School design is focus of statewide education conference

By federal estimates, the nation's schools need nearly $112 billion in construction and renovation to bring schools to safety and health standards. Mississippi's response to this and other structural needs will be the subject of a Jan. 28 Jackson conference sponsored by Mississippi State.

Educational design experts, state educators, and state legislators will participate in a 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. program at the Crowne Plaza North titled "Designing Mississippi's Schools for Children of the 21st Century."

It is sponsored by the university's College of Education, School of Architecture and Division of Continuing Education. Additional support is provided by the BellSouth Foundation and BellSouth Mississippi.

An architect and a University of Virginia educator will keynote the conference, said Dean of Education William H. Graves. "We are bringing in two outstanding experts in this field to provide information about issues of school design and school construction and renovation," he said.

William S. Bradley, assistant director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for Educational Design at the University of Virginia, presents 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 given to attendees.

The conference concludes with a panel discussion featuring Sen. Grey Ferris, chair of the Senate Education Committee; Sen. Hob Bryan, chair of the Senate Finance Committee; Rep. Mike Cheney, of the House Education Committee; Dr. Richard Boyd, interim state superintendent of education; Graves; and John McRae, dean of Mississippi State's School of Architecture.

"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.

There is a potential for up to $200 million in funding through state appropriations and local bonding authority 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," he 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."

Mississippi State's College of Education and the School of Architecture, Mississippi's only professional architectural program, are uniquely qualified to collaborate on the topic, he noted.