December 5, 2012

Dear Community Leader,

The 19th Ward Community Association is against the proposed retirement of school buildings Walter S. Cooper #10 (former School #37) at 353 Congress Ave, John Walton Spencer #16 at 321 Post Ave and Lincoln Park #44 at 820 Chili Ave  as recommended in the draft Comprehensive School Facilities Modernization Plan (CSFMP)- Phases 2 & 3 submitted by RCSD Superintendent Bolgen Vargas.  The 19th WCA is also opposed to the consolidation of these schools into one large new building. We urge that the existing school buildings be fully renovated, and insist that the valued Expeditionary Learning Program housed at School #10 remains within the boundaries of the 19th Ward.

We are cognizant of the reported decline in RCSD student enrollment; however, the recommended closures are not geographically balanced.  The proposed building retirements in the 19th Ward would leave a huge swath of residential streets without a nearby RCSD elementary school. The 19th Ward would bear a disproportionally high percentage of the proposed RCSD school closures.  Our neighborhood alone would be burdened with 43% of the building closures for the entire city. We believe that the 19th Ward has a large enough population of elementary-aged students to support all of the current elementary schools in the Ward, (Schools #10, #16, #29 & #44). According to the CSFMP, there are currently 2,475 elementary aged students in the feeder patterns for Schools # 16 & #44 eligible for schooling in the RCSD.

Many studies show that students who attend smaller schools and have smaller class sizes perform better both socially and academically. Therefore we feel that it is necessary for the 19th Ward to remain the home of 4 reasonably sized schools.  In elementary schools, smaller size seems especially important, even more so in the case of economically disadvantaged families. Studies show that elementary schools should have no more than 500 students, yet the second idea proposed for the 19th Ward is to consolidated Schools 16 and 44 into a newly built facility that would house nearly 1000 students.  The evidence is clear, large schools simply do not work as well as smaller, more personalized ones.

Our existing school buildings are sized right and they fit in well with the surrounding neighborhood.  The proposed consolidated school would be unmanageably large. It would require the demolition of up to 75 residential properties and the possibly rerouting or elimination of city streets.  The proposed consolidated school would also cost more to construct ($56,940,000) than the combined total for renovations at Schools #10, #16 and #44 ($45,382,970). Any new RCSD elementary school to be constructed must have a maximum of 500 students.  It would have to be conveniently located and have a quality urban design that complements the neighborhood.  The site would have to minimize the demolition of homes.  If a new school is built, at least two other current RCSD elementary school buildings within the 19th Ward must be retained in order to keep easy walking access to all parts of the 19th Ward.

It is the position of the 19thWCA that the methodology used for recommending closures is fundamentally flawed. The 2005 School & Community Advisory Board to the Joint Facilities Modernization Board (S&CAB) developed the following criteria to be used for making decisions concerning school closures:

• Overall condition of building and site
• Economic development/ reuse potential
• Financial considerations
• Student enrollment, building capacity and utilization
• Role of the building in its neighborhood

The 2012 draft CSFMP report recommends closing Schools #10, #16 and #44 in part because they are “Type III” structures; however, Schools #1 and #23 also have Type III structures, yet in the current set of recommendations, they are not recommended for closure as they were in the 2005 S&CAB report.  The current CSFMP report refers to the older schools as being “beyond their useful life.”  However, the June 25, 2010-11 Building Condition Survey (BCS) completed by Clark Patterson Lee Design Professionals, listed the #16 school building as satisfactory on every major structural aspect.  The CSFMP report shows that the estimated renovation costs for some modern school buildings are higher than the estimated renovation costs of Schools #10, #16 and #44.  It seems that our early 20th Century schools are of sounder construction and better architectural value than most schools built in the mid-late 20th Century.  The 19th WCA believes that our existing school buildings can be made state-of-the-art and energy efficient at reasonable costs. 

There are major differences in cost estimations for renovating School #16.  Clark Patterson recommended only $1,597,850 in capital construction expenses. However, the July 2012 RCSD staff cost estimated that renovations and repairs to the #16 building to be $6, 124,000. The RCSD estimates admittedly include a 32% mark up on cost.  The 19th WCA wishes to receive an explanation for the differences between these two estimates.

School quality is an important factor in property values and a community’s quality of life, both issues of tremendous concern for 19th Ward residents. We have strategized and collected feedback from community members on RCSD actions that we feel would allow us to keep and improve our community schools as well as increase the number of families who choose 19th Ward schools.
Our suggestions follow:

•  Schools #16, #44 and #37 to remain open as small schools w/500 students max.
• Fully renovate current buildings #10, #16, #29 and #44 as viable, functioning Pre-K- 6 schools
•  School #10 Expeditionary Learning Program remains within the boundaries of the 19th Ward.
•  Include a full service cafeteria at the #16 building
•  Remove modular facilities from all schools and phase out basement classrooms ASAP.
•  Contract for wrap around services (including am NYS Licensed Day Care Providers, after school supervised study/play activities, Health & Wellness including mental health, housing services, recreation and tutoring services) at all three schools.
•  Introduce full day Pre-K & Kindergarten at all three schools.

 Implement neighborhood shuttle buses for students at all four schools.

In conclusion, we urge the RCSD to take a serious look at the negative impacts that communities have experienced after excessive numbers of school closures and work to insure that all necessary building closures be geographically balanced so as to avoid extreme impact on the 19th Ward. The 19th WCA is considerate of the tremendous effort that is spent to improve the quality of our schools. We believe that the RCSD must utilize other alternatives at its disposal as a means of reducing square footage while maintaining the integrity of recent expenses designed to increase its capacity for the reduction of class sizes and meet the needs of students and families with wrap-around services and health and wellness services. 

The 19th WCA is prepared to work closely with the RCSD and other neighborhood groups to ensure that the final Comprehensive School Facilities Modernization Plan meets to needs of all of our neighborhoods.  We look forward to dialoging with you in the near future.

Thank You Sincerely,


DeWain O. Feller
President, 19th Ward Community Association