Clark County School District – Case Study

Total Revamp: F&E Solutions for School District Overhaul

When the Clark County School District in Clark County, Kentucky undertook the massive task of building and overhauling four schools in just three years, it called upon School Specialty, a leading distributor of educational supplies, furniture and supplemental curriculum products, to furnish these projects.

School Specialty’s Projects by Design (PbD) division, which has over 20 years of experience furnishing educational facilities from top to bottom, was selected as the District’s furniture and equipment partner. To outfit the brand-new, state-of-the-art Clark County facilities, the PbD team implemented modern and flexible Classroom Select furniture to enhance the educational experience for all students.

These projects, which were spearheaded by Account Manager Jim Biles and Project Coordinator Paul Sanders, included the construction of George Rogers Clark High School, the largest educational facility ever completed in the state of Kentucky; the conversion of the existing high school to the new Clark Middle School; the brand-new Justice Elementary School; and the conversion of the old middle school into Conkwright Elementary School. To sum it up, the Clark County District completed four massive projects in the span of just three years!

Biles commented on the scope of the projects, “Completing and redesigning four facilities in just three years was a tall order, but providing comprehensive service and products in a short timeframe is our specialty. Paul and I, along with our team, made ourselves available 24/7 for the Clark County District. Through the combined hard work of our team and theirs we were able to finish all four schools on time while outfitting them with the highest quality furnishings for local students to enjoy.”

Choosing the Right Furnishings

Clark County chose to furnish all four schools with School Specialty’s proprietary brand of Classroom Select furnishings. The District had utilized Classroom Select furniture for many years and was pleased with its functional, adaptable designs. Classroom Select furnishings have evolved as a result of the insight School Specialty has gleaned from more than 50 years of working closely with educators and architects. Manufactured in the USA, the furniture has a lifetime warranty and is built to withstand rigorous use. By choosing Classroom Select chairs and desks, administrators don’t need to worry about the durability of the line, and will minimize the additional expenses that occur with repeated furniture replacement and wear. The products are both rugged and aesthetically pleasing, and will serve the District and its students for many years to come.

In addition to its durability, the Classroom Select line is specially designed to inspire productive learning, engage students and prepare them for success. The line is made up of a wide range of products, including flexible, versatile classroom furniture that fosters collaboration and is adaptable to all learning environments. Classroom Select furniture was included in every classroom across all four Clark Country projects, with George Rogers Clark High School alone containing over 3,000 student chairs and 2,200 student desks.

School Specialty/Projects by Design: The Right Partner

Paul Columbia, now retired, was Director of Operations at the Clark County School District during the four recent projects. He noted, “Our District has worked with School Specialty and Projects by Design for many years, and we knew we could place our complete trust in them to furnish all four schools. I was amazed at the almost endless amount of different educational products that the PbD team was able to provide for all of the different areas at George Rogers Clark High. From our auto mechanics lab to our welding lab to our information technology lab, they provided exactly what we needed across the board. PbD is the only team that we were confident would be able to outfit all of these areas with highquality products and a commitment to service.”

Every high school in Kentucky is required to have a vocational department, and Clark County administrators made it their goal to have the biggest and best one at George Rogers Clark High. PbD ensured that this goal became reality by offering a huge range of products to fit every need. For example, PbD outfitted the carpentry lab with shop equipment, paint booths, band saws, drill presses and more. Additionally, PbD provided treadmills, stationary bikes and many other types of exercise equipment for the high school’s wellness center.

The most recent project was the complete overhaul and conversion of the old Clark County middle school into the new Conkwright Elementary School. This project required all-new furniture and equipment solutions throughout the school. The existing furniture from the old middle school was outdated and inadequate for the District’s vision of providing young students with a state-of-the-art educational experience. Fortunately, the PbD team was able to provide Classroom Select furniture offerings for the 21st Century Classroom.

The Classroom Select products installed in Conkwright Elementary are adaptable to every learning situation and environment, and include student desks, chairs and tables that can be quickly and easily reconfigured. Whether students are learning in large lectures, small group projects or individual learning spaces, the PbD team supplied the school with a variety of solutions from Classroom Select that optimize these environments, and therefore the modern learning experience. Despite the scope of the project, PbD was able to complete it in just a couple of months over the summer of 2014.

After a few years of frenetic work, the Clark County School District and PbD have completed all four projects. The reception from administrators, teachers, students and the community at large has been overwhelmingly positive. The District continues to call on PbD and School Specialty for additional furniture and equipment solutions as a result of the overriding satisfaction with their work. The Classroom Select furniture implemented throughout the new schools has been met with resounding praise due to its durability, functionality and adaptability to every teaching method and learning environment. Biles and Sanders maintain a working relationship with district administrators and are ready to provide anything they need at a moment’s notice.

Sanders noted, “At Projects by Design, we provide service to educators, not just products. Our wide range of furniture and equipment solutions is top-of-industry, but the relationships we cultivate with the educators we serve are what really set us apart. We pride ourselves on being available for our customers at any time, whether before, during or after we have finished outfitting an educational facility.”

Project Photographs (from George Rogers Clark High School)
Flex Classroom	Computer Classroom	Journalism Lab
Art Classroom	Vocal / Music Room	Life Skills Lab
Nursing Classroom with attached lab	Welding Booths	Wellness Center
Administrative Office	Cafeteria	Cafe Tables
Learn More To learn more about our Projects by Design® cost-saving, turnkey solution, visit www.ProjectsByDesign.com. To contact us, please call 800-305-0174 or email projectsbydesign@schoolspecialty.com. Or, visit www.ProjectsByDesign.com and fill out the form to tell us about your project.