Attendees: Tracey Hamilton, Ruth Milner, Jim Shepherd, Delilah Walsh, Don Weinkauf, Karin Williams, Russell Wrenn

Absent: Cecilia McCord, Pete Whiteis

Scribe: Ruth Milner

1. Old Business
   • Overhead utility lines: Delilah Walsh – Socorro Electric has moved the power lines to a new pole across the street from CVCS. Phone and cable companies were contacted but have elected not to change anything at this time. (Not required.) Item complete.
   • Soil compaction test: Russell Wrenn – No update from the NMT professor who offered to advise; however Kent recommended having 5 bores done: one for each classroom pod and two for E Pod. These should be done soon so the pod locations can be finalized.
   • CVCS in SCS District facilities plan: Karin Williams – No updates on the district plan; Karin will check with Cheryl Wilson re progress on this.
   • E Pod Legislative committee meetings: Karin Williams – Karin learned recently from Sharon Ball that the meeting CVCS needs to be part of will not be held until March. Some other things need to be done to prepare for that meeting. She will work with Sharon and keep tabs on this.
   • Project Manager: Jim Shepherd – Some modifications have been made to the text of the RFP, but we will hold off on issuing it until we know whether the builder will include this service in the contract.
   • E Pod drawings: Kent Beierle – These have been given lower priority than getting the modulars underway.
2. New Business
   • Review B Pod classroom design: Jim displayed a Sketchup file showing the latest design for the K-3 classroom pod while we talked with Kent on a conference phone. No written specifications were presented at the meeting. Committee members liked the layout of staggered rectangles with different earth-toned exterior colors and a courtyard in the center. Classrooms for 1st through 3rd grades are 26' square; kindergarten is slightly larger. Each classroom has a door off the courtyard and an additional door to the outside, where a small patio or garden area could be located for class use. The design shows a translucent PV array that doubles as a shade structure over the open courtyard; this was visually appealing as well as functional. B Pod comprises 5 "modules" (4 classrooms and a shared bathroom/utility area) which would be constructed in a total of 9 pieces. Members had a few questions/comments:
   • Roofs: Pros and cons of pitched roofs vs the flat roofs shown. Flat roofs are easier to build and are more conducive to adding "green" features. They also would not cause height problems for transportation of the modules, whereas a pitched roof would probably have to be framed separately and/or added on-site. Kent noted that the flat roofs would use white thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membranes. There was some discussion of "green" roofs beyond insulation, e.g. rooftop gardens. Doing something like this would require the roof to be stronger. The committee suggested that the roofs be built so they could support this type of use to keep our future options open, and also to build in a few ducts to allow the installation of solar heating panels. It would also need to allow rainwater to run off and be collected.
   • Passive heating/cooling: The design shows trombe walls near each classroom. Kent explained that these would be connected through underground ducting to the crawlspace beneath the classrooms, and that a small fan in each one would ensure movement of warm air. A couple of committee members expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of trombe walls. Members did like the vine-covered screens shown to the west of classroom windows, which would be inexpensive and pleasant to look at.
   • Lighting: Is the natural lighting available through the windows adequate to avoid turning lights on most of the time? Kent pointed out that although the windows do not look large in the overall design, the scale is such that most are actually 5' high and 10' long, and should provide plenty of light. His goal is for lights to never be needed during the daytime.
   • Built-ins: It was pointed out that the final design should include some built-ins or other equipment, to cover more things with the lease. However we also want to allow some flexibility for the teachers to arrange their rooms.
   • Courtyard: Would noise from the courtyard be disruptive to other classes if one class was working there? Kent thinks not because the surfaces would most likely be stucco, which should absorb sound fairly well. There was some discussion about how to make use of the courtyard space, for example, for hanging coats (though it would need to be covered properly). Also, built-in tables and benches may not be the best way to go, especially if funds and time are an issue initially. A couple of picnic tables with a gravel surface could do the job and would be more flexible, at least until the teachers have some experience making use of the space.
   Overall the committee liked the basic design and recommended that, pending Governing Council approval, Kent could move ahead with getting quotes from the manufacturers.

SUMMARY OF ACTION ITEMS:

• Present B Pod design to Governing Council at Nov 14 meeting, with recommendation to proceed (Jim Shepherd)
• Cost and information for compaction testing before the next scheduled facilities meeting (Russell Wrenn)
• Update CVCS site plan in the District's plan and keep a look out for the Interim Committee Request for the PSCOC Meeting in March (Karin Williams)