Print

[Hilary]

I hate to be cynical all the time, but I can’t help but wonder WHY there are so many public meetings about schools modernization. (See Oct. 12 calendar item) Is it a state requirement? It seems strange to me to have FOUR meetings on this and yet on other things that parents and other citizens are more likely to want to voice their opinions about – say, school closings – there are none.  Why is a district that is so hard to get information out of about so many things (for example - we’ve been asking since September 6 when parents will receive their children’s state test scores, and still no answer or even explanation of the delay) SO interested in talking about this? Anyone know?

Quite possibly it’s the $1.2 billion price tag. I’m intrigued by Superintendent Brizard’s comment (see City Newspaper, Sept. 24) that the criteria for identifying the schools that will be remodeled should be academic needs, not the condition of the buildings. I had been under the impression that this money (which is almost entirely coming from the state) was for fixing crumbling schools. It sounds like there’s a lot of leeway there. But unless the District does a better job explaining how this is relevant to our children’s educations, there aren’t likely to be many people at the public meetings – no matter how many are held.

[lbryce]

Has anyone been to any of these meetings?  I would love to know how they are run and what the desired outcome is.  Are they information sharing only?  Is there a Q&A?  Who is presenting?

[Ray]

I see the inevitable results.  I did attend the first in the series of meetings on school modernization.  Frankly, the reason I went was to address Hilary's statement, as follows: "But unless the District does a better job explaining how this is relevant to our children’s educations, there aren’t likely to be many people at the public meetings – no matter how many are held".

I believe that is the very purpose of the meetings.  If you are interested, I'd strongly suggest that you go.  I was very impressed with the presentations and the seemingly thorough responses to the questions.

The real content will come in November with the next series of forums, when the proposed master plan (for all 50+ schools and 13 Phase 1 schools) is shared.  I sure hope that the public turns out for those meetings.  If not, it's back to the "inevitable results".  People will complain about the results and claim that there was no opportunity for input.  Well. they've already missed this current series of meetings and may miss the next opportunity.

Many people have already missed some great opportunities to learn about the process and hear about some great success stories by the same mgt. company in a different school district.

[Hilary]

Thanks for the report! I am going to try to go to the last meeting. But honestly, it is very unclear to me what these meetings are about. Until just recently, I thought they were about improving old buildings -- and while I'm all for that, I don't see it as an area that necessarily *needs* my input, when there are so many demands on my time that I can't possibly fulfill.

Now, suddenly, the superintendent is saying that the process is being driven by academic needs ... and I'm hearing that maybe it is really about (or now about) reorganizing the schools to a K-8, 9-12 model? Or something else entirely? But nobody's *saying* that.  That's not what I thought modernization meant!  I don't think it's fair to say that people should know to be going to these meetings, when I don't think to most people "modernization project" has anything to do with a master academic plan for the district!

Am I way off base here? What does "modernization project" mean to the rest of you?

[Ray]

A dictionary definition of modernizing is as follows:  to make modern (as in taste, style, or usage).   After reading up on the "modernization" project and attending the first session, I believe that this huge undertaking in RCSD focuses upon "usage". 

This project goes well beyond painting walls, fixing roofs, and bringing buildings up to code.  Yes, many schools are very overdue for some structural repairs and have basic needs to bring them up to date.  That was acknowledged at the public session.

The usage of the buildings, as defined in district plans will define the designs of the school buildings.  This is where the project becomes much more involved.  There will be a draft master plan that defines the future of all 50+ school buildings.  It will also define the more specific plans for the schools in the first group of 13 (I believe).

Will this deal with the plan to move toward the K-8 and 9-12 model? Absolutely!  The program definitions will be at the core of the conceptual designs for each building that will evolve into the actual architectural plans.

It is clear to me that the plans coming out of this project have everything to do with academic success moving forward.  Is it the only thing? No  Is it important?  Yes!

I stongly encourage people to get involved in learning about the Modernization project.  Learn about the overall plan.  Learn about where your schools fit in the plan.  Get involved at the school level when that time comes.

[Hilary]

You are doing a much better job explaining it than the District, in my opinion!

[Hilary]

p.s. Stormin - even the media seems to have missed the significance of this project, as you explain it. For example this D&C story, of Sept 17, repeatedly uses the words "construction" and "renovation" -- which is what I thought the project was about, and I suspect *is* what it was originally about! Only the fact that there WERE four public meetings scheduled gave me any clue that somehow it was more significant than that!!!

----------------------------------------

A project to renovate City School District classrooms has $1.2 billion to spend, and officials say they want the public to help them decide how to spend it.

A series of public meetings next week will give the community a chance to suggest school renovations as part of the Rochester Schools Modernization Project.

"We want to make sure that we take into consideration what the public wants," said Jerome Underwood, the district's director of operations.

Plans to renovate school buildings have been in the works since 2007 when the state legislation authorizing the project was passed.

The Rochester Joint Schools Construction Board, which is overseeing the project, will use input from the meetings to come up with a draft proposal that will be ready for public review in October. The final plan would then be ready to go to the state for approval by the end of the year.

Once the plan is approved by the state, the district can start designing the projects. Administrators hope to start construction on the first phase by mid-2012.

The modernization project matches the district's efforts to revamp school programs under Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard. Administrators say that a safe, modern facility is key to a child's success in the classroom.

The board overseeing the project has hired key contractors in recent months as the project moves forward.

The first phase of the project will allow the district to renovate up to 13 of its school buildings at a cost of $325 million.

[Ray]

Thanks, but it is simply a high level summary of what I've learned by attending the public session.  One thing that I should note is that I don't want to give the impression that every school is getting a big make-over.  Some schools may get very minor adjustments and some may be gutted to start over.  I'm hoping that the money is used in the best way to align with the aggressive portfolio and strategic plans.

Another thing to keep in mind is that this is not a 2-3 year plan.  It may take as long as 15 years.

We'll see how it goes - - -

I just saw your other post - - - I'm not surprised that the media has not adequately covered the significance.  That's nothing new, unless of course, it's something bad.

I am guessing that things will get very interesting when the draft master plan becomes public.  Then, people will see the real impact and magntitude of the project.