New Elementary Schools (Panther Lake & Valhalla) - FAQ

Project Budgets

After the third attempt, the required super majority of 60+% of the voters of Federal Way Public Schools said “yes” on May 15, 2007 to rebuilding Panther Lake, Valhalla, Lakeland, and Sunnycrest elementary schools, rebuilding Lakota Middle School and relocating and rebuilding our support services (transportation, nutrition services and maintenance).  Additional information about Panther Lake and Valhalla and the other construction projects approved by the voters can be found at:  http://www.fwps.org/info/bond.

The Panther Lake and Valhalla projects, as approved by the voters, were each allocated $17.5 million.  In order to provide additional classroom space for the larger population at Valhalla, the board authorized an additional $1.0 million, bringing the total budget for Valhalla to $18.5 million. 

A project budget is composed of two major pieces:  Construction costs and soft costs.   The construction contract, awarded through a competitive bid process, is typically about 55% of a project budget.  Construction costs included the new building, the new fields and parking lots and the demolition of the old building.  Soft costs include a variety of associated projects costs including:  architect fees, permitting costs, utility connections, furniture and project contingency.

With financial limitations in mind, there were a few things the district kept as a priority as they envisioned how the new school was to take shape:

• Retain large classroom sizes  – around 900 square feet
• Build a school that would have the flexibility to adapt to future requirements (projecting out as far as 50 years into the future)
• Provide a separate eating space (to support flexibility)

In order to complete the building within the budget parameters, some spaces did get smaller.

Interior Questions and Answers

Q:   Is there any plan in place to mitigate the noise from the social commons area from intruding on the classrooms? 

A:   Yes.  Acoustical engineers are reviewing the sound levels, the building designs and will design a number of options for us to consider to contain, absorb and/or diffuse the noise.  This is the District’s current number one priority.

Q.  Why are the sinks so high off the ground (for children)?

A.  In older schools, built before the code requirements associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), sinks were often much lower.  The new sinks are at the legally required ADA height of 34” above the floor.  Traditionally, such as in the homes of most children, sinks are at 36” above the floor.

There is a code that allows lower sinks for the youngest grades, but in our model of flexibility, we couldn’t designate some classrooms as younger and some as older; so to be legally compliant all sinks are ADA accessible.

The District is exploring the fiscal and financial feasibility of relocating faucets for easier access for students.  Footstools are also in place.

Q:   Are the classrooms smaller? 

A:   No.  Teachers were very articulate about class size early in the design process.  These new classrooms are all approximately 900 sq. ft.

Q:  There doesn’t seem to be enough storage space for teachers and staff.

A:  In order to allow a building or classroom to be flexible over time there is little built-in cabinetry.  Each classroom does have a built-in closet, counter and cupboards, plus portable storage units and shelving.  We are continuing to work with both schools to provide additional built-in and moveable storage.

Q:   Why do we have cement floors instead of carpeting?  They’re slippery when wet and it has a bit of a cold/unwelcoming/institutional feel to it.

A:   The purpose of concrete floors is the ease of cleaning.   Unlike carpet, which certainly feels warmer, it won’t trap dust or other particles that can have a negative effect on student and staff upper-respiratory systems.  Additionally, there is no on-going budget capacity to replace carpets as they wear out.

The floors have radiant heating built in – so even if they don’t look as inviting as carpet, they are warm.  Over time, the floors will become shinier and more consistent in appearance.

Walk-off mats have been installed at all the entryways to dry shoes off before people step on to the cement floor.  Additionally, runners have been ordered for the doorways that can be put down on wet days and picked up and cleaned when not in use.  Engineers will conduct “skid tests” on the floors to ensure compliance with code requirements. 

Sectional carpeting was provided in the classrooms, allowing teachers to place carpets in the areas that make sense for their instructional style.  These carpets can then be commercially cleaned off-site as needed.

Q:   The heating and cooling system (HVAC) is noisy.

A:   This is the #1 issue on the Contractor’s 60+ page “punch list” (that’s the list of items prepared by the District that the Contractor has not yet completed or corrected).   New HVAC systems have three major components:  The system itself, the electronic controls on-site and the off-site controllers – all of which still need adjustments.  Each system is being reviewed in isolation and in conjunction with its companion system.   These testing and balancing adjustments are occurring outside of the school day.

Q:   The new library is smaller than the old one. 

A:  Each school has a unique library design; however each is right-sized for one classroom.   Security mirrors will be added to ensure that students are visible while in the library.

Q:   The computer lab has been distributed. Did we lose that space because the school is already over student capacity?

A:   No.  Both Panther Lake and Valhalla Elementary schools’ enrollment are under design capacity.   However we did have some unusually large grade level enrollments (kindergarten at Valhalla and first grade at Panther Lake) and rather than change teachers’ assignments after the work invested in unpacking and setting up their new rooms, the District decided to add additional staffing and provide wireless laptops.  This is a perfect example of a building being flexible and convertible to meet changing student and instructional needs.  Next year as staff and enrollment is rebalanced, the space could be returned to a computer lab if desired.

Q:   Where will parents sit for student events and performances?

A:   Events will be held in the social commons area which is almost as large as the old gym.  The lunch tables in that area will be stowed and replaced with 300 new chairs.  Additionally, space for risers or a stage is actually available by opening up the music room.

Interior Questions - Gymnasium

Q:   Why is the new gym smaller than the old gym?

A:   In order to build large classrooms and have a separate dining area, some other spaces became smaller.  One of those areas was the gym.

Q.  The current gym boundary lines are right next to the walls.

A:   Gym boundary lines were not painted correctly by the Contractor initially and are scheduled to be re-painted to create some space between the lines and the walls to provide a visual cue to students. The three-point lines were re-painted as well. 

Q:  Are there any plans to change the concrete gym floor?

A:   Current elementary school gym floors are concrete with a thin vinyl tile on top.   There are some alternate gym floor surfaces (not wood) available.  Final determination about installation is dependent upon final total project costs.

Q:  Why aren’t there water fountains in the gym?

A:   Given the slightly smaller gym size and the current concrete flooring, it made more sense to locate water fountains near the gymnasium rather than in the gym itself.  Drinking fountains in gyms also tend to be damaged frequently given the physical activities occurring.

Q:  The new gym only has two hoops instead of the six we had in the old one.  Are we getting any more?

A:   Yes, there is a plan in place to add at least two more hoops and possibly four to the gym.

Exterior Questions

Q:   Why aren’t there any swings on the playground?

A:   Current code requirements make swing set installation cost prohibitive.  It is estimated that an 8 ft high swing, at a cost of about $2,000 will take about $28,000 in padding and consume about 3200 square feet of play area. 

Q:   There are only two basketball hoops in the covered area.  Are there plans for more?

A: Yes, more are going to be put in the covered area (some lower than the existing ones) and some will be installed in the rest of the playground as well.

Q:   Are we really getting the old Big Toy back?

A:   Yes.  The Big Toys are being refurbished and upgraded by the manufacturer.   All the permits are done and it is almost ready for installation.  The Big Toy will be installed on top of a rubber mat mounted to the asphalt.

Q:   Why aren’t there any bathrooms or water fountains available from outside?

A:   The District does not have a design standard (or maintenance staff) to support exterior bathrooms and/or water fountains.  Exterior water fountains and bathrooms are subject to frequent vandalism.   None of our elementary schools (including the recently demolished Valhalla and Panther Lake elementary schools) had exterior bathrooms or water fountains. 

Q.  Why is so much room on the Valhalla site taken up with ponds?

A.  In 2005, King County adopted new requirements for managing stormwater that are even more stringent than anything seen before. All the water that runs off of parking lots, play areas and other impervious surfaces must be managed on site; nothing can leave the site except in very controlled quantities and qualities, as though the whole site were a native forest.  If the new design had more parking, or a one story design, the ponds would be even larger!  Even with the size of “detention” that we have, putting tanks and pipes of the same volume, underground would be cost prohibitive.

Valhalla is actually designed with both water detention ponds (which are fenced for safety) and with rain gardens – an area that is not expected to retain water, but provides for the natural filter to meet the “native” forest requirements.

Q:   Aren’t detention ponds a mosquito breeding ground?

A:   Extensive studies have been completed on existing ponds, which state that natural predators take care of most/all of the mosquito problem and it hasn’t historically been an issue. 

Mosquito problems in wetponds are generally more of a perceived problem than an actual problem.  King County Stormwater Services monitors several wetponds for mosquito larvae, and generally does not see a problem in the wetponds.  There seem to be enough natural predators in the wetpond to prevent a problem.  If they do find mosquito larvae, it is generally in the control structure or in catch basins where natural predators don’t have access.

 If there are mosquitoes in the wetpond, Bti (Bacillus; a naturally occurring bacterium) is usually the preferred treatment method.  Treatment of the pond requires a permit from DOE.  Nothing can be placed in the stormwater pond without being covered under a permit.   If mosquitoes or other insects become an issue, the District will hire professionals to treat the ponds accordingly.