Spokane7
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September 16, 2010 in City
Jefferson Elementary School options pit sides
Opponents cite safety, traffic, property values
In the foreground, Clay Hatch, Temira Hatch, Whitney Welch and Jack Wiley, all parents of Jefferson Elementary School children, talk Wednesday about their decision to advocate for the west site for the new school building. They attended meeting on the school’s future.
(Full-size photo)
The battle over the future of Spokane’s Jefferson Elementary School remained heated Wednesday.
More than 200 people attended a public forum before the Spokane school board, many making their case for where the school should be rebuilt and how that could affect the adjoining Hart Field.
“No cheering or jeering,” said Sue Chapin, board president, warning the crowd. “I know we have a lot of emotion in this room. We are here to listen; we expect that from you.”
The two options: rebuild on the current east side location, which would require the purchase of eight additional properties and temporarily relocate students during construction; or put a new building on the west side, off Manito Boulevard, which would cost about $4 million less and keep students put. The west option angers some neighbors – some of whom have threatened to sue the district.
The west “is the safest option, it minimizes the interruption in education and it saves big dollars,” said neighbor Clay Hatch. “They want you to preserve their park and not do what’s best for our children.”
A neighbor advocating for the east option said, “I would like you to get out of your car, feel the peacefulness and consider the imprint the school would make. Once the dream place is gone, you can’t get it back.”
Wednesday was the first public forum dedicated to the issue. More than 60 speakers signed up to talk, and each had three minutes.
Concerns by neighbors ranged from traffic problems to children’s safety to potential drops in property values.
Becky Heacox, who has been vocal on keeping the school in its location, brought pictures to show what residents on Manito Boulevard look at now – fir trees and grass, versus a building.
She also argued moving the school to the west was not the safest because students will still have to cross Grand Boulevard.
“The safest and wisest option is what voters intended: renovate Jefferson,” Heacox said. “Being cheap isn’t what’s best for our children.”
Spokane Public Schools administrators have looked at traffic and home sale studies, considered construction costs and fielded hundreds of comments over the past year.
The traffic and home sale studies were presented late last month at a public meeting attended by more than 100 people. Results indicated that moving the school to the west would not affect home sales, and traffic would increase in the Manito neighborhood by about 167 vehicles per day.
But supporters of keeping the school in its current location are skeptical.
Many who spoke pointed out that the obligation of the board is to do what’s best for children and not cave to pressure from a few unhappy members in the community.
“I challenge the school board to offer our children the safest environment in which to learn, off of arterials and away from commercial development,” said Sarah Bain. “I challenge you to lay aside your anger and choose instead to marvel out your windows at the beauty of what childhood has to offer.”
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WillyPeter on September 16 at 7:19 a.m.
The Review’s reporter neglected to mention that nearly all of the attendees who spoke in favor of the west side were Montessori parents - most of whom do not live in the Jefferson boundry or the Comstock neighborhood. They want a nice little private setting within a public school for their children. And they are angered by Hart Field neighbors who insist on retaining the history, tradition, and beloved green of Hart Field.
Clay Hatch’s mean spirited attitude and comment about the Hart Field neighborhood wanting to retain “their park” tells clearly how disrectful the Montessori movement is to those wanting to retain the neighborhood’s current, and historical, Hart Field footprint.
Liberty_Bell on September 16 at 7:24 a.m.
“The safest and wisest option is what voters intended: renovate Jefferson,” Heacox said. “Being cheap isn’t what’s best for our children.”
“Nobody can doubt my zeal for the general instruction of the people. Who first started that idea? I may surely say myself.”
Thomas Jefferson 1821
PlanB on September 16 at 11:31 a.m.
They have GOT to keep the original building! Look at the example set by Rogers and LC, fantastic renovations that preserve historical buildings and are fully modern at the same time. That is priceless.
I live very near the Jefferson district and my kids utilize Hart Field (LC students).
sweetpotatopie on September 16 at 3:21 p.m.
@WillyPeter: I support the West option and I am not a Montessori parent. My daughter attends Jefferson and we, of course, live in the neighborhood.
I was not at last night’s meeting, so I did not hear Clay Hatch’s “mean spirited and disrespectful” remarks, but I am curious: were you at the last meeting when the housing and traffic findings were provided? I was, and the shouting and bullying by the closed-minded “conspiracy theorists” (those who are just *sure* that the school board is out to get them and ruin their property vaules) and their across-the-board refusal to listen to opposing viewpoints literally made my stomach turn. That is exactly why I did not attend last night’s meeting.
The reason we believe that the west option is the best choice is that by relocating the school, traffic (car, bike and foot) will be diverted away from the intersection of 37th and Grand. Between the school and all the commercial businesses and commuter traffic on that street, it is literally just a matter of time before a child is hit and possibly killed. It is undeniable that relocating the school will relieve some of the pressure at that intersection. Furthermore, bussing Jefferson’s students to other, already at-capacity elementary schools for two years is not acceptable. Those are years our community’s children can’t get back and their education WILL be compromised.
Will traffic on “my” street increase if the school is relocated? Yes. Does my family use and enjoy the little patch of green space at the west end of Hart field? Yes.
But as neighbors, friends and members of the same community, we MUST look at the big picture and consider what is best for the safety and education of the children of our neighborhood and community.
karynwoodard on September 16 at 8:47 p.m.
Clay Hatch is not a Montessori parent. And there is nothing mean-spirited in his comments in this article.
What you are mistaking for mean-spiritedness is passion: passion for kids and for education.
Furthermore, this is not a Montessori issue. This is a Jefferson issue. Montessori kids are Jefferson kids. Montessori parents are Jefferson parents. Montessori teachers are Jefferson teachers.
WillyPeter on September 17 at 7:39 a.m.
The “It is undeniable that relocating the school……..” comment simply shows how “refusal to listen to opposing viewpoints” can result in - my-mind-is-made-up, don’t-confuse-me-with-facts - thinking and erroneous conclusions.
If Jefferson is moved to Hart Field’s west end, the traffic at 37th and Grand will increase. The school district says the present buildings will be used for district staff or sold to private interests. Either use will substantially increase the vehicle traffic now using that intersection. Most of Jefferson’s student body lives east of Grand. Those children, six-to-eleven year olds, will still have to cross Grand at 37th, 36th, 35th, 34th, 33rd, 38th, 39th, 40th, etc., and the ones who live south of 37th, will still have to cross 37th. Yes. it is probably undeniable that this additional five block trek for those east of Grand will result in less safe journeys for little children in the winter, when some of those streets are barely passable for vehicles. And some are one-lane, sidewalk-less, streets.
District 81 is not the same thing as the The School Board. The School Board is elected to approve and “keep-an-eye” on the district employees (who are employed by Spokane’s tax-payers) and the district’s activities. There has been no indication that the board has decided on Jefferson’s ultimate disposition, but plenty of evidence that the district’s administration prefers the west end - some of it in writing and some on video (the district’s spokesperson stating that Jefferson needed to be built “in the west” so that Hutton children could occupy the “old” Jefferson while their school is renovated). And so much for the “undeniable” fact that traffic at 37th and Grand will be diminished.
And it’s true that some people only hear what they want to hear. Some haven’t heard the teachers that testify at board meetings that they taught in schools that hosted-out while their schools were being rebuilt and/or renovated. Those teachers all said is was a positive learning experience, and that students enjoyed their “great adventure.” And that students’ academic performance did not suffer.
Montessori? Any ill will directed at Montessori has been cultivated by Montessori. Jefferson’s ultimate fate tussel is a good example. Montessori has made it obvious that “going the extra mile” to get the school rebuilt on Hart Field’s west end is worth their struggle. But most of those folks live out of the Jefferson boundry and the Comstock Neighborhood. Citizens of the neighborhood understandably resent that intrusion. The Comstock Neighborhood has overwhelmingly “voted” at Comstock Neighborhood council meetings and by petition to retain Jefferson at the current location. So of course Montessori gets hammered with the ‘elitist’ curse (we don’t care what the unwashed masses want, just do it our way). Comstock residents see these folks are arrogant interlopers. Montessori should stay out of the struggle. Let the neighborhood decide where “their” neighborhood school goes. The right to participate does not equate to making that participation the smart thing to do, or that participating will have happy consequences.
It’s stupid to imply that some involved in this arguement care more for childrens’ education and safety than do others. Those who push this red herring should wise up.
manitoneighbor on September 18 at 12:46 p.m.
Willy Peter says, “If Jefferson is moved to Hart Field’s west end, the traffic at 37th and Grand will increase.” What’s the point of arguing the traffic? We all know it’s bad and won’t get better. When Jefferson was originally located where it is, it was in a neighborhood surrounded by homes. It was not surrounded by traffic-generating businesses: drive-thru coffee, gas station, major-chain grocery store, dry cleaner…) There weren’t nearly the number of homes in the Comstock neighborhood. Many of the commuter-generating neighborhoods south of there didn’t even exist. The point is that leaving Jefferson where it is places it too close to the intersection. The turnouts for the dropoff and bus lanes will be clogged with people waiting to get through the intersection.
Sure the teachers who talked about being hosted out survived and even looked at the bright side—they had no choice. These teachers and these students do have a choice.
Why aren’t the parents of children between Grand and Perry speaking out if they are concerned about the new location of the school? How can you presume to speak for them.
Any ill-will towards Montessori is not being generated by them by it being generated by one person. She has had a bone to pick with Montessori for over 15 years. The first time I heard of Montessori, I heard of the friction that was being caused by a disgruntled family. Low and behold, in doing a little research, I find that that voice is the same voice that has infected others in the neighborhood, in the newspaper, on the radio, and at every school board meeting. This voice has spoken out about other alternative education choices offered in the district and tried to have the Equity Office shut down. It would seem that her child attended a few different schools in Spokane, but I’m sure she walked to each and every one. Just to set the record straight, students attending Montessori are chosen by a lottery; it has nothing to do with who you know or how much money you have as it was recently overheard being reported by this individual. It is an incredible program, and the district welcomes anyone to put their name in the hat.
I realize that the Comstock Neighborhood Council doesn’t really represent the Comstock Neighborhood. I understand that those who didn’t agree with the vocal few were shouted out of neighborhood meetings and ousted from officer positions so the vote could be swayed. I understand that many signatures were presented to the board and that, though many were gathered legitimately, some of these signatures were gathered by giving people misinformation (old building sold to who-knows-who and used for who-knows-what, maybe even a half-way house; LC would lose 10 acres and not be able to support all of its athletic programs; property values would plummet; traffic would increase unmanageably; studies show that more children would be injured…) I even understand that some signatures were from those who live outside of the neighborhood. I don’t think they can have it both ways: it seems that no other taxpaying people in Spokane are supposed to have a say with what to do with these millions of dollars on the one hand but they can sign if they oppose the move. I do empathize with the those who live in the neighborhood and feel they have legitimate concerns and are scared of what the new facility might look like and how they might be impacted.
Manito Boulevard is a beautiful area, and it will still be a beautiful area with a beautiful school to serve future generations.
WillyPeter on September 18 at 9:15 p.m.
Just got home from watching a great football game at EWU and know a comment about this ridiculous rant is in order. So the teachers who said they found hosting-out a positive experience were lying? And when Jefferson began it was a country school…. there were few houses south of 29th…and no neighborhood. Why don’t those hundreds of folks between Perry and Grand speak out…guess their signatures don’t count as making their views legitimate? And those hundreds who attended Comstock Neighborhood meetings and spoke out…and voted..don’t count either? Montessori? Funny! One person is responsible for the program’s bum rap?… anyone who would make a statement like that either chooses not to tell the truth or doesn’t have a clue. Many, many Jefferson families have expressed dissatisfaction with Montessori…and still do. One person? My, how the anger flows thru and how some can hate those who articulate contrary ideas. And…this is really funny…I, and hundreds of south hill friends, attended “a few different schools” in Spokane. Guess we’re all guilty of…..??? Lastly, it’s OK to admit being a Montessori parent here…or a District 81 employee. Or just an arrogant know-it-all who knows how we citizens of the neighborhood think…or should. We aren’t very bothered…We know where YOU’RE coming from.
WillyPeter on September 20 at 8:14 a.m.
Sunday was a slow day, what with the Seahawks losing. But the Mariners won a close game 2-1, salvaging the sabbath.
So I used my unique access to some federal and private research and investigative resources (and I’m now in possession of copies of what I write), and spent a little time exploring Spokane’s District 81 Montessori program. Thanks for tweaking my interest MANITONEIGHBOR.
The ACLU, Spokane’s Center for Justice, and national professional education publications have admonished District 81 for operating an unprofessional, unfair and possibly illegal Montessori program. If you aren’t aware of this history, you shouldn’t be babbling about it. Unless, that is, you arrogantly assume you are more qualified than those above entities to clear up this issue. Therefore, it sounds to me like we need more of those female she-devils (guffaw) you demonized working to correct Montessori and District 81 shortcomings.
By-the-way, it’s a cheap, discredited trick to personally attack an individual who disagrees with you rather than addressing the subject at hand.
WillyPeter on September 27 at 4:01 p.m.
Whooooooa - At the LC/Gonzaga Prep game I learned that at least one east side Jefferson proponent had received ‘hate mail’. And that the US Postal Service and the FBI were in receipt of that mail. We might have some real fun now! Finger prints, DNA, etc.make it hard to hide. My best advice…Run manitoneighbor…..run….