UA, elementary agree to build outdoor learning environment
Posted on Sunday, September 30, 2007
The Fayetteville Board of Education approved a contract agreement with the University of Arkansas at its meeting Thursday evening, but the agreement had nothing to do with Fayetteville High School.
The contract deals with an agreement between Washington Elementary School and the UA School of Architecture to build a new “ outdoor learning environment ” at the school.
The learning environment is scheduled to go on the north side of the school by its playground area.
“ We’re actually creating more usable space, ” said Jim Halsell of the Washington Parent Teacher Organization.
Principal Ashley Garcia and Halsell said the PTO had been saving funds for several years to do the project. Garcia said she can recall discussing the idea shortly after becoming principal eight years ago.
“ We’ve given the university design team $ 35, 000 from the Washington PTO, ” Halsell said.
It should be beneficial to the university students as well, Garcia said, by offering them a hands-on building experience. The students are scheduled to work under UA assistant professor Michael Hughes.
“ It’s an opportunity for them to see what happens after the project is complete, ” Associate Superintendent Randy Willison said.
“ We’ve had good designs. We’ve never had the means to build it, ” Garcia said.
A final design has not yet been decided upon, but the school has developed some illustrations for what the outdoor learning environment could look like. It includes a small courtyard with steps and a roof overhang for a gathering place.
The contract states it is the “ shared expectation ” of both parties that construction will take place off and on for 12 months following the signing of the contract.
Other terms of the contract include that the school provide reasonable access to restrooms, tap water and parking for the university students while they are working. Willison said these are the same type of accommodations they make for professional workers when outside contractors are hired.
“ I’m sure my children will say, ‘ Why didn’t we have this when I was at Washington, ’” school board member Tim Hudson said.
The university has partnered with schools in the past to develop “ learning environment” projects.
In 2005, a group of UA engineering students redesigned an atrium courtyard at Leverett Elementary School with features focusing on the flow of water.
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