presented during workshop
estlake Academy Board of Trustees
TYPE OF ACTION
Workshop - Discussion Item
Westlake Board Meeting
Monday, September 10, 2018
TOPIC: Presentation and discussion of the STAAR/EOC Results
STAFF CONTACT: Jennifer Furnish, Assistant Secondary Principal
Beckie Paquin, Assistant Primary Principal
Strategic Alignment
Vision, Value, Mission Perspective Curriculum Outcome
Objective
Vision: Westlake Academy
inspires college bound
students to achieve their
highest individual
potential in a nuturing
environment that fosters
the traits found in the IB
Learner Profile.
Academic
Operations PYP / MYP / DP
Increase the Future
Readiness of All
Students
Strategic Initiative
Outside the Scope of Identified Strategic Initiatives
Time Line - Start Date: August 17, 2017 Completion Date: June 1, 2018
Funding Amount: N/A Status - N/A Source - N/A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (INCLUDING APPLICABLE ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY)
The purpose of this discussion is to inform the Board of the 2017-2018 STAAR/EOC results and
provide an opportunity for the Board to gain an understanding of the status of Westlake
Academy’s academic progress on state mandated assessments for grades 3 through 11. The
ultimate aim is to disaggregate the data in order to measure the effectiveness of Westlake
Academy’s curriculum and instructional alignment across all IB programmes. Analysis will be
provided and areas of strength and weakness identified in order to build an organizational culture
where stakeholders use data continuously, collaboratively and effectively to improve the
academic performance of all students.
RECOMMENDATION
Review and discussion of the state assessment results.
ATTACHMENTS
To be presented during workshop.
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estlake Academy Board of Trustees
TYPE OF ACTION
Workshop - Discussion Item
Westlake Board Meeting
Monday, September 10, 2018
TOPIC: Presentation and discussion regarding Faculty Turnover, student/teacher ratios
for the 2017-2018 school year, including comparisons with surrounding
districts and IB charter schools for the 2017-2018 school year.
STAFF CONTACT: Todd Wood, Director of HR & Administrative Services
Strategic Alignment
Vision, Value, Mission Perspective Curriculum Outcome
Objective
Academic Excellence People, Facilities, &
Technology PYP / MYP / DP
Attract, Recruit &
Retain the Highest
Quality Workforce
Strategic Initiative
Outside the Scope of Identified Strategic Initiatives
Time Line - Start Date: August 1, 2017 Completion Date: August 1, 2018
Funding Amount: N/A Status - N/A Source - N/A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (INCLUDING APPLICABLE ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY)
At the direction of the Board of Trustees, staff prepares a report of teacher turnover and teacher/student
ratios on an annual basis. This report provides a comparison to Independent School Districts located
within Westlake’s municipal boundaries, charter schools in the DFW metroplex, and IB charter
schools within the state of Texas.
RECOMMENDATION
Review and discussion of presentation material during workshop.
ATTACHMENTS
None – presentation provided at meeting.
estlake Academy Board of Trustees
TYPE OF ACTION
Workshop - Discussion Item
Westlake Academy Board Meeting
Monday, September 10, 2018
TOPIC: Presentation and Discussion Regarding Further Discussion of a Process for
Capital Improvement Planning for Westlake Academy
STAFF CONTACT: Tom Brymer, Town Manager/Superintendent
Strategic Alignment
Vision, Value, Mission Perspective Curriculum Outcome
Objective
Respect for Self and
Others
Citizen, Student
& Stakeholder PYP / MYP / DP
Improve the
Efficiences of
Operational
Systems
Strategic Initiative
Outside the Scope of Identified Strategic Initiatives
Time Line - Start Date: N/A Completion Date: open ended
Funding Amount: N/A Status - N/A Source - N/A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (INCLUDING APPLICABLE ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY)
The WA Campus Facility Master Plan (Plan) was discussed as to the possibility of funding an
update to this Plan at the Budget Retreat last summer during preparation of the FY17-18 Budget.
No funding was included in the FY 17-18 Budget to retain professional services to update this
six-year old Plan, although the Council indicated willingness to consider funding it by
approaching the Texas Student Housing Association (TSHA) for such funding.
Prior to initiating such discussions with TSHA, Staff initiated a joint Town Council/Board of
Trustees workshop discussion on this topic of updating this Plan which was held on February 5,
2018. The purpose of this discussion was to obtain consensus on the scope of services for
updating the Plan prior to requesting any funding from the TSHA. Much discussion between
Staff and the Council/Board ensued on February 5th, with a consensus that further discussion on
this topic was needed.
Further discussion was held at the Board’s May 7, 2018 workshop. At this May 7th workshop
Staff presented a memorandum (attached) which contained recommendations for moving
forward on capital improvement planning at WA by:
• defining “immediate need” to identify WA capital project(s) that might be recommended
to address that immediate need,
• beginning to address medium and long-range projects via a process that considers
medium and long-range facility planning within the context of both reviewing the
existing Campus Facility Master Plan and any effort to re-visit and update that Plan, and
• creating an intersection and reconciliation of any identified immediate need capital
project with the Campus Facility Plan, either in its current form or as it may be revised
through an update process.
Additionally, Staff has been meeting since the May 7th workshop with a school
planning/architectural firm, Stantec, about the services their firm could provide that would assist
the Board/Council and Staff in this effort. Funds have been identified and proposed by Staff in
the recommended Town of Westlake Municipal Budget in the amount of $85,000 to fund this
master plan update/revision. Representatives from Stantec will be present at the workshop to
share their thoughts on their recommended steps for moving our process forward, as well as
services they provide clients to achieve that end.
RECOMMENDATION
Review the documents attached to this agenda memo and discuss at this workshop. Further,
recommend that the Board/Council determine its desire as to whether to move forward on this
process, and if so, determine what process does the Board/Council wish to utilize regarding how
to move this topic forward.
ATTACHMENT
1. Memo dated 5 3 18 from Superintendent outlining a proposed process for moving
forward on capital planning for Westlake Academy facilities.
2. Definition of “immediate need” created by the WA Instructional Leadership Team (ILT)
to use as a guide for identifying campus capital improvement projects believed by the
ILT to be needed now.
3. Highlights of qualifications and experience of Stantec regarding school campus/facility
planning and construction.
Page 1 of 4
MEMORANDUM
Date: May 1, 2018
TO: Honorable Mayor and Town Council/Board of Trustees
FROM: Tom Brymer, Town Manager/Superintendent
SUBJECT: Capital Improvement/Facility Planning for Westlake Academy
Background and Purpose of this Memorandum
WA campus facility master planning was discussed at a joint Town Council/Board
of Trustees workshop on February 5, 2018. Much discussion between Staff and
the Council/Board ensued, with a consensus that further discussion on this topic
was needed.
Specifically, the discussion on February 5th with the Council/Board focused on
the need and desire to re-address capital improvement planning for Westlake
Academy. Presently we have a multi-year Westlake Academy (WA) Campus
Facility Master Plan that was adopted by the Town Council on November 12,
2012 and by the Board of Trustees on November 5, 2012. Much time and effort
as well as financial resources were invested in this Plan. Since it has been
almost six years since it was approved and adopted, it is time to re-examine the
Plan again, if for no other reason than to make sure it is still meeting the Town’s
needs for its school, Westlake Academy.
The purpose of this memorandum is to outline a proposed process for
moving forward on capital planning for Westlake Academy facilities.
CIP Process Generally and How WA Facility Planning Fits into It
The purpose of the Town’s 5 Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is to be a
proactive tool that identifies projects for serious consideration that involve
investing in new infrastructure or investment in existing infrastructure. The CIP
tool is intended to achieve the outcome of insuring that the Town is
adequately planning for, and investing in, both its new and existing
infrastructure. Identification of capital project needs is important, so they can
be considered holistically in conjunction with the operating financial needs of the
Town in the annual budget. This in turn allows the Council/Board to make
balanced long-term decisions about both the Town’s services and its
Page 2 of 4
infrastructure within the context of the Town’s financial requirements and
financial condition.
As a subsidiary capital improvement plan, this current WA Campus Facility Plan
(Plan) identifies projects that may be needed over a defined planning period.
The importance of the Plan cannot be overstate d if for no other reason than it
allows the Town to avoid planning the campus in an incremental as opposed to a
long range, holistic fashion.
Once the Plan identifies projects (through a lengthy vetting process involving
Staff and the Council) and Council is agreed to begin tentatively considering
them, these projects are then placed in the Town’s overall 5 Year Capital
Improvement Plan.
The Town’s overall 5 Year CIP, in addition to possible WA capital projects,
contains a variety of other identified capital projects including streets and
drainage projects, fire stations and other public buildings, as well as parks other
public infrastructure. All this capital improvement planning must consider the
timing of projects, their priority, as well as the sources and uses of the financial
resources necessary to fund for them.
Recommended Process for Westlake Academy Capital/Facility Planning
Staff is recommending the Council/BOT’s consideration of a “three pronged”
approach, with parallel pathways conducted concurrently which ultimately
intersect, thus moving us forward in both the short in the long term.
First Step - Define and Identify Immediate WA Facility Needs. This requires
a definition that both the Staff and the Council/Board are in consensus with
regarding the term “immediate need” in the context of planning WA facility needs.
Leadership Team members at both WA and in the Municipal portion of the Town
organization have been working on such a definition. It is:
An immediate need for WA capital/facility planning is a facility need that, if
unaddressed over the next two years, will create an inability to fulfill WA’s VVM
while posing a substantial physical, social-emotional, and/or academic risk to the
success of the academy staff and/or students. To determine WA’s critical mass
the following criteria will be assessed using a risk-analysis model: compliance,
cost, and quality of student learning.
• Compliance includes federal and state guidelines, IB Standards and
Practices, strategic plan, and directives from the Board of Trustees.
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• Cost includes the actual financial outlay for each item being considered in
addition to costs associated with alternative service delivery opti ons.
• Quality of student learning refers to the ability of the academy to meet with
unique educational needs of all learners while ensuring successful
implementation of the IB curriculum.
Short term as used here would be a period from now through the next 2 years.
This definition of an “immediate need” project must create a “distillation” process
which results in what is basically a forced ranking, i.e. a project that is so
critical that WA’s ability to deliver educational services at the level it now
does, is clearly affected deleteriously. Further, the current WA facility plan
would also need to be reviewed to see if any of the Phase 2 and 3 projects
identified in it should be considered as immediate need projects .
Second Step - Begin the Medium and Long-Term Facility Planning Process
for WA while considering immediate need projects. This would involve the
following steps:
• Review of the Current WA Facility Plan- this review would have as its
objective to identify which projects in the current Plan are still viewed as
valid and which are not.
• For those projects viewed as still valid, seek agreement on their
timing. It is recommended a time frame category be assigned to these
projects still viewed as valid. This could be done several ways, but often
simpler is better when going through this exercise. For example, “medium
term” projects could be those with a 3-5-year time frame while long-term
projects could be those with a 5 year plus planning horizon.
• Retaining services of a school demographic forecasting firm to
review previous student population growth forecasts related to residential
growth in Westlake and make new forecasts based on this Westlake
residential growth. This effort is underway using SDS, a school
demographics analysis and forecasting firm that was used for the current
WA Campus Facility Plan.
• Deciding to use the services of a qualified school facilities planning
firm to assist in updating the WA Campus Facility Plan. These firms
are often architectural firms that design school facilities. It is important
that a selected firm understand WA in terms of the type of school it is and
what differentiates WA. The scope of this engagement would need to be
Page 4 of 4
refined, i.e. should the plan examine only what is being offered by WA
today or take a more future focus in terms of educational programming
that might be needed over the next 5-10 years? Is facility planning at WA
only going to focus on buildings, but other facility related planning needs
such as land?
Third Step - Intersection and Reconciliation of Immediate Needs Projects
with the Campus Facility Plan. This is especially important if the decision is
made to update the Plan for medium and long-range projects so that any
immediate need project(s) would not represent an impediment to t he execution of
longer term projects (or vice versa). This reconciliation would need to occur
concurrent to and early in the medium and long-range project planning process
so both processes could move forward in tandem and not conflict.
Conclusion
Any process for capital improvement planning has both pros and cons. The
recommended process outlined here certainly can be argued to have its pros and
cons as well. However, considering all the factors involved, this process has, in
Staff’s view, the strongest ability to move us forward in a manner best suited to
support the Town’s and WA’s vision, mission, and values. This process best
addresses the need to properly plan for Westlake Academy’s facility needs both
for the near term and over the next 5-10-year planning horizon.
1Stantec // Westlake Academy Information PacketStantec // Westlake Academy Information Packet
Professional History
Founded in 1945, Stantec is a fully integrated architecture, planning, and engineering firm dedicated to education. Stantec has eight
local Texas offices (4 of which are focused on educational architecture) and a history rich in education support.
Not only have we worked with over 400 districts, charter schools, and private schools in the State of Texas, but we have designed
over 1,550 projects worth over $9 billion for school clients across the nation.
While many architectural firms occasionally design schools, few can draw on the rich experiences and invaluable lessons learned by
designing schools and working with educators each and every day. Stantec takes pride in designing the best schools the nation has
to offer its children as we truly believe that education is the foundation to society. Educational design has always been and always
will be at the heart of our firm.
Our Purpose
We are architects, engineers, landscape architects, and interior designers who are also students, parents, and teachers. As
members of the community, we’re personally invested in it’s future and strive to create learning environments that inspire and move
it forward.
We work to deliver inspiring and functional designs that stimulate intellect and motivate students, while positively contributing to
the greater community.
National Experience, Local Expertise
The value of working with a leader in educational facility design is that you are assured of innovative design and exceptional results.
We are experts at delivering our clients’ projects on -time and in-budget. Further, as specialists in education we focus our resources
on developing innovative design solutions that draw upon the most successful strategies in K-12 education. These innovations
support your efforts to more successfully advocate for students, deliver effective education, and operate your schools in a cost
effective and efficient manner.
Research + Benchmarking
As a firm specializing in school architecture, Stantec emphasizes the importance of continued learning, especially in the rapidly
changing world of educational planning and design. A key part of this learning process is the Research and Benchmarking
program that focuses on particular building types and aspects of educational facility design. We make that investment to build
knowledge within the firm to benefit our clients and their projects. The R+B program allows our team to capture, share, and leverage
knowledge. At Stantec, we spend $1 million annually on internal research grants, and dedicate over 3,000 man hours each year to
our R+B Practice.
Firm Profile
2Stantec // Westlake Academy Information Packet
250+ Texas K12 Projects Within Last 3 Years
Stantec has been dedicated to serving our educational partners since 1945. Building long lasting
relationships with our clients is what we strive for - whether small renovation projects or large new
construction projects, we give the same attention to all of our projects. Helping our clients achieve their
educational and operational goals is our mission.
In the past ten years, we have provided architectural services for 1,841 educational facility projects,
included among these are over 800 projects for Texas school clients. From technology to athletics, fine arts
to large group instruction, and the associated support spaces in these facilities, we understand how good
design affects function, behavior and performance The DFW office of Stantec was opened in 1968 and has
served many Texas school districts over the last 50 years.
Engineering Firms
BD&C 2015
Top K-12 Design Firms
Architectural Record 2015
#1 400+
Number of Texas
School Clients
• Achievement Centers for Children
• Aliquippa School District - Feasibility Study
• Aquinas Academy - Gymnasium Addition
• Athol Murray College of Notre Dame Off-Ice Hockey Training Facility
• Beachwood City School District - Beachwood High School Renovation
• Bellwood-Antis School District - Myers Elementary School
• Bishop O’Connell High School Athletic Facilities Improvements
• Blackhawk School District - Middle/Senior High School and Field Upgrades
• Cambridge Montessori School Site Master Plan and Conceptual Study
• Canon McMillan High School Athletic Facilities
• Central Catholic High School - STEM Building
• Central Valley School District - Central Valley Primary Center
• Central Valley School District - Middle/High School
• Central Valley School District - Middle/High School Athletic Field Facilities
• Children of the Living Earth School
• Children’s International School
• Clay Academy
• Columbus City Schools - Georgian Heights Elementary School
• Conemaugh Valley School District
• Conemaugh Valley School District - Conemaugh Valley Elementary School
• Foothills Academy- Arch, ID
• French American School of New York - Campus Plan
• French American School of New York - Phase I
• GEMS American School
• GEMS Badrah School
• GEMS Wellington Academy - Dubai Silicon Oasis
• GEMS Wellington Primary School
• Good Shepherd Catholic School - Arch.
• Greiner Middle School (Arts Academy Addition)
• Groton-Dunstable Regional School District - North Middle School
• IDEA Public Charter School Health & Wellness Center
• Ideaventions Academy
90+ Private School K-12 Clients
3Stantec // Westlake Academy Information Packet
• La Salle College High School - Athletic Center
• La Salle College High School - Cafeteria and Kitchen Renovation and Addition
• La Salle College High School - McLean Hall
• Luther College High School
• Malvern Preparatory School, Center for the Performing and Creative Arts
• Notre Dame College: Centre of Excellence in Learning and Teaching
• O.V. Jewitt Community School
• Orville H. Platt High School
• P3 Sask Schools
• Philipsburg Osceola School District Middle School
• Point Park University - West Penn Hall Cinema Arts, Academic Thayer Hall, Library Programming, and
Various Projects
• Prestonwood Christian Academy
• Roger E. Wellington Elementary School
• Saint Joseph’s High School - Gymnasium Addition
• Saint Joseph’s High School - Science Lab
• Sandy Spring Friends School
• Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology-Comprehensive Facilities Assessment
• Sewickley Academy - Campus-Wide Improvements
• South Butler County School District - South Butler Primary School & District Offices
• St. Andrew’s Episcopal School - Kindergarten Center
• St. Andrew’s School - Major Capital Improvements
• St. Brendan Parish Center
• St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High School
• St. Gabriel Catholic School
• St. Jerome Elementary (Panorama)- Arch, ID
• St. John’s Ravenscourt (SJR) Addition and Renovations
• St. Mary’s Academy Master Planning and Redevelopment
• St. Mary’s University, Périgueux Hall
• St. Sebastian Elementary (Chaparral)- Arch, ID
• Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
• The Lab School of Washington
• The Neighborhood Academy
• The Wellington School - Master Plan
• Titusville Area School District - Pleasantville Elementary School
• Tucson Unified School
• University of Alberta Sector 12 Implementation Guidelines
• Wendler Middle School Renovation Phase 2
• Wilmington Friends School Master Plan
• Yuying Replacement Secondary School, Beijing Haidian District Education Commission
• École Constable Edward Finney School
• École Leila North Community School
• École Monseigneur de Laval Pavillon Secondaire Renovations
4Stantec // Westlake Academy Information Packet
Adrian Public Schools
Airport Community Schools
Alamo Heights ISD
Aldine ISD
Alief ISD
Alvin ISD
Amarillo ISD
Argyle ISD
Austin ISD
Bandera ISD
Beaumont ISD
Bellville ISD
Belton ISD
Birdville ISD
Boerne ISD
Brazos ISD
Brownsboro ISD
Brownsville ISD
Burleson ISD
Caddo Mills ISD
Calallen ISD
Canadien ISD
Carrizo Springs CiSD
Carrllton-FB ISD
Celina ISD
Center Point ISD
Central ISD
Chapel Hill ISD
Chisum ISD
Clear Creek ISD
Cleburne ISD
College Station ISD
Columbia-Brazoria ISD
Comal ISD
Comanche ISD
Comfort ISD
Conroe ISD
Coppell ISD
Corpus Christi ISD
Crockett ISD
Cy-Fair ISD
Dallas ISD
Del Valle ISD
Denton ISD
Dickinson ISD
Duncanville ISD
Eagle Pass ISD
Eanes ISD
Edinburg ISD
Elgin ISD
Ennis ISD
Flatonia ISD
Forney ISD
Fort Bend ISD
Fort Worth ISD
Frenship ISD
Frisco ISD
Galena Park ISD
Ganado USD
Garland ISD
Georgetown ISD
Giddings ISD
Grand Prarie ISD
Grape Greek Pulliam ISD
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
Greenville ISD
Gregory Portland ISD
Harlandale ISD
Harlingen CISD
Hays CISD
Henrico ISD
Hildalgo ISD
Highland Park ISD
Hitchcock ISD
Houston ISD
Huffman ISD
Humble ISD
Irving ISD
Jourdanton ISD
Judson ISD
Katy ISD
Keller ISD
Kerrville ISD
Kilgore ISD
Killeen ISD
Klein ISD
La Feria ISD
La Joya ISD
Lago Vista ISD
Lamar CISD
LaMarque ISD
Lancaster ISD
Lewisville ISD
Little Elm ISD
Lockhart ISD
Los Fresnos ISD
Luling ISD
Lytle ISD
Manor ISD
Mansfield ISD
Marble Falls ISD
Maypearl ISD
McAllen ISD
McKinney ISD
Melissa ISD
Mercedes ISD
Midlothian ISD
Midway ISD
Montgomery ISD
Moody ISD
Needville ISD
New Braufels ISD
New Caney ISD
New Waverly ISD
Nixon-Smiley ISD
North East ISD
North Lamar ISD
Northside ISD
Northwest ISD
Olathe USD
Orangefield ISD
Palacios ISD
Pearland ISD
Pflugerville ISD
Pharr San Juan Alamo ISD
Plainview ISD
Plano ISD
Port Isabel ISD
Port Neches-Groves ISD
Princeton ISD
Prosper ISD
Quinlan ISD
Randolph Field ISD
Rice ISD
Richardson ISD
Robstown ISD
Rockwall ISD
Round Rock ISD
Salado ISD
San Antonio ISD
San Diego ISD
San Felipe-Del Rio CISD
Santa Fe ISD
Sheldon ISD
Sherman ISD
Somverville ISD
Sonora ISD
South Texas ISD
Southlake-Caroll ISD
Southside ISD
Spendora ISD
Spring Branch ISD
Spring ISD
Springtown ISD
Stafford MSD
Sweeney ISD
Temple ISD
Texarkana ISD
Tidehaven ISD
Tomball ISD
Tuloso Midway ISD
Tyler ISD
United ISD
Van Vleck ISD
Victoria ISD
Wall ISD
Waller ISD
Waxahachie ISD
Weslaco ISD
West Oso ISD
Whitesboro ISD
Whitewright ISD
Whitney ISD
Willis ISD
Wylie ISD
Zapata County ISD
A Sample of Texas School District Clients
5Stantec // Westlake Academy Information Packet
LOCATION: Coppell, Texas
SIZE: 95,633 SF
COST: $20,210,000
CAPACITY: 735
SERVICES: Long Range Planning, Bond Planning, Architecture, Interior Design,
Structural Engineering, Technology Design
Richard J. Lee Elementary School
Coppell ISD
award-winning facility where grades are organized into
smaller learning communities with a central collaboration
space. Within each community, break-out spaces balance
group and individualized learning opportunities. Furniture,
technology, and an outdoor learning lab are just a few of
the notable design features that promote learning
everywhere, and support maximum flexibility for the
learning environments.
Designing one of the country’s first Net-Zero-Ready
elementary schools where non-traditional learning
environments can thrive was an amazing challenge that
our team gladly accepted and executed for Lee
Elementary School.
This District was ready to transition from a traditional
prototype to one that is flexible and 21st-century ready,
and relied on our expertise to guide them, and their
community through the entire process. The result is an
Currently the highest performing school in the United
States, Lee Elementary School’s Net-Zero energy usage
provides an annual savings of $76,000, enabling the Dis-
trict to relocate the savings back into the classroom.
Stars of Distinction
2015 TASA/TASB
Grand Prize Award
2016 Learning by Design
Caudill Award
2015 TASA/TASB
Net Zero School
LEED Gold
Highland Park Independent School District (HPISD) is a
top performing district. Most of the schools in this
affluent districts date back to the 1950’s and are well
loved by their residents. However, a lot of their facilities
have reached the end of their useful life, both from a
facilities perspective, as well as an educational
appropriateness view. HPISD has decided to replace 3 of
their 4 Elementary Schools, and build an additional
Elementary School. This is the Design Development
renderings and plans of the new elementary school.
Located in a very small site, just over four acres, the
academic wing is 3 stories and parking is in a
underground garage.
LOCATION: Dallas, TX
SIZE: 144,309 SF (including parking garage below grade)
COST: $26,249,081
CAPACITY: 800
SERVICES: Architecture, Interior Design, MEP Engineering, Structural Engineering
Elementary School #5
Highland Park ISD
7Stantec // Westlake Academy Information Packet
LOCATION: Houston, Texas
SIZE: 47,500 SF
COST: $12,439,476
CAPACITY: 2,200
SERVICES: Long Range Planning, Bond Planning, Architecture, Interior Design,
Structural Engineering, Technology Design
Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
with easy access to food services.
Classrooms, studios, art labs, conference rooms, and the
spirit store are housed in a three-story block with student
common spaces integrated throughout. Acting not only
as a destination for many student functions, the facility
includes a bell tower, providing a prominent religious
symbol visible throughout the grounds and identifying the
primary point of entry to the central campus. Clean,
simple and positioned at the very heart of campus, the
Chapel’s interior makes its own architectural statement.
Three existing stained glass windows from the original
buildings on campus were relocated and utilized within
the new Chapel to help weave the school’s history into the
new design.
“Light, airy and collegiate” were the first words used by
Strake Jesuit staff to describe the design aspirations for
this new facility. The main thrust of the design was to
meet those goals, create an iconic image for a school
which reflects their strong culture and tradition, and to
boost campus and student connectivity.
From the point of entry to the central campus, this design
enhances critical school functions and reinforces the
history and caliber of the Society of St. Ignatius and the
Jesuit Community. The plan is visually very open with a
central atrium connecting the new Student Center and
Chapel to an existing 1950’s gym. Identifiable by its wood
bow-string truss design, the gym was repurposed for the
new 600+ seat student dining hall. The dining hall doubles
as a special events assembly that can easily house 1000+
Golden Trowel
Honor Award
2009 Associated Masonry
Contractors of Houston
Clay Academy is a college preparatory school where
children are molded to achieve greatness through a focus
on the “whole child”— spiritually, academically, athletically,
artistically and technologically. Founded in 1998 by
Bishop T.D. Jakes, of The Potter’s House of Dallas, Clay
Academy currently serves Pre-K through ninth-grade
students. In addition, Clay Academy plans to extend its
program through the twelfth grade over the next few
years.
As the anchor and landmark for the Clay Academy
campus, the 66,540 square foot main hall creates an
identity and presence for the school within its community
of Capella Park and the City of Dallas. The stately
two-story structure has a vocabulary reminiscent of
traditional Georgian architecture. It houses the campus
administrative area, the campus community library, a
lecture hall and educational spaces for upper school
students. Those include classrooms, seminar rooms,
learning labs with individual work areas for teachers and
students, science labs, computer labs and a distance
education lab.
Phase Two of the facility includes finish out of the 26,090
square foot second floor of the building, a learning center,
the campus gateway, an amphitheater and a media
center. The construction of the second phase is
scheduled around class times and will span several years.
LOCATION: Dallas, TX
SIZE: 44,450 SF (Phase 1)
COST: $10,700,000
CAPACITY: 416 (Phase 1)
SERVICES: Architecture, Interior Design, MEP Engineering, Structural Engineering
Clay Academy
The Potter’s House
9Stantec // Westlake Academy Information Packet
LOCATION: Austin, Texas
SIZE: 30,000 SF
COST: $7,200,000 (Phase I)
CAPACITY: 865
SERVICES: Master Planning, Programming, Architecture, Interior Design, Structural
Engineering
St. Gabriel’s Catholic School Phase I-II
Cohesiveness was the main goal when designing the
addition to St. Gabriel’s campus. The designer paid close
attention to the materials used to ensure the addition was
aesthetically consistent with the existing buildings.
Daylighting was one of the vital aspects that drove the
design from the beginning. To utilize outdoor space and
remain budget conscious, an amphitheater was designed
to create a physical and visual connection between
indoors and outdoors.
The addition utilized recycled materials, which teaches
students good practice through sustainability. An outdoor
science center for the lower school and green roof on the
new addition were added, implementing student learning
by growing native plants.
Since 2004, Stantec has served St. Gabriel’s Catholic
School. Currently, we are providing planning and design
services for a 30,000 SF addition to the existing campus
with light renovations of the entry and dining spaces.
The new chapel will become the focus of the learning
commons with a 30’ tall stained glass cross terminating a
200’ corridor. The learning stair spills into the chapel next
to the media center. The design includes varied breakout
spaces, LGI, new classrooms and a featured makerspace.
The third floor administrative spaces have a balcony and
views that overlook the Texas hill country.
Completed in 2007, Stantec designed a new middle
school building addition to the existing campus.
Stantec rose to the challenge and met FASNY’s request to
creatively develop an intelligent and sustainable design
for their new school.
Stantec was commissioned by the French American
School of New York (FASNY) with the challenge to rethink
their current plan focusing on intelligent, sustainable,
integrated, compelling design with tight budgetary
constraints. We met our client’s challenge, allowing the
project to move forward with a design that embodies
FASNY’s culture and vision for 21st century teaching and
learning for the French Baccalaureate curriculum.
Our integrated A/E team orchestrated a “Deep Dive”
consisting of workshops with faculty, parents, students,
administrators and trustees. These meetings allowed us
to capture the essence of the project in a very short
amount of time, allowing FASNY to maintain their
aggressive planning and approvals schedule. The result is
a design that allows the land to influence the placement
of buildings to minimize construction impacts on the site
and maintain existing land forms and mature trees.
Flexible learning environments are planned for both
interior and exterior spaces with strategic glazing and site
lines to connect students to the exterior and put “learning
on display”. Additionally, the structure and infrastructure is
designed to allow FASNY to reconfigure the building for
future curricular needs.
LOCATION: Mamaroneck, New York
SIZE: 112,000 SF
COST: $47,000,000
SERVICES: Architecture, Planning, Interior Design, MEP Engineering, Structural Engineering
French American School of New
York
11Stantec // Westlake Academy Information Packet
LOCATION: Olathe, Kansas
SIZE: 375,000 SF
COST: $75,000,000
CAPACITY: 2,500
SERVICES: Design Architect (In association with Hollis+Miller)
Olathe West High School
Olathe Unified School District
distributed among four learning communities, with
separate student neighborhoods and space for
administration and support staff. The classrooms are
oriented toward a more project-focused lesson plan and
will be built with flexible furniture so they can be arranged
for large and small group classes, including:
• Active learning spaces for direct instruction.
• Blended learning, flexible spaces for project-based
lessons.
• Maker spaces for hands-on classes.
The high school also includes a performing arts center,
complete with a large auditorium and a smaller black box
theater called the flex theater. It also will have three
gymnasium spaces and a number of practice fields for
soccer, baseball, softball, football and tennis.
Vision: Future learning and teaching is “driven by the
student, facilitated by caring adults, supported by mentors
and peers, with the parents and community as partners.
Students explore and develop skills through inquiry and
curiosity in a shell that blends context and outcomes.
Olathe West is a three-story, 375,000 SF High School that
focuses on 21st century learning, which emphasizes the
use of technology; open, modular learning spaces; and
collaboration among students.
Olathe West is centered around a three-story entry area
called the learning commons. That area will have student
gathering spaces and will connect to the media center,
which will be open rather than closed, and the four wings,
called learning communities, where students will attend
regular classes.
The school is designed for 2,000 students that will be
To continue Central Catholic’s tradition of academic
excellence, we were engaged in 2013 to design a new
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
building. The 25,600 square foot facility encourages their
current programs for Technology/Robotics, Physics,
Chemistry, Biology, and Math to integrate into a cohesive
STEM curriculum. Promoting community within the
school, the new classroom building connects the
academic areas of the campus to the athletic buildings
and fields. Science and faith is prominently featured in the
building’s aesthetics. Central’s Catholic identity and the
Church’s scientific contributions are apparent in the
building’s design.
Education happens outside of the classrooms and labs.
The new STEM building is a practical example of
technology and energy efficiency. Collaboration spaces
allows students and faculty to interact outside the
classrooms and labs.
LOCATION: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
SIZE: 25,646 SF
COST: $12,029,715
SERVICES: Architecture, Interior Design, MEP Engineering, Structural Engineering
Central Catholic High School
STEM Building
13Stantec // Westlake Academy Information Packet
LOCATION: Plano, Texas
SIZE: 56,000 SF
COST: $15,300,000
CAPACITY: 440
SERVICES: Architecture, Interior Design, MEP Engineering, Structural Engineering
Prestonwood Christian Academy
introduced between the new building and existing building
that provides ample opportunities for numerous views to
the water. In addition, this learning stair makes a strong
connection from the Entry Lobby to the outdoor Dining
Plaza located next to the water’s edge between the Dining
Commons and the new Middle School building
The Middle School educational program is organized
around a central rectilinear flex and collaboration space.
Classrooms, an Innovation Room, and a Makers Space
surround a flex space providing an integrated learning
commons for grades 5 and 6 on one floor, and grades 7
and 8 on the upper floor. The intent was to put education
on display, both from an internal organizational
perspective, and from the exterior which allows the
Church campus as a whole to see education at work.
Stantec was tasked with adding a new Middle School at
Prestonwood Christian Academy, a part of Prestonwood
Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. Stantec took to heart
PCA’s desire to create a new “front door” for its
educational academy -- A collection of undistinguished
tilt-up concrete buildings housing an Upper School and a
Young Adult Leadership Center.
A new 2-story rectilinear Entry Lobby anchors the exterior
entry court and connects the new Middle School to the
Upper School and Leadership Center. This Entry Lobby
introduces a crucial security point for the schools and
contains a new campus bookstore and coffee bar.
Stantec, as well as the Client, desired as much
transparency for views from the new lobby and school as
possible. Therefore, a new exterior Learning Stair is
BOARD RECAP / STAFF DIRECTION
Board of
Trustees
Item # 6 – Board Recap /
Staff Direction
Board of
Trustees
Item # 7 – Adjournment
Work Session