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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > February > 03 > Entry
Scott Elliott: Five Oaks needs a school, even if it’s not Julienne
This is going to be hard for some people to accept. Emotional attachments to our past run deep and whenever possible we shouldn’t give them up.
But sometimes we should, in order to look forward to the future. For those who live in Dayton’s Five Oaks neighborhood around the former Julienne High School, this is a time to mourn, but then to let go. To do otherwise jeopardizes an opportunity the neighborhood must not miss.
Some of the neighbors who want to save Julienne have a false sense of the choice before them. They don’t have a choice between having a new school on Homewood Avenue or having a renovated Julienne.
The real choice is a $14 million new school in their neighborhood or no school at all.
Dayton Public Schools owns Julienne, having bought it in 2004 after Dayton Christian High School relocated to Miami Twp. School district leaders wanted a place to house Stivers School for the Arts while its Fifth Street building was rebuilt.
But that wasn’t the only reason the district wanted the building. Five Oaks has more kids who attend Dayton Public Schools than most neighborhoods. The Julienne site was a natural place for a new elementary school, as part of the district’s 10-year construction program.
Built in 1926, Julienne has genuine significance for thousands of Daytonians. The school played an important role in shaping the lives of a sizeable chunk of the city.
But the district doesn’t want to renovate the building because of the expense. Officials estimate renovation would cost the district $6 million more than the price of a new building. (The district was stung by the cost of renovating Stivers, a project that ran close to $16 million above the $24 million usual price tag for a new high school.)
Critics say the district’s numbers are wrong. But the school board believes them. It isn’t going to change course.
I’m not saying Julienne is not worth saving. But it is hard to see how it could be saved now. There really aren’t any other options to improve the site besides a school district project.
It has been almost a year since the school board said it was willing to consider other ideas; there haven’t been any. Last March, I called the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to see if it could help.
“We have our own financial needs to look at,” spokesman Dan Andriacco said, calling any interest from the Catholic Church “unlikely.”
How about Clay Mathile, the wealthy Dayton-area philanthropist known to support Catholic schools? A Mathile Family Foundation spokeswoman would only say the group would consider making grants to community groups proposing projects that fit its mission.
Maybe Chaminade Julienne High School would like to buy back the building? CJ officials told the district they don’t have the money or the need for another building.
Here’s what will likely happen if the neighborhood convinces the Dayton City Commission to block the new school, which is the recommendation of the planning board. The school district will scrap its plan for the Julienne site and build the new school about a mile away at the former site of Colonel White High School. School officials have already talked to Colonel White neighbors and believe they will have their buy-in.
If that happens, it will be devastating for Five Oaks, a neighborhood that has been among the hardest hit by crime and by the predatory lending scandal. A $14 million investment would be a big boost.
Also, if the school goes to Colonel White and no buyer ever comes forward for Julienne, it is district policy not to have any empty buildings at the end of its construction program. So the Julienne site could end up an empty lot.
The neighborhood must not let that happen. The kids, property owners and residents of Five Oaks need a school.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Columns, Education, Scott Elliott
Comments
By Frmrcjgrad
February 3, 2009 9:03 AM | Link to this
Scott, Ihave a novel idea. Why don’t chair a group of well meaning individuals whose goals seem to be spending money that is not their own. Clay Mathile and CJ do not need another building, let alone a “historical” but out dated structure. If you want he area to thrive then get to work on raising the necessary 14 million and quite relying on others to pay for your dream.By Sharon
February 3, 2009 9:41 AM | Link to this
Scott, I recommend you initiate a ad hoc committee to save Julienne school. Clay Mathile and CJ have both said purchasing this old building is not in their plans. Perhaps you could lead the effort to raise the necessary 14 million to save the school. I will anxiously wait to see the results of your effortBy Baxter f.
February 3, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this
i think a school should be made out of it. i go to stivers, and even i have attachment to it. i really think it should be a school.