Prevent demolition of the historic A.E. Doyle building at Riverdale Grade School, favoring renovation instead.
Clarify voter intent on Measure 26-101, due to documented voter confusion surrounding the Doyle building.
Please keep your comments respectful, in the best traditions of Riverdale.
Can we talk honestly here for a moment?
ReplyDeleteLet's talk about what this is about, what it is not about, and what the likely outcome is.
What this IS about is a group of folks in the neighborhood who either attended the grade school themselves, or their kids did (or both!) for whom the edifice of the building is a talisman of that wonderful experience. To them (or you, if support this web site), the building facade IS the neighborhood. That is completely understandable. Your opposition to starting fresh is fine, and was fine, as long as you stuck to reality and also were willing to operate in the best tradition of this community. That used to be, "we can disagree, but once we vote, then we all commit" for the sake of the kids. No longer, it appears.
What this is NOT about is financial stewardship - the opposition has already cost the district money, and if the school board fights, will cost more money, and even if they cave in, will result in a building that costs more ($500K-$1M more) than a fresh start would provide. That added cost will be subsumed into a less functional building for the generations to come. (there goes the community room, for example)
What this is NOT about is environmental stewardship. The argument that an existing building is the "most green" is specious on its face. The slight difference for saving the facade of brick gets swamped by a longer construction period, worse traffic flows (for the next 100 years), longer period of a remote site with the attendant commuting, suboptimal HVAC, etc.
It is NOT about democracy. We've had both representative democracy (our elected school board) weigh in, not once but twice. We've had a direct election with far more participation than an "clarification" election would have now. And please don't insult our intelligence with the argument that a material number of voters were "confused". That may work in court to delay - which is all you need to win (see below) - but the board was very clear prior to the election through coffees and community meetings where they were heading.
Finally, this is clearly NOT about the kids, as all the professional educators involved come down on the side of a new building for the next century.
However, having said my piece - here's the good news. I suspect you who support this web site will win. The school board will submit to the greenmail, because the math is simple. If they fight, they rapidly lose the financial benefit of the new building in legal costs, delays, higher temporary costs, etc. Any victory would be pyrrhic. (You knew this, I suspect)
If they cave in, they incur the wrath of the voters, whose will they will have allowed to be violated. But it appears to me that is the lesser evil. We end up with a building better than we have today, but not the one that could have had Riverdale stand out not just in 2010, but 50+ years from now.
But for all our sakes, let's hope the take away from this experience is not that if a vote is taken in our neighborhood, and you lose - go directly to court. Those who support this web site might find themselves on the other side of this experience some day. You won't enjoy feeling so violated.
Thank you for an honest and accurate opinion-I couldn't agree more. The board members of the nonprofit, Preserve Riverdale, are, with one exception, community members whose kids have long since left the grade school. While their commitment to preserve the building is understandable, what is not clear is their commitment to the current occupants of the school or those yet to come.
ReplyDeleteIt is deeply distressing to see the school board's integrity called into question-after the hundreds of hours they, and others have put into a comprehensive process to identify the best plan to serve the children of the district for the next 100 years. To assert that the board and other community members purposely confused the voters is a sad commentary on what happens when people in this neighborhood disagree. This is not the example we want to set for our children-one that suggests that if you don't get your way, do whatever is necessary to see that it happens-even if it means compromising friends and neighbors.
I hope you visit the website preserveriverdale.org, where many of your statements will be addressed.
ReplyDeleteEspecially helpful will be the page on Sustainable Stewardship, which provides facts and links to support the statement that the greenest building is the one that already exists. We learn little by dismissing other's ideas without understanding them.
Also helpful will be the Resources page, which documents ways in which voters were confused during the Measure 26-101 campaign. It is a shame that the election was tainted by a less than transparent process. If you read these documents, it will be clear that it is the facts, not rumor, that call into question the actions of some members of the School Board.
I know the members of the Board of Preserve Riverdale, and all of them have given countless hours of service to Riverdale, love our community, and its children. The same old saw "they don't care about the children" has never been convincing, and doesn't become more so by repetition.
Finally, given the downturn in the economy, there are very big financial savings to be realized by careful management of this project. This opportunity has not be used to the greatest extent possible, and the taxpayers will foot the bill. Also, demographic estimates project falling District enrollment in coming years, so we don't need a building large enough for 50% more students. That is not responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
Could the blogger clarify the intent of the letter sent to the community stating a "yes" vote preserved the Doyle building? I am still confused. I agree we need to set an example to our children. Do things with integrity.Disagree with others in a respectful way. Be good stewards of your money and others. Don't be afraid to take a stand when you believe something is wrong.
ReplyDeletePreserving the Doyle building is just one issue that has prompted the creation of preserveriverdale.org and the associated nonprofit. For the good of the neighborhood, can be please be intellectually honest?
ReplyDeleteIn an effort to overturn the election, which is likely not possible, the supporters of the website assert that "Measure 26-101 would have failed without the strong affirmative vote of the Lewis and Clark students who were lobbied...". What is not said, is the BOTH sides were lobbying Lewis and Clark students. It is documented in the October 24th issue of the student newspaper, The Pioneer Log. This not a unique situation. During the 1995-96 campaign to create Riverdale High School and ensure the continuation of the district, many of the supporters of this website were involved in the campaign to preserve the district. That campaign included intense lobbying of Lewis and Clark students. That victory was won by a narrow margin; without the Lewis and Clark vote it surely would have failed. Why is it ok then, but not now?
The website also states, "the ballot measure was likely rejected by voters who will be responsible for payment of debt services on the bond". The implication being that non property owners, or college students living in district, should not be allowed to vote. Should we also suggest that the college children of Riverdale School District families not be allowed to vote since they are not technically property owners? The issue of the district boundary is not new. Those who opposed the 1995 bond objected to the voting district boundaries and those who opposed the most current measure also object. But you can't have it both ways.
There are many other issues that don't directly relate to the preservation of the Doyle building. Some parents have expressed concern that movement to Smith Elementary might disrupt their children's graduation year. Would another year be more suitable for their children? Money is a legitimate concern. But not wanting to pay taxes is not the same as historical preservation-some who are committed to overturning the election just don't want to pay-for renovation or replacement. Let's just be honest about it.
Finally, let's be clear about the cost of litigation. Money to defend the school district will come out of operating costs, and thus the classroom. This will have a direct impact of education. Is that what we all really want??
With all the time, energy and resources that have gone into creating this beautiful website, think of what could be accomplished. Where are those willing to volunteer their time to come up with a solution that works for the benefit of the children?
What a beautifully designed website! What clever language, carefully chosen to question others' character and integrity without actually uttering the words! One wonders about the hundreds of hours spent by "Preserve Riverdale" president Steve Jewell and his "Board" to create websites, rally voters at Lewis & Clark (yes, folks BOTH sides were there,) entice e-petition-signers from far and wide, meet with lawyers, excite the media, attend conditional-use hearings, and set up a non-profit entity to pay for legal fees. What if this collective energy had been spent, instead, raising a hand back in November to volunteer to work toward a solution the whole community would embrace? Alas, no hands were raised from this side. One might conclude that "Preserve Riverdale" has nothing to do with wanting the Riverdale School District to excel, and more to do with making sure "You do what I want" at any cost, even if it means the District goes down, and if destroying the credibility of hard working, decent volunteers is a by-product. The "Riverdale way" used to be collaborative, where disagreements were settled by meeting together, hammering out differences and working together toward a solution. It is a sad, sad commentary that the "Preserve Riverdale" group has not only NOT offered to roll up their sleeves in any capacity over the past three months, but also through their bullying tactics will further irreparably harm the community, and perhaps the District, by its litigiousness. Beautiful webite though........
ReplyDeleteThe real issue troubling much of the community is not the Doyle building, but the mismanagement of public process by some Board members.
ReplyDeleteThe truly disturbing event was Board member involvement in the October 21 community letter: http://www.preserveriverdale.org/preserveriverdale.org/Resources_files/October%2021_Letter_2.pdf
This directly contradicts the Board minutes of Sept. 18: http://www.preserveriverdale.org/preserveriverdale.org/Resources_files/Board%20Minutes_9-18-08_2.pdf
This caused many community members, including a number of former Board members, to lose confidence in some members of the current School Board and feel they had abandoned the principles of good governance and our community traditions.
Without that October 21 letter, this issue would have likely died after the November election was over.
Rather than questioning the motives of Preserve Riverdale, perhaps you should be asking some tough questions of members of the Riverdale School Board.
My question is why preserving the school and "caring for the children" are mutually exclusive, according to those who wish to tear down the school.Wasn't the high school renovated with new additions? Everyone seems to be pleased with the new high school and no one is worried about the safety of the kids.
ReplyDeleteThe trade-offs of remodeling versus starting fresh at our high school resulted in substantial cost overruns (always a risk in a remodel) and the loss of the opportunity to have a full size playing field for the community to use - for generations to come. This could have been accomplished if the building had gone up from scratch, and was oriented differently on the site. So - yes - we have a nice facility there, but at both a short-term and long-term cost.
ReplyDeleteImagine the year is 1920. A young architect named Doyle is picked to design a new school for the Riverdale community. The community votes and decides to proceed.
ReplyDeleteBut then a group of neighbors who had gone to the existing school in an aging local farmhouse file suit, because they don't want to see that old farm building destroyed in favor of some new-fangled brick structure - designed for kids not even born yet. They raise many of the arguments we are hearing today.
Little do they know they are preventing the neighborhood from having a school to last for the next 90 years.
Today, perhaps we have the next Doyle working on our school - one that 90 years from now people will revere - if only we will let them do their work....
The problem is the school board didn't choose the next Doyle
ReplyDeleteThe majority of the people who voted for the bond measure are people who have arrived at the conclusion that the District cannot go on with conditions in the physical plant the way they are. Most of these people realize that the sad, but true (and really pretty exciting) solution to some of the undesirable and downright substandard conditions in the education facility and program will be the creation of a new two-story facility located more advantageously on the site. No on who supports this website should think that anyone who supports building a new facility has come to that conclusion easily. I think everyone struggles with the loss of the original building. I hope that the members of this organization do not think that they have the patent on sadness for the current school building.
ReplyDeleteSound analysis of the times we live in, the financial status of the district, site limitations, 21st century programming needs, larger student population and standards for classroom size, etc. presents a very difficult choice for all of us. It is not easy to say goodbye but as adults we realize (and teach our children) that sometimes the tough thing to do is what has to be done -- that the heroic push for the perfect solution is just enough out of reach that it is too far beyond rationalizing. Transitions happen and are usually powerful agents of change in more ways that the physical plant. What a positive and exciting time WE get to live in as we help form the future for generations to come.
For those who love the original building and, yet, didn't follow, through the course of the year, the progression of research on how to improve our grade school facility -- well, the shock must have been a hard hit. But now it has been a few months and there has been plenty of time for the facts to sink it. Let's think of positive ways to embrace the new and, yet, honor the past. You will be welcomed.
Please ... stop. If the Preserve Riverdale non-profit really wants to preserve Riverdale as we know it, they would cease and desist immediately.
ReplyDeletePlease ... join forces with the School Board and the design committee to bring a truly beautiful Doyle-esque building to our neighborhood.
Please ... take some time to truly review the renovation plans. It doesn't make sense for our kids to lose valuable outdoor play space and not benefit from an improved teaching space. I know you feel "it was good enough for your kids so no change is needed" but I encourage you to think about the kids of the future.
As a community member with children in the Grade School, I fully support the School Board's decision to replace the Main Building. This decision to do this was not easy and only came after extensive consideration was given to many factors and after cost and feasibility data were reviewed by several independent contractors. The School Board did an amazing job weighing all the factors prior to coming to this decision.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I have to ask why the Preserve Riverdale supporters are placing at risk the very school they supported for years. Many people in this group have lived in the community for years and sent their children to the Grade School. During those early years, these individuals freely donated their time and financial resources to continue Riverdale's long standing tradition of academic excellence. What has changed? Why do these families no longer care about the qualities that make our school unique - namely, small class sizes, core programs to include Art, Language and Music; and teachers able to respond and challenge students on an individual basis? Why are these families willing to jeopardize these qualities to preserve a building that will cost more in dollars and time to refurbish and will fall short of the amenities and potential for creative instruction than a new building will allow? Is it that the majority of the supporters of Preserve Riverdale no longer have children in the school? Is it more of an emotional reaction because they went to school here? I'm not sure what it is, but they are knowingly engaging in actions to stop a process well underway that has the majority of the neighborhood's support.
Riverdale is a School District filled with enthusiastic and competent teachers and administrators and students excited about learning. It is not just a building. Families are not moving to our neighborhood because of a building; nor are they paying tuition because of a building. Families are making conscious decisions to send their children to our schools because of what we teach and how we teach it. I question whether or not the Preserve Riverdale group is really attempting to "Preserve Riverdale" but instead "Preserve the Doyle Building.
I, like many families, do respect the value in preserving history. A community is entitled to having different views. But once a decision is made democratically, then as good neighbors, we should work together to support the decision. I commend the School Board for doing the due diligence required to reach this difficult decision; in taking the time to hear the concerns from the Preserve Rivierdale supporters and ultimately making a decision which is consistent with what they told the community might happen. They were transparent and clear in their communications and it's regrettable that some community members were confused. But after reading through all the attachments on the Preserve Riverdale website, I have to wonder how there could be any confusion.
We are a small but growing school community. Taking positions that are truly detrimental to our kids by jeopardizing the quality of their education is creating divisions in our community that may be hard to repair. I heartfully ask the Preserve Riverdale supporters to do just that! Please preserve Riverdale and help us create a Doyle inspired design for our new facility that will keep the best of the old while allowing for the best of the new!
I am confused as to how the "Save Doyle" letter recommending a yes vote on the bond measure has become an endorsed communication from two members of the School Board. I believe that the letter was from a community member who actually wanted to save the Doyle building, but not at the risk of not passing the bond at all.
ReplyDeleteIt was also to counter the "Jewell letter" recommending a no vote because Jewell(and I suspect most others crying foul) was fully aware that a yes vote would not guarantee that the Doyle building would be preserved.
My understanding is that both the Jewell letter and the Yes vote letter were sent to members of the board prior to them being sent out to the community, but niether was vetted, endorsed or in any way a Board sanctioned communication. Connecticting the yes vote letter to members of the board seems like a considerable leap of faith.
Regardless, It is an even bigger leap of faith to believe that many voters were actually "mislead or deceived" into voting yes instead of no.
After the bond was passed, there was considerable debate encouraged and listened to regarding the final decision to replace or remodel. The arguments for remodel were ultimately not convincing enough to change the board recommendation for replacement. The architects even offered to take an extra few weeks to try to come up with a "win win" solution to save the Doyle which was agreed to by the board (at the risk of a late start on the project). This also was unsuccessful.
Please stop searching for some loose end or technicality in an attempt to delay this project. Your success will mean unnecessary sacrifice and possible failure for hundreds if not thousands of students, parents and teachers in this district.
Respectfully,
Concerned parent
This is a little bit off of the subject but I have a question about the Riverdale School Board Meetings. About 9 months ago, I noticed that the meeting minutes were not being posted on the Riverdale School District website anymore. At one point, you could click on a link to the previous monthly minutes but then they stopped being posted.
ReplyDeleteJust before I wrote this blog (2-14-09) I took another look at the school's website and there is no longer a link to the archive of minutes. Have they been moved somewhere else?
There seems to be quite a backlash against the Preserve Riverdale group. I am not seeing very many posts on here supporting this cause. Where are all of the lied to voters?
ReplyDeleteThis cause is only about saving the building that only a few people in the community prioritize over building the best educational facility. Most of the people that take the time to understand the process that went into this decision side with replacement because the benefits to education resulting from
replacement significantly outweigh the benefits of saving the building.
Please accept the decision and the positive impact that this will have on the Riverdale district.
Wow!
ReplyDeleteLooking at all these comments, I see an overwhelming majority are in support of the school board, the ballot measure, its outcome and the American way. Perhaps the democratic process is truly at work here and the "Preserve Riverdale" contingent can learn something. I suspect you were not anticipating the one-sided responses that are against you. That is why you need to STOP what you're doing, NOW!
Yes, we understand your rights to fight. Yet, you need to understand the extreme damage and destruction you are causing the very neighborhood you so valiantly seek to "preserve." The term "perverse" is more applicable to your group. If you truly, sincerely, thoughtfully reflected on your actions, you would see the damage YOU are now causing. It saddens me greatly that you would cost us, your fellow nieghbors, several thousands of dollars and impact the learning of our children in such an arrogant and destructive manner.
I no longer consider you neighbors. You are selfish, selfish individuals who will most likely cause the demise of this district. You have gone beyond the democratic process and are now just hurting us all. You will win nothing. If you should continue on and prevail, it's my hope that the board will let the building rot and merge the district in due time. The needs of the children and the future outweigh your warped since of saving some old building. Sad, sad, sad.
Look where all the angry people are now... 'some old building'... Wow, you people really don't get it, do you?
ReplyDeleteWhat do people not get?
ReplyDeleteAnd in your response, can you please let us know:
ReplyDeleteHow many children you have attending Riverdale?
When was the last time you donated to the foundation?
When was the last time you set foot in the building?
The simple fact is there is asbestos in the walls of this beloved building.
ReplyDeleteThis building, which I have old family connection to, needs to be safely torn down for the betterment of all who are in the school. One accidental hole in the wall becomes a serious health hazard.
I've also had a family member die of asbestos produced cancer. It was a long and very painful death. One I do not wish on anyone.
Question to Preserve Riverdale - Which is more worthwhile to preserve; the beloved children or the beloved building?
Let the school reuse those bricks, but the rest needs to be disposed of safely by hazmat.
Is there anyone out there that is willing to defend a "save the Doyle Building" position with the current consequences of making a change of plan at this late time?
ReplyDeleteThis is your website and your forum. Where are all of the Riverdale District save the building people?
I am waiting for something more compelling than "you people don't get it" and "the voters were lied to".
It is time to demolish the old school building. The memories will remain, the community spirit will remain. The learning of our children will remain.
ReplyDeletePlease cease your case against the school district. You do not have the support of the majority of the neighborhood. Yes, the majority. We voted. We won.
Please do not cloud the issue with confused voters, L&C student votes, etc. That's life. It's time for you to move on. You called yourselves the "Preserve Riverdale" group. If you truly meant it, you would realize the pain you are causing the neighborhood and stop. You would be preserving Riverdale, if you ceased your actions, now.
Your continued opposition hurts everyone. I appreciate your spirit and spunk. However, the time has come to drop your weapons.
Dear Preserve Riverdale,
ReplyDeleteAm in receipt of your letter mailed to the district residents dated Feb 20th.
You are full of it!!
Your statements are inaccurate and your pleads to be the held out as the hurt party in this matter, fall on deaf ears. Bring it on. Again, you should be ashamed of yourselves for dragging this out.
The building is coming down. Come to grips with it. You are only costing your neighbors time and money to continue this fight.
What a disingenuous letter. I cannot believe no school board member would talk to you. What a lie. You need to go away, NOW!
You are a sad, sorry group of individuals. Now grow-up and put an end to your rabble-rousing.
Would you please post the letter here?
ReplyDeleteDear Preserve Riverdale,
ReplyDeleteYour recent letter which claims that disenfranchisement is your focus is bogus. Everyone in this district knows that your issue is entirely about preserviing the Doyle building regardless of the sacrifices required and regardless of what nearly all of the parents of school children and school employees believe.
Well before the bond passed, the minority that currently supports "Preserve Riverdale" have been trying to scuttle any and all efforts that involve replacing the Doyle building.
It started with the Burns family kid stealing the "vote yes" campaign signs (the cost of which was not reimbursed to my knowledge) and progressed to the "Vote No" letter sent out by Steve Jewell. This was then followed up by numerous nasty and threatening letters and emails sent to the School board which reduced at least one School Board member to tears.
After the bond passed, despite the nasty communications to the School Board, A sincere effort was made to reach a compromise which would have resulted in a preserved Doyle. While a suitable design was achieved in my opinion it would have resulted in an over budget final product.
Your disenfranchisement claim is simply your newest attempt to save the Doyle building and I do not believe that your staunch supporters care one bit about what costs or sacrifices need to be made.
So, with your history of stealing yes vote signs, advocating for a no vote (even though the school is falling apart)unless Doyle is saved, threatening the School Board and threatening legal action, why would anyone believe that you would go away quietly if a second vote reaffirmed the original vote.
Your group is obsessed with the Doyle building and your softly worded recent disenfranchisement letter does not hide your fanatic and irrational intent to save Doyle regardless of cost and sacrifice.
I have to say that after reading all 27 comments made so far on this blog it seems to me that a clarifying ballot measure to be put on the May 19 ballot would be a very sensible solution to determining what the majority of voters in our district would really like to do with the Doyle Building. Are there really any serious drawbacks to a clarifying ballot measure?
ReplyDeleteAsk Jewell to play back his video he took at the last School Board meeting.
ReplyDeleteThere are many drawbacks and I do not think that you care about anything other than preserving your building.
A huge majority of the parents and School employees believe that education is best served by a new building.
Please let it go!