A guide to school site selection, 1980

A Guide
To
School Site Selection
Revised 1980
Received
JUL 23 1981
DOCUMENTS UGA LIBRARIES
Georgia Department of Education Office of Administrative Services
Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Charles McDaniel
State Superintendent of Schools
Til(> Georgia Dl'parrrnenr of Edllu:lion is an eqllol apporlunil\/ agency.

Foreword
In .Jllly 1975 the State Board of Education adopted a policy concerning the selection of school sites (Reference Policy 110 /1210), These materials contain information which has been developed in accordance with the provi ~illn~ olltlined in the executive procedure of the policy,
TIlt' (llrtll"l'll'lilllin,lrv SdHI,,1 Sill> FV'lhlillion ,mel School Sill-' Approvill," whi,'h is indlleled. is dC!signed for liSP by
"I /I,,, I", "i 11001 ~y~I( '/ll~ /", kill' 1prl'lilllindry c1l'tl'r1 nin. \IiOll:-' cOllnmin!..! tIll' tin','pl "bili Iy of school SIIl'~, Also. iI I~
for usC! by Ihe School Site Approval Committee when making school site evaluations for official approval. Section VII of the form is for use by Ihe School Site Approval Committee for approval or disapproval of a site. The form is iiVdilablc through the Office of Administrative Services. Georgia Department of Education.
HPljlll'sts for sill' dpproviJl should be directed to the re9ional director of educalionaJ services,

A Guide To School Site Selection
A Good School Site is Important A ~lo()d. well-developed site and a well-equipped school plant functionally designed leaves little to be desired in the \V"V of Il"....il phvsicill tools for 1'c1u,',)linn, Without nnl' or Ihe other, the educational program m,iy suffpr. Current ',,11'"111""'11"111" III' hi' I" 111,1111/ ",111111,,", 1i1.1I 11111'.1 I.. " "1111,1 "" ,,"1'.,,1. II", 1\1,,11, ,,111\1' 1'111)'01' ,\11'1.\111 W.II 1,1,,11111'11 "'I,lllIl'I)('III/II.'\I,'I"I,,,I'lIlld""1 "11',\'" "'1'1",',"1111.11111 ....1I1'1"lIllIlIlcl,,,'I.1I IIVIII. ..... IIUII"I"ovul.\I,III, II I,ll lirnd,liloll dnel dcil'qll,IIP, "ClIWl'nienl pdrking and ,llso conducive to till' sdfl'ly 01 children, The sill' is i1n il~ll'ljr,d pMI of Ihe tOlal school plant and may enhance or inhibit the achievement of a school's educational llilj('I'tIV('S, Lnvironmenl is iln influential factor in the lives of young children, Therefore. the school site should contribute poslliwly to Ihe het)llh, safety and social aspects of a child's life at schoo!. Choosing II good site is one 01 the important early steps in overall planning, Success or failure in this initial step \Viii Ill' reflecled in every subsequent stage in the development process, For these reasons. the choice 01 a school site requires care.ful study - thorough and objective evaluation. Much thought should be given to the basic principles involved in good site selection. Tlws(' principles. when studied in the light of their relation to the local situation. should provide a basis for the oiljet (ive selection of the best site available. Undue consideration given to the value or acquisition cost of a school si:e (,III be. and often has proved to be, false economy.
Criterii.l For Selection of School Sites
Size Til . du'e(l~je meets the minimum requirements of the State Board of Education. 1:'/l'/Il('I1((/rv schools - rille acres plus one acre for each 100 children in ADA Miclclll' schools 12 acres pillS one acre for each 100 children in ADA /-ligh 5..hools-- 20 acres plus one acre for each 100 students in ADA. In highly developed areas slight deviations from minimum acreage may be made by the site approval committee, <IS considered appropriate, ;\itlillllqillllllllll\ltnl ,1I'n'",ws dW ,st'lhlished. lilrger <lnpaqes are highly desirable. Also, those responsihlp lor
""I., 111!'l ',IIc", 11111',,1 ll'llIdill "W"ll' Illll"VIII'llIllI'llllilllll,IIII'II'" illlJlIl'-,('d Ill/' 11("illll"I;.... '1 0111".. 1'" .... of 11\1' .lIn"'I"
I" 'III' I "II'-,:d, '11'C I '1111' '01.'" "j 11\1' ...., h",,1 lildy lI"t Il(' 1111' "Illy .. nl"n"l1 ,dl(.-till~l siz,', TIll' possihility of ('xrxlIlsion, dlllll'ip,I!l'c\ ,. ClIlllilllllil~/ II ....' of ti\l' school Clr dn~a ilnd the school program ilre other (t\l'lors 10 consider.
Utilities U[ililil~s essential to the operation of a modern school plant must be available. Electricity and telephone services are essential to the operation of a school plant and must be accessible to tilt' proposed site, The desirability of public water and sewerage service to a school site cannot be overemphasized. The cost of insldlling private systems. along with the continuing maintenance costs. plus environmental considerations all but I'liIllJl1,lIl' l'onslderation 01 private installations, Only in cases of overriding circumstances will site approval be qr,II:I,'(! <II locations whi,'h cannot he served by public sewerage systems.
2

Safely Hazards TIlt' school site must be relatively free of conditions and installations which endanger the life, safety and health of ,l1iiclrvn. No area can be approved for a school site when any part of the area is traversed by high-tension lines. hi~lh prCStiurc oil or gas lines, railroads or other hazardous installations or conditions.
No "r,'" , .11111(' .IJ'lprov(<! lor" "chooi "i1,' 1111 IS .Idj.IClllI 10 "n "irport. or Ii,.., ill I Ill' lin,,1 "ppro'llh or d"p"rluH'
p"lll'rll or ,mnai I. Thl' Sill' must Ill' ,I redsonably Sdk (iJsldnn' from the flight Pdt lern to avoid Ihe d,lIlyer of fdlllll~ dirndl,- Also. the site should be far enough from airports <md flight patterns to offer reasonable protection from inlerfering noise level",.
School sites should be a reasonable distance from lakes and streams which, due to depth or other conditions, { oulei' 11(' (onsidewclunsafe to children. Sites adjacent to heavily traveled streets and highways should be avoided. I\f..,o . ..,chool sit,'s in lo(,ltions SUbjl'cI to industriill pollution must he ilvoid('c!.
Environmental Factors The school site should possess physically desirable characteristics and be located so surrounding areas reflect chardcll'ristics conducive to the development of attitudes and responses in boys and girls considered to be s~)nally. culturally and educationally desirable.
The selection of a school site in an area zoned for commercial or industrial development should be avoided. The schoolloLation should be insulated from business and industrial development. The routes to and from the school sire should not expose children to undesirable environmental and safety hazards.
The lociltion of a school site should be acceptable to the school patronage community from the standpoint of ~"I1l'rill environmental surroundings and vehicular accessibility.
GC()~jraphi(dl dnd Helated Factors The sl"nool site should provide convenient accessibility, be supportive to an efficient transportation system, be dl"l"C'sslble to community services needed by the school and be appropriately located with respecr to other ...chools ilno the popul<ltion to be served.
I\Il school ..,ill' i1rprovdl~ must he 'lCcomronied by a letler of assurance thai the site is nol in d flood pli:lin or the ("Jd..,ldll ji~lh HdZ,lrCl AWd. This letler of ilssurance must be from the Flood Plain Management Coordinator of 1111' (JeOr~kl Department of Natural Resources.
To "htiJin the leller of assurance write the Flood Plain Management Coordinator. Georgia Department of Natural 1' ourc('s ilnd l'nclose a county highway map. indicating the school location. The letter should describe briefly Ill(' !()C"tiOIl, giving informdtion such as the direction from a particular point (a town or city), distance, name of w'lds or hiyhwdY numbers and other appropridle location description and acreage. The Flood Plain Management Coorchll,llor's address is
Flood Ploin Monagemenl Coordinator Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmenlal Protection Division 270 Washington 51. 5W Allcmlo, Ga. 30334
Site Development
The physical characteristics of the school site should be such that the cost of grading, drainage and development will he relativel'y low.
TIll' l'valudtion of a site as it relates to physical development is a technical task. requiring the knowledge and "XP('IWIICl' of iI qUdlifil'd professional. The investment required to obtain a professionCl'l, eva:ruation for rhysicill
ii, 'V"IOIlIi 1('11 I l1IilV n'sld t in (on~iclerahle fUturl' sdvinqs.
3

GEORGIA DEPARn~ENTOF EDUCATIO PRELlMJ IARY SCHOOL SITE EVALUATION AND SCHOOL SITE APPROVAL
eetion, I through VI of this form are designed for two purposes, (T) For use by local systems when considering property for school sites, (2) To provide the Site Approval Committee with essential information,
S/'etlon VII is to be used by the School Site Approval Committee for official approval of school sites Super; ntenden t

~;I CTI,)N i IJASIC INU)RMATION
a.""" ~ 1';-"1;;;::;;; ~:d,,,,,1 -. - -------_....'._- -_-_-_-_-_-_

lN_IJrrltJ~;r of trls{ruclion~lI Urllts _
I f\U!~(Jlif~

o Complete School
D Clear title obtainable?

--'1 ~.~"I"J'..rt (",Ill,".
D Designed for expansion

I SllHh~f~~ /\PIHlll'\llrlolll' Nllfllllln 1)1

l .__. __...... I ~ After expansion eventual total Instructlon,,1 Urllt5

_

Yes

D No

0 D SI CTION II UTILITIES AVAILABLE'

n!\ TIN';

f ~cellel\t

Good

I l'{ Ir I( 11y
II

I r -'N.I;IIUr", GilS .- .J- - - - -

_l'.l,ol'_,,, -_-_----

.

j' t\rtl H'pdl, ~ I III r If:', wll I hi! ilVilil;lhlu \0 IllI! ~.i te by

'Neller [ ] Public
c-

D Fair
. __ . ([Jult:)

D Poor

_

-

_._~--------_.

'f'rtv,,~,' ';,,,"'"'<1'''' <lppruval fur site Will be requinxj from Environmenwi Protection Aqencv Wilter OUDlitv COlllrul.

0 0 0 ~,I C Tim, III SAf'lETY HAZARDS ON. ACROSS OR UNDE.31 RABL Y NEAR ~ITE

I/\TINC ..

.xc"llent

Good

Fair

D Poor

D ,0 D III'In h,nslon lines

High pressure oil or gas lines

Heavy traffic streets or highways I'

Railroads

I D ....... - - - : - - - . - - - - - - - - - - ' - - - - - - - - - ; ; - - - - - - - - - - ' - - - - - - - - - - . - - - - - - - ' - - - - - - - - - - - - ;

Cl !\"I",rl

0 Lakes or rivers

I D Industrial pollution

0 - Sf CTION IV. L NVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

I~Arlr'J{;

cellenl

[ ] Good

AlllA /ONrlJ ron

CI ComrnerciiJl

o Inejustrial

I, I I h ",Ii lj'rll loll

1-' (lll\l'1

, I Ji...~i,!il Jrll f '{

I I Illfill',11l011

I I I$1 I~ .1 f II ",' I

D Fair

D Poor

TRAFFIC IN AREA

o CCI"ql"led

0 Hn;ovy

r"=-J L1'II,1

-j>TlI)fIAIi'i I ACCllilAllIl'I {Y'lr) r::iJMMIINIIY--~--

I t Ilr",lIli'lllldl 1

I I 11[1"~ I h~vt'I(IIJlIII~1l1

I Ii L_J 'jl LII<IN V (,I ()(,Il!,I'HICAL ANU HI LATID I ACTORS

IU\I jf'Jt;

xCo'II",,1

COOlI

D f-air

D Poor

---- - - - - - - - - _.. - - - - - - - - - - - - - = : ; ; ; ; . . . . - - - - - - - - - - . . ; : : : : = - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - j

I Jj'",nllll ICI..;it~~"

~~~_~_~

_;

TUPOGRAPHY'

o Subject 10 Overwash

L

l

IIf''''II ,

PI"I

ul Sllu AlliJch(,d _ _ _ _ _- - L

--==.;..

o--'-..:..:... Puor

----j

SFCTION VI., SITE DlVELOPMENT"

[ j r,ATING

Excell"nt

o Good

o Fair

o Poor

I c;nADING rOR BUILDING

ROCK EXCAVATION

DRAINAGE

o o0 D CDI o D'D MCI,h',,,III D U 0 D o PAnKINe AIlE'AS

r: xCessive

Unlikely

Easily Accomplished

Very little

Nat excessive

Excessive

Moderate Grading and Drainage

Elaborate System Required

' Adequate Space

Limited Space

VEHICULAR CIRCULATION Inadeq uate Space

SRiemqpUliereSdystem Excessive Grading and Drainage

D o D D O _ LI:,I" Grading

Moderate Grading

Excessive Grading

Excellent Potential

Development Restricted

Development 'Difficult

I Ai\lO~;CAPIN{~ Rdallvc Cost

I LANDSCAPING-Maintenance Potential

o r xc;essivl~

I o Excellent

o Some Problerr,

I! I', ,!fl.elqly ":I.IlI1IfIlI~'Il11:d lllal ltllS t:v;]hl;lf;O(l bf~ by a proh:ssional (trChtHlct or landscapt: architecl.

I I I "fill 110!" I "h. 'IUUO

SEC i ION VI-CONTiNUE8
~~ILETIC AND RECREATION AREA DEVELOPMENT -Space

o Adequate

,0 Limited

D Inadequate

IATHLETIC AND RECREATION AREA DEVELOPMENT-Economic Factor

D i

Low

D, Moderate

0 Excessive

SECTION VII: FOR USE BY SITE APPROVAL COMMITTEE

The preliminary site approval evaluation data on the above identified site submitted by the_~

_

School System has been reviewed by the committee. The site was visited by the committee on ----"""TI'<~""TT=-=,,___,:T::""O..,,__--'-- (Day. Month. Year)

We hereby certify that this site meets the criteria for the selection of school sites as approved by the State Board of Education and the Stat(~ Department of Human Resources.

Director, Educational Regional Services

State Board of Education Member

Representative, State Department of Human Resources

We hereby disapprove this site in that it does not adequately meet the criteria for the selection of school sites as approved by the
State Board of Education and the State Department at Human Resources.

Director, Educational Regional Services

State Board of Education Member

Representative, State Department of Human Resources

Remarks:

NOTE: Attach letter of assurance from Flood Plain Management Coordinator of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, that site is not in a flood plain or Coastal High Hazard Area.
One copy of Site Approval (inclUding Sections I-VII) must be furnished to the Facilities Section of the Georgia Department of Education prior to approval of plans for a building to be constructed on the site.
The committee is authorized to request any additional information on any criteria (section) when, in the judgement of the committee, additional information is needed.