Our on-going goal is to bring the new designs school into place and to operate it for no more than an average existing school. Cost considerations involve trade-offs among technology, staffing, and partnership along with other features, a situation which invites exploration of creative new roles for the school to play as a part of the social and economic development plans for a community. As we expand our knowledge of how we learn, we also must expand our concept of what constitutes a stimulating and creative learning environment. It remains the authors contention that the single most difficult task in this transformative process is that of altering the public s image of a school facility of what it looks like, what its functions are, where it is located, etc. Expanding the planning and design process from the traditional ed specs approach to incorporate the societal issues of the day makes sense.
Appropriate education needs to prepare students for success in work, family, and community settings.
Education should meet the needs of all students with high quality instruction and standards. Learning needs to be relevant and applicable to real life experiences. Involve stakeholders in the design process. Tailor or customize recommendations to local unique situations. Build on the strengths of what there is now and address areas of particular need.