Comments on: Making the DHS Sports Complex & Auditorium a Reality

By: karass

karass — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:44:37 +0000

My understanding is that, originally, it wasn’t the idea of any School Board member or CSD Admin to use Fifth Avenue Elementary as a 4/5 Academy site. Not sure about School Board members, but CSD Admin was leaning initially towards putting the 4/5 Academy at Renfroe. It was the reconvened Reconfiguration Committee that first raised the idea of a new option to follow the original ~12 options–that was the 4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue. It was not necessarily the first choice of all members, but many preferred it to the 4/5 at Renfroe.

Re use of Fifth Avenue building: That has been desired by many for a long time, whether it be used by CSD, Decatur Active Living, or someone else. Having a building empty and decaying for six or seven years is not a good thing.

Re revitalization: It’s always a two-edged sword with no easy answers or perfect approach. It will improve the quality of life for those who can afford to still live there and will profit some but some of the original community will be driven out by high taxes and loss of friends, neighbors, and family.

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:19:35 +0000

CSD Mom says:
November 17, 2009 at 8:57 am

It’s interesting how Carter and Valarie Wilson both operate on “dreams” that cost this city millions and millions of dollars.

Not ridicule?

Maybe our school board members should be satisfied to keep an abandoned school sitting there rotting forever – a former source of community pride now used as a storage facility for excess furniture.

Maybe our high school athletic director should be satisfied that his students use outdated and rat infested facilities which cannot even accommodate girls sports and activities.

If that is the sort of dreams and vision you want our leaders to have in this community, CSD Mom, then I am GLAD that you are not in the majority with that sentiment.

By: CSD Mom

CSD Mom — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:31:40 +0000

Luckily I’m not pubically ridiculing people LOL! Or publicly either. Not ridiculing at all. Just working to ensure that our schools continue to improve for EVERYONE.

By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:57:01 +0000

Whatever CSD Mom. When you stop ridiculing people pubically who are just trying to improve our city I will believe you. Fed up Westchester parents are now 0-3 in city elections. Next?

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:51:13 +0000

The cost of Fifth Ave. is not $10M, it’s only budgeted for $8M. The other $2M is to be used for much needed renovations at RMS. At a minimum, these funds will be used to improve/replace the RMS HVAC system, the electrical system (so it can handle new interactive boards, which the system plans to purchase with these funds as well) and to improve the bathrooms. The plan also is to retrofit the old gym into instructional space at some point depending on the funds available.

By: CSD Mom

CSD Mom — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:04:50 +0000

I agree that the auditorium is wonderful. I do have a high schooler using it now and other children who will use it soon, and I’m excited about it. I’m not excited, however, by the $10 million that will be spent to build a school that will likely be too small soon after it is built. Don’t worry–I’m not just aimlessly complaining. I am actively working to find better solutions to our enrollment issues here in Decatur!

By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:21:16 +0000

CSD Mom,

[edited]

The sports complex was approved by the overwelming majority over voters in the bond referendum a few years ago. Re-opening Fifth Avenue is not only necessary to accommodate a growing school system, but it will help revitalize a community and get rid of a dormant building that has been sitting empty for close to a decade.

You lost the election. Get over it. The people of Decatur ratified the good works of Valarie and Carter Wilson.

By: MrFixIt

MrFixIt — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:06:55 +0000

oops.. I meant how “bad things were…”