The Mann Building
Based on statements made by Superintendent Banda and President Smith-Blum, I believe the district is doing its best to be diplomatic and pragmatic with the former tenants in the Horace Mann building.
The Superintendent has said he wants to try to find solutions.
President Smith-Blum says staff made it clear when leasing the building that it was for a limited time and has a "claw back" clause (as nearly every lease of a school building does because the district needs to have the use of the building in case of need or crisis).
What is interesting is that it appears the actual lease holders (those who contracted with the district) HAVE moved out to other locations. The other groups that remain (with subleases from the original lease holders) are the ones asking to stay.
She says:
"The Superintendent felt it was important to help the groups still in the building relocate as they are doing some good things with kids at risk. The task force has a fairly succinct charter - find viable spaces within a short period of time - so our construction schedule is not compromised. "
She believes, as has been stated here by a number of people, that there are many low-cost, alternative spaces for them to move to within about a mile of the Mann building.
Nova moving into Mann is the first step to reconstitute Meany (which, in turn, helps the very crowded Washington Middle School). The construction schedule, if delayed, will have a ripple effect on several programs including the World School.
If the district wants to try to locate alternatives for these groups, that's admirable. In turn, the needs of the district and all the students that this issue affects should be understood by those currently in the building.
The Superintendent has said he wants to try to find solutions.
President Smith-Blum says staff made it clear when leasing the building that it was for a limited time and has a "claw back" clause (as nearly every lease of a school building does because the district needs to have the use of the building in case of need or crisis).
What is interesting is that it appears the actual lease holders (those who contracted with the district) HAVE moved out to other locations. The other groups that remain (with subleases from the original lease holders) are the ones asking to stay.
She says:
"The Superintendent felt it was important to help the groups still in the building relocate as they are doing some good things with kids at risk. The task force has a fairly succinct charter - find viable spaces within a short period of time - so our construction schedule is not compromised. "
She believes, as has been stated here by a number of people, that there are many low-cost, alternative spaces for them to move to within about a mile of the Mann building.
Nova moving into Mann is the first step to reconstitute Meany (which, in turn, helps the very crowded Washington Middle School). The construction schedule, if delayed, will have a ripple effect on several programs including the World School.
If the district wants to try to locate alternatives for these groups, that's admirable. In turn, the needs of the district and all the students that this issue affects should be understood by those currently in the building.
Comments
http://phinneycenter.blogspot.com/2011/03/phinney-neighborhood-center-earns.html
PSP
MLK free space for youth :
http://www.mlkfame.com/
PSP
But I disagreed that somehow this is a north- south issue (and I wish you had not stated it that way).
There are other non-community center options for the groups in the Mann building.
But, in the end, the building is needed for a school and now. The leases have ended and the building needs to be vacated.
Second, I believe the previous BEX round focused largely on the south, with comparatively fewer schools built or remodeled in the north (per capita - remember, the population is not evenly spread throughout the city). It's a cycle that swings throughout the city. To understand, one must take the long view and understand a variety of data both across time and geography. I imagine most citizens want city leaders to understand the city's demographic data and history, in the big picture, nor merely in the things that reinforce existing views. I'm glad to see that other commenters such as Joanna are correcting the misinformation Ms. Martin is attempting to sow.
-- from Data Driven