Contact: Maridith Geuder
By federal estimates, the nation's schools need nearly $112 billion in construction and renovation to meet safety and health standards. Mississippi's response to this and other structural needs will be the subject of a Jan. 28 Jackson conference.
Educational design experts, state educators and legislators will participate in a conference at the Crowne Plaza North sponsored by Mississippi State University. The meeting, whose theme is "Designing Mississippi's Schools for Children of the 21st Century," will take place 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
The university's College of Education, School of Architecture and Division of Continuing Education are sponsors. The BellSouth Foundation and BellSouth Mississippi are providing additional support.
An architect and a University of Virginia educator will keynote the conference. "We have two outstanding experts to provide information about issues of school design and school construction and renovation," said Dean of Education William H. Graves.
William S. Bradley, assistant director of UVA's Thomas Jefferson Center for Educational Design, will lead a 9:30 a.m. discussion titled "Expecting the Most from School Design."
George Vlastos, a Casper, Wyo., architect noted for educational design, follows at 10:30 a.m. with "Designing Learning Environments for Children." An autographed copy of "School Zone: Learning Environments for Children," co-written by Vlasos and the University of New Mexico's Anne P. Taylor, will be provided to attendees.
The conference concludes with a panel discussion featuring Sen. Grey Ferris of Vicksburg, chair of the Senate Education Committee; Sen. Hob Bryan of Amory, chair of the Senate Finance Committee; Rep. Mike Chaney, also of Vicksburg, a House Education Committee member; Richard Boyd, interim state superintendent of education; John McRae, dean of architecture at MSU; and Graves.
"The College of Education currently is working to advise school districts on effective ways to spend more than $60 million available in construction and renovation funds from the Mississippi Adequate Education Program and other sources," Graves said.
As much as $200 million in funding through state appropriations and local bonding authority may be available over the next five years, he continued.
"As a state and as a nation, we have not given adequate attention to the way that good educational facilities design can enhance positive teaching and learning experiences," Graves said. "Mississippi must ensure that dollars spent on renovation and construction are used prudently so that our tax dollars will benefit the way our children learn, the academic achievements they make and the safety they enjoy in our schools."
He said the education college and architecture school--the state's only professional program in architecture--are uniquely qualified to collaborate on the topic. "Working together, we hope to provide expertise that can help schools be central to improving the lives in communities around Mississippi."