Kids take crack at new school blueprints

When it comes to the design, wants and needs of Brandon Valley’s next elementary school, district administrators turned to those that have a vested interest in the school itself: The kids.

Without having to open the checkbook, the youngsters let their imaginations run wild with wants.

Think hot tub, indoor pool – with lanes, a garden and craft room, an auditorium for performance arts, and even a room where students could go to simply relieve stress.

Last week, Superintendent Dr. Jarod Larson, business manager Paul Lundberg and curriculum director Sherri Nelson heard building plan presentations from teams of Fred Assam Elementary fourth graders. The presentations were the culmination of an approximate three-week STEM-based unit that involved every grade level.

“It’s great stuff,” said Lundberg, who added he was overly impressed by their ideas.

Kim Skibsted, district STEM/technology integrationist, said she chose this topic for the first large-scale STEM project “because it’s real for them and this makes it relevant to them.”

“They now get to have a say, or they think they get to have a say in the new school, even the fourth graders knowing that they’re going to the intermediate building. But we talked about future buildings because this isn’t the last one that’s going to be built. They have lots of great ideas, they have imaginations and are getting creative with it, and it’s been really fun to see,” she said

Each grade was challenged with either architectural design or the engineering process, Skibsted explained.

Kindergarteners, for example, talked about playground equipment. Based on the playground at FAE, they provided suggestions on how they would add to or improve upon the equipment. 

First graders were tasked with what could be added to the community surrounding the future elementary school. Their visions came to life in model cities the youngsters created using empty milk cartons, construction paper, Duct tape and of course, their imaginations.

Second-graders had a hands-on approach to the school-wide project.

“They went out and actually surveyed the playground to see how many kids could fit on the equipment to see if we need more equipment than we have here, which helped the kindergarteners out,” Skibsted said. “They also had some say in things they would add once they surveyed the playground and determined how many people they could have on the monkey bars or the slides, for example.”

Finally, FAE third graders discussed a room that is needed in the third-grade wing. 

“They focused on the room and why they would need it,” Skibsted said. 

And fourth grade, they took the unit to the next level with actual blueprints and figuring related costs.

The STEM unit kicked off with classroom visits from two architects from Architecture Incorporated, the Sioux Falls firm that is designing Sparta Elementary.

“They came in and started the whole project,” Nelson explains. “They showed the kids images from the new school, brought in their VR goggles to give them an inside look, and then helped them start their blueprints.”

The students, Nelson said, were fully engaged from day one “and they had many questions,” she added.

Along with designing space for music rooms, a gymnasium, classrooms, bathrooms and more, students were also tasked with researching costs for the planned amenities.

That led to some surprises.

“I think the biggest discovery for both myself and the kids would be cost,” Nelson said. “That has been a big ‘aha’ moment for them. They think they want water slides or this or that, but then it comes down to ‘Oh, no,

that costs a lot of money.’”

The students also learned about teamwork.

“This has been a challenge for them, not only the project itself, but working together and making decisions together. That’s a big part of the project itself is just the process and working together,” Skibsted said. 

A team of students in Noelle Sunne’s classroom proposed an eight-person hot tub and a chlorine-treated swimming pool with lanes that would require just one lifeguard.

Their reasoning for the sole guard: “The pool’s not that big and there won’t be that many people in the pool at the same time.”

Another group developed the idea, “Stuff for snow” that would provide boxes of winter boots, hats, gloves, etc., for kids in need of them during school recess time. They estimated the cost to storage boxes and the boots, hats, gloves, etc., at $19,829.

Dr. Larson questioned what the material the boxes would be made of and how the items would be accounted for. Again, the kids were quick to answer: The boxes, made from plastic materials – because cardboard can break easier and it can get wet – and would be red and black in color. Security cameras, they added, would keep watch over the boxes and content.

“I appreciate your utilization of the school colors – Lynx pride, good job!” Larson complimented. 

An idea for a ‘nurse junior room’ proposed by a team in Sarah Harte’s fourth-grade classroom piqued Lundberg’s interest, so much so, he told them, “‘You know, that’s kind of a good idea. I might keep that one in mind.’”

“That’s what I told the kids,” Skibsted said. “I told them, ‘You never know. They might like something.’”

With the nurse’s office oftentimes overcrowded, the nurse junior room would give students a room to wait in until their parents pick them up. 

The idea of a craft room wasn’t totally out of the question, Lundberg said, explaining the library in the new elementary school may be outfitted with couches, comfy chairs.

“Maybe,” he stressed, “that will be my compromise.”

Another group offered up the idea of an auditorium, complete with dressing rooms and bathrooms and an access door to the football field.

They estimated the price tag at $753,000.

“Auditoriums are very expensive, guys,” he said, “and that one will be hard to do in elementary schools. I’m probably not going to get you an auditorium, but I’ll see what I can do about the football field. I’ll try to do my best to try and incorporate some of their suggestions, even the big dream items like a hot tub. They’re very expensive. They’re more expensive teachers.”

Skibsted said it was important for the students to receive feedback on their ideas from district administrators.

“The students are very creative. Like I said, they have an imagination, and they actually do have some very great ideas and input for their school. It helps them take ownership of it and to have an audience, someone who they think is important come in and listen to their ideas, I think that’s important. I also think it’s important they have great questions. Paul Lundberg challenges them in a different way and Dr. Larson had great questions as well, things that maybe I wouldn’t think of, and so they see it from a different perspective.”

The STEM unit also piqued a few kids’ interest in pursuing careers in architecture and engineers. 

“I heard one say, ‘Well, I want to be an architect now.’ And I’m like, yeah! Goal achieved,” Skibsted said.