francis howell school district

Container lines in the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA) have announced plans to introduce separate bunker fuel surcharges on recovered fiber contracts.

Contracts on recovered fiber shipments from the US to Asia have typically included provisions mitigating bunker surcharges, using instead an all-inclusive base freight rates.

"WTSA lines are taking a first step with respect to the leading commodity in the trade in terms of volume," WTSA executive administrator Brian Conrad was quoted saying.

"Wastepaper... CHARLES COUNTY ― Francis Howell school officials would like to make a decision sometime this spring on how to upgrade Howell High, the oldest high school in the district.

"We still have a lot of work ahead of us," Superintendent Renée Schuster said. "We need to build a school for the community and designed by the community."

Three different options for Howell High range from a mix of additions and renovations to an entirely new school.

During the next few months, parents, administrators and the community will continue to discuss the options at meetings at each school in the district, Schuster said. Advertisement

A new school could cost as much as $110 million depending on the size of the buildings, said Kevin Supple, the district's chief financial officer. The option with mostly new construction except for a gym and auditorium could cost as much as $106 million, he said. The plan of a mix of additions and improvements to old buildings was estimated at $48.7 million.

About 40 percent of the respondents in a 2006 district survey said that project cost would be an essential factor in the decision on how to upgrade Howell High. The rest of the people who took the survey were nearly split on whether to build a new school or renovate some buildings and replace others.

The most recent high school to be built in St. Charles County was Fort Zumwalt East, that district's fourth high school. The school opened in August and cost about $36.5 million.

Several factors account for the difference in the cost of East High School and estimates for a new Howell High, including the impending Highway 40 closure and high oil prices, which will both drive up construction costs, Schuster said.

Fort Zumwalt East is designed for 1,300 to 1,500 students, while Howell High needs room for 2,000 to 2,200. Also, Fort Zumwalt East was built on flat property with no existing school to tear down. At Howell High, the sprawling campus near the intersection of Highways 94 and 40 would require additional work and the old school would need to be demolished.

After the School Board has voted on how to upgrade Howell High, leaders will then focus on a November bond issue to pay for the project. The options include a no tax increase bond issue in which taxes wouldn't go up but it would take longer to pay off the debt.

About 1,850 students attend Howell High. Some parts of the building are about 50 years old. The school as it exists today progressed in several phases, and the result is a sprawling campus that includes multiple buildings and entryways, which make security an issue. The school also has smaller classrooms and fewer performance and practice fields than the district's other two high schools.

COUNTY ― A site plan for a new Francis Howell High School was one of two added options for the school presented to parents and community members on Thursday night.

District leaders asked architects for additional plans after a previous one failed to satisfy some board members and parents. Along with the proposal for an all-new school, the other new plan unveiled at a community meeting Thursday involves all-new construction except for keeping a gym and auditorium.

The previous plan for Howell High presented to the School Board in October included a mix of new additions and improvements to old buildings. The total project was estimated at $48.7 million. Under the plan, the project would have been completed in different phases during four years.

A new school could cost as much as $110 million, said Kevin Supple, the district's chief financial officer. The option with mostly new construction except for a gym and auditorium could cost as much as $106 million. Advertisement

Parent Kim Curtis is in favor of a new building for Francis Howell High School students. Parts of the school are more than 50 years old, and the campus as it exists today progressed in several phases. The result is multiple buildings and entryways.

"It's a dump," Curtis said.

The October proposal had additions that included a new area to create a "heart of the building" and assembly space for 550 students, a commons area, media center and an improved visitor entry and new student entry. Six classrooms, band and vocal rooms, a practice gym, locker room and weight and wrestling rooms would be added along with new administration and faculty offices. The plan also added practice and competition fields. Renovations would be done on classrooms in one building, a gym and an auditorium.

About 1,850 students attend Francis Howell High. Some think the plan with a mix of new additions and renovations does not address enough of the school's issues for the cost of the project.

"We want a better school for our kids," said Terrie Hoehn, another parent.

Officials have said they are looking for a plan that would allow construction to continue while school is in session, limit the number of outside entrances to improve security and pull buildings together so students would not have to cross outdoor courtyards. The cafeteria and the classrooms at Howell High are smaller than at the district's two other main high schools. They also want to address the fact that Howell High has fewer performance areas and practice fields than the district's other two high schools.

The board in May chose TR,i Architects Inc. of Clayton to develop concepts for improving the campus located near the intersection of Highways 40 and 94. Architects have met with students, teachers and parents to get feedback on plans and ideas.