If Fifth Avenue is 3 stories tall, it will probably never be suitable to be used as an elementary school in the future, which is always a possible need. State (federal?) requirements state that younger grades must be housed on ground level. All new construction should be undertaken with the idea that the buildings must be suitable for another round of reconfigurations in the future. You know it will happen, don’t you?

My “designer instinct” has always told me that Fifth Avenue is just too small for this use. In the spring ( also at the last minute, due to health reasons) I tried to get the board to consider an option that used the vacant portion of the high school property. This is another option that would group more of our classrooms in the center of town for grades 4-12. It too was a challenging idea…. and dismissed.

Fifth Avenue is a small site, not the big lot describe on the reconfiguration pro and con list.
I understand that the plans will be released for public comment next month. Pay careful attention. Many people don’t seem to realize that the school is being torn down. (99.9% sure on that statement) It will be three stories tall. Option 13 fact sheet calls for 62 parking spaces, I assume on site!

My motivation is simply to see the board spend 8 million plus on a solution that has long term flexibility of use and also supports our educational model in the best way possible. I want to see our school board look like heros at the end of the day. By the way, the end of the day is not two years from now, it’s more like four to forty years from now. For the short term my suggestions are problematic for the school system. I realize this. The police department is a big question. Can it stay in the general area, should it stay there, how will we fund any new construction for the police dept? How will it relate to the school? These are all questions that should be answered during a deliberate, planning process which lucky for us begins this January. The school location can be a part of this master plan discussion with the city, but only if the school board tells the city in the next 30-60 days.

The Reconfiguration process focused on the educational models for our community, as they should have. CSD are educators. It was determined that we need to maintain a K-3, 4-5 model. Whether or not I agree, I accept that final recommendation. But if we are to proceed with that model, I want to see it done the best way possible.

Personally, I have two young children, a job, an elderly mother, I’m a member of a choir, a club, a committee or two and Christmas is my favorite time of year. I can find other things to do with my time right now. I am only involved in this discussion with our school board and city leaders ( yes I’m talking to them too) because I want to make sure we get the best outcome possible for our 8 million dollars.

Just kidding, folks. Put those cauldrons of bubbling fury away.

We’re all puzzling over the role of blogs in community discourse. I find them useful for:
1) Rapid alerts about things that other entities don’t have the time or resources to alert me about–e.g. crash on Ponce blocking traffic, lockdown at middle school, serial killer at library (made that one up) etc. Decatur Metro is almost always first on these issues.
2) Announcements of events, business openings, business closings, candidate forums, etc.

I’m not as sure about discussions like this thread. Is the bubbling fury worth the sharing of ideas? Is anyone learning anything or is everyone just reacting? Sometimes I hear about issues that I’d never know anything about otherwise, e.g. annexation or obscure-to-me city commission issues or south side candidates who don’t send me flyers; they just don’t come up in my everyday school pickup and neighborhood stroll conversations. Other times, they seem to make innocent questions or comments more volatile than they are intended.

But darn, if others are going to voice their opinions, especially opinions that vary from mine, it’s hard not to chime in.