Build Spaces?

[cbale2000]

Originally Posted by WinterPoet

Thank you! We've tried to get a school space, since that would be the best, but our school is already overcrowded. We're lucky to get the storage closet we share with theater, sports, and the janitors :/ I guess we complained loud enough and long enough though, because our school district is the one finding the building for us, and handling the legal jargon. It just takes a while for these things to be processed and verified and voted on and passed and such, so we don't know when we'll get more information. Until then, we're working with what we have!

Does your school district have any buildings it isn't using? In my area, team 2619 operates out of an old elementary school under the stipulation that they keep the place clean (the school district figures they still have to pay the insurance, maintenance, etc. anyways, so they might as well use it). The nice thing is they have the whole building to themselves so in recent years they've also invited in other local FRC teams to use the space along with FLL and FTC teams in the fall.

Since the school also has a gym, they were able to set up a full time practice field too.

[WinterPoet]

Originally Posted by cbale2000

Does your school district have any buildings it isn't using? In my area, team 2619 operates out of an old elementary school under the stipulation that they keep the place clean (the school district figures they still have to pay the insurance, maintenance, etc. anyways, so they might as well use it). The nice thing is they have the whole building to themselves so in recent years they've also invited in other local FRC teams to use the space along with FLL and FTC teams in the fall.

Since the school also has a gym, they were able to set up a full time practice field too.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear our district has any unused space. My understanding of the situation is that the district is going to purchase an old building, not much, something like a shop on a strip, and allow us to use it. So not as sweet as a school, but a start.

[tjf]

Originally Posted by WinterPoet

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear our district has any unused space. My understanding of the situation is that the district is going to purchase an old building, not much, something like a shop on a strip, and allow us to use it. So not as sweet as a school, but a start.

Are any of your long-term sponsors owners of machine shops or places where you might be able to work out of? Some of the rookie teams I've talked to have just ended up working out of a sponsor's shop and doing work / internship with them to try and compensate them for use of the shop.

However, the use of an old building seems like a definite step in the right direction. If anything, keep exploring to try and lessen the load on your host school.