Building Bright Futures FAQ

How does the campus expansion and renovation project fit into the school's strategic plan? How are we addressing the other priorities?

The project is fully aligned with our strategic plan, which set as a priority goal to have a permanent campus that meets the program needs of a school of 200 students. Our other strategic goals are being met incrementally through the annual operating budget.

Does this project provide the facility Sage will need for the next 10, 20, 50 years?

The facility we are planning reflects the current conditions we are now facing. It is in many ways a chance to pay ourselves back for the wonderful success we have experienced. Once this project is complete, we will need to enter into another evaluation and planning cycle to address the needs of the next 10, 20, 50 years.

Are there any ancillary benefits the school may realize as a result of the project (i.e., auxiliary revenue opportunities, Summer programs)?

We are preparing to rent the gym facility on a regular basis during evening and weekend hours. In addition, we continue to evaluate the Summer program and after-school programs to determine how to better support our current student population and in what areas we might expand to realize auxiliary revenue.

Are we allocating money for the right project at this time?

Absolutely. It is exciting to think how quickly the programs in the school have matured. This is a case where we are tripping over our own success. Expanding and renovating our space is necessary to maintain and increase the depth and breadth of our programming. Students and staff will benefit directly and immediately from this project. These space issues need to be resolved immediately, and this is the most permanent and forward-looking solution.

Why are we phasing the project, and why have we prioritized the phases as we have?

The project is being phased for two reasons. First, we need to build new space in order to move the arts and athletic functions out of the current building. Once those classes are moved, we can begin to reconfigure and renovate the current building. The second reason is that we need the new space now to support immediate program needs, so by spending the money as we raise it rather than waiting until the campaign is complete, we can address our needs in the timeliest fashion.

How does the school plan to ensure the safety of our children and families during the construction?

We will work closely with the construction manager, and all of the building professionals, to ensure that the safety of all members of The Sage School community is the utmost priority during the entire building process.

Do we anticipate any interruptions in our program or after-school offerings during the project?

We have already made changes to our recess and afterschool programs and to our fire drill and safety plans to ensure our students are able to learn and play in safe and appropriate areas. We also recognize there may be times when we will have to be flexible when construction work causes noise or traffic disruptions which impact our routines. We believe the long-term benefits of the new space greatly outweigh the temporary inconveniences we may experience.

Our Summer Sage program will be relaunched in 2009.

What will happen to the playground and field space?

The plans include a playground and a full-sized athletic field. While our play spaces will be temporarily restricted during the construction process, the playground will be resited at the conclusion of construction. Our fields will be reconfigured to accommodate a larger soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse space rather than maintaining the baseball diamond.

What is meant by layered spaces?

Layered space is another way of describing space that is multi-functional. The alternative is dedicated space. In the case of dedicated space, each area is designed and used for a single function. The benefit of a small school is that everyone knows each other and works together to achieve a common goal. Our philosophy of teaching expects an integrated approach to content delivery. We also incorporate the fact that students learn best by interacting with other students. Layering of space forces us to “share” space and thus, interact with our peers and colleagues in a way that supports our educational philosophy.

Finally, layered space is efficient; as a small school facing issues related to economy of scale, this is a wise financial decision.

How will the Commons be used?

The Commons will be used primarily for dining and for “break-out” meeting and teaching space. It will be designed in such a way that architectural elements will create smaller spaces within the larger space. The furniture will be movable to allow for larger gatherings as well.

Is the proposed kitchen adequate for our needs?

The kitchen will be designed to continue providing options for students to purchase lunch at school. Our initial research indicates that a student population of 200 will not support an in-house food service and thus we will not be installing a full institutional kitchen facility. However, we will be exploring options for bringing a modified food service in-house and the kitchen will be outfitted to support this goal.

How will the stage area be used? Where will performances and large gatherings be held?

We are still in the design and development stages of the renovation plans; however, it looks like the stage will be preserved as part of the library. It will continue to be used as the focal point for many gatherings and presentations, and most of the library furniture will be on casters to allow us maximum flexibility.

While we can imagine using the stage for some future performances, we recognize that the stage is sorely lacking as the primary venue. There are significant issues regarding the line of sight and quality of sound for the audience. In addition, the current stage is undersized. Thus, we are considering other options for performances and gatherings.

At this time, we are expecting that our Friday morning meetings will be held in the gym.

Will the openness of the library present any drawbacks?

The advantage of the open concept library is that all of the Prime classrooms and some of the Junior classrooms open into it and allow for the layering of space. The direct access to the library will increase the use of the resources there. It will also allow teachers to make use of the space for small pull-out groups.

The architects will look to mitigate acoustic issues and the impact of foot traffic through the space by using specific design elements.