Jose Lopez Middle School

If Ms. McAnelly gave everyone a sense of what it took from the school administrators role, we certainly got a vision of the role of the architect with Mr. Frank Amaro's tour and presentation. This is a case where the architect was in love with education and knew a lot about it and also in love with his work. You had to respect his integrity as described his role in managing the construction process from beginning to end. The experience was made even richer by the role that Debbie played and also Jeff who could tell the story from beginning to end. You were all treated by a sense of how a collaborative project is managed. The role of the relationship among all parties was critical...not just the educator or architect but the team approach to addressing and resolving issues from the planning at the outset, through construction, and eventually occupancy and closing out the project.

What impressed me most was the extent to which current educational philosophy of small communities in schools drove the design of the facility. When you see this in a facility, you know that architects are truly listening to the professionals. The Cardenas Center was another great example of this....the design of the two-way mirrors and reading pits as well as the original open design reflected a demonstration/teaching of teachers approach to education that was big in the 1970's.

What was touching was the connectedness that Lopez middle school still maintains with its namesake, Mr. Jose Lopez. What a treat to see the interview of this remarkably courageous man. Take the history, the planning, the educational philosophy, the architect-educator collaboration and you have one very special experience. Thanks Jeff and Debbie for your hospitality and access to school facility. Please respond with an aspect of your experience or observation at Jose Lopez Middle School that has not been mentioned previously by me or any of your colleagues who also took the tour.

Retrospective: A day in Devine

Our first site visit was to Devine ISD. Scott, thanks for taking care of us down there. It was extraordinary to learn of a bond issue passing in a conservative rural community and we were able to listen first-hand to how Linda McAnelly, by power of will and determination, armed with commitment to get the job done right, to learn all the intricacies of getting the job done where she had not previously been knowledgeable. I think all of were struck by how completely she mastered herself first, knew her people, learned what she had to learn, set boundaries where she had to set boundaries. She demonstrated what happens when a thoughtful, fair-minded individual can do when the situation came up. She knew how to convince all stakeholders that the bond elections were in the best interests of them all.

When new facilities cannot be built, it is possible to be creative. Small towns do not have the luxury of condemning an old building. Those buildings were the center of community life for so long. So rather than see a landmark come down these communities, Devine is not exception, chose the keep the older structure and retrofit, often at greater expense than a new facility would have costed. I noticed that each classroom in this 1954 structure had an overhead digital projector and had connectivity.

Back to the bond experience. Ms. McAnelly had a valuable list of steps that she took with recommendations for how to conduct oneself in the role of superintendent. I invite responses from of you, something unique about that experience that you took away from it besides the wonderful meal Scott provided. dh