[ Excerpts (modified) from the Commission's Report ]
The Batavia Facilities Study
Commission began meeting in February 2004 with the goal of assessing
whether program and facility expansion at Batavia High School might
be necessary to maintain and improve the quality of education in
Batavia. This group was open to any resident of the school district,
and participants engaged in studying the facility needs for general
classrooms, physical education/athletics, fine arts, and general
infrastructure and support areas. The commission used the following
methods to study the issues:
- Curriculum and facilities presentations by Batavia High School faculty and staff
- Site visits to school districts for comparison and research
- Large group Q & A sessions to introduce and assess general issues
- Small group workforces to examine and address specific issues
- Review committee to summarize and produce reports
Through this process it was determined that Batavia High School achieves a high degree of excellence in academic performance and growth experiences but not always under the best of physical circumstances. It was generally determined that limitations in facility size and availability can compromise the school's ability to provide its students optimum quality education. Focus was placed on finding ways to strengthen and sustain the core programming of the high school while improving the overall quality of the scholastic experience.
The Commission is providing information to the Batavia School Board
and community at large so
that people have an opportunity to judge for themselves the potential
value of expanded facilities
and programs. This also accommodates program changes, current needs
and enrollment growth.
This information will include the feedback, response and recommendations
of the Batavia Facilities
Study Commission.
There is urgency to take action as there are specific
windows of opportunity
related to election cycles as well as a pressing opportunity to
purchase land adjacent to the high
school from the Mooseheart property. The Batavia Facilities Study
Commission therefore
has begun the next phase of the facility planning to continue with
the high school expansion project.