Royal School board seeks community input, ideas

ROYAL CITY — The Royal School board sought community input Monday night during a special school board meeting held to discuss potential bond projects and next year’s school calendar.

Those in attendance included parents, teachers, and community members who all listened intently to each of the proposed project ideas.

Potential project ideas included an expansion and remodel of the bus garage, modernization of the middle school, expansion of the school district office building, creating a multi-use performing arts and cafeteria space, expansion and update of the high school gym lobby and concessions area, and a high school modernization project.

Currently, the district has busses that are too long to fit inside the existing bus garage. Expanding and remodeling the garage would allow for all of the busses to fit properly as well as add more office space. Expansion of the school district office building would create additional office space as well as a meeting area to hold school board meetings and the like.

The board also proposed the idea of either building a stand-alone performing arts auditorium/cafeteria to be used for band and choir concerts, theater productions, Miss Royal City and Mr. Senior programs, as well as the cafeteria. Currently, the high school and middle school share a cafeteria, so another idea proposed was to remodel the existing cafeteria to serve the same purpose as a performing arts center and cafeteria.

Another project idea included the modernization of the middle school entrance and front offices to create a more secure entrance and updated safety features. On that same note, a modernization at the high school would also include updated security systems. And finally, a proposal to update and expand the high school gym foyer was discussed, with consideration to incorporate additional classrooms and storage space.

Throughout the discussion, many in attendance expressed interest in tackling safety measures first by updating and implementing security systems at the middle school and high school to match those of the intermediate and elementary schools.

“Security is really at the top of our list right now,” said superintendent Roger Trail.

Others in attendance also expressed interest in having more space for classes to meet as well as a backup location to hold graduations. Additional community input included encouragement of the school board to understand and communicate well with the community as to why they are going for the bond and what the project will entail when it is chosen.

Along with project proposals, the school board also discussed next year’s school calendar, and sought insight on when to hold breaks, late starts and how long breaks should be with consideration to possible graduation dates and summer vacation.

No final decisions were made during the meeting, and further community input is encouraged. Final decisions on projects and the calendar will be made on a later date.