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While I agree that consolidation needs to occur and appreciate all the well meaning efforts of the committee, I do not feel this plan fully examines the issues or adequately describes a long range plan for the City's school facilities. Following the logic in the draft proposal that the upgrade of Aldrich and Gorton would cost approximately $18 million per building ($36 million total) which was not an acceptable option to the committee, the exact same upgrade analysis of the high schools and repurposed Vets, shows each building also needing approximately $18 million in upgrades ($55 million total) which aside from a few minor upgrades identified were largely ignored by the committee. As the proposal indicates, the remaining high schools will be close to or over capacity depending on which of the many capacity numbers listed in the various documents on the website you decide to use. (I would suggest that none are sufficient indicators of capacity as operational, programming, ancillary space, traffic pattern/parking studies should be included in capacity analysis). My concern is that we will be exacerbating current subpar building conditions by crowding the schools without the much needed improvements (and the one school ,Vets, given the most renovations will be the only one with the excess capacity).

One positive result of this process has been a broader public recognition of the aging school facilities in the City. While I appreciate the committee's efforts to work within the school department's current financial limitations, I do not feel this is in the long term best interests of either the City or school department. Every long range facility plan should incorporate ongoing capital improvement planning and this process should include an analysis of the true costs associated with the continued operation and upgrading of all school facilities. If the real costs associated with upgrading all our "2" rated facilities (which I believe many are actual "3"s) are identified and compared to the costs of new facilities, other options may make more sense for the long term viability of our City. The City should be held accountable for the condition of school facilities and should not expect the school department to solely finance facilities that are in dire need of upgrades but unless the school department/committee provides an accurate capital assessment, this will not occur. While the proposal may describe the best case solution given the school department's limitations, it does not provide a bright future for our schools. It only provides a short-term solution to gain a few dollars for minor renovations, will continue to perpetuate the lack of capital investment in our schools, and will likely be a financially, academically, and emotionally damaging decision in the long run. I would be in full support of the school department/committee developing a long term capital improvement plan, educating the public on the true needs/costs, and of the City financing the needed upgrades/renovations or construction of the schools and the school department providing the ongoing annual maintenance to keep up improvements.

From: Let’s make positive changes for our schools

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