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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 > April > 25 > Entry
Editorial: Dayton can’t duck decision on Julienne
At a Dayton City Commission hearing about the former Julienne High School last week, everyone was waiting for what never came — a decision.
It’s been nearly two years since those hoping to save the school began an effort to get it a historic designation. The move, recommended by the City Plan Board over the objection of city staff, could block the Dayton school district from tearing down the building to make way for a new elementary school in the Five Oaks neighborhood.
During that time, there have been countless meetings and discussions. School officials have presented a host of designs for a new school or one that includes part renovation and part new construction. Most of the rehabilitation options would cost $5 million to $6 million more than a new building.
Dayton school administrators say they can’t overpay by that much. More than a year ago, they put out an appeal, saying the district would sell the school for the same $2.35 million it paid or accept money to bridge the gap between a new school and one of the rehab designs.
There have been no offers or checks.
Along the way, the district has come up with a Plan B. It has told the city commission it will reluctantly relocate the school to the former Colonel White High School site about a mile away if the commission blocks its plan by awarding the historic designation. School officials say the children of Five Oaks, an area with more school-age students than most city neighborhoods, would be better served by a school closer to their homes.
Supporters of saving Julienne — which include nearby residents, preservationists and those who want to honor alumna Sister Dorothy Stang, who was murdered in Brazil for advocating for the poor and protecting the rainforests — say they also favor a district school in the neighborhood. But they want a plan that saves the building that once housed the Catholic girls’ school. They argue that the district will rob the community of an important piece of its past if it razes Julienne.
This is a tough call, reminiscent of the debate about Roosevelt High School. That building, undeniably historic and architecturally significant, was the subject of two years of debate and multiple plans for re-use before the school board — backed by city commissioners — finally decided to tear it down. Today a $21 million project that will result in a new school and recreation center is being built there.
But in this case, with the district and Julienne supporters deadlocked, the commission sent the conflict back to the City Plan Board for 90 more days of talks. It’s hard to see how money will materialize now if it didn’t before.
The question of a historic designation for Julienne falls finally to the city commissioners. They need to make up their minds by the time the question returns in July.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: City of Dayton, Editorials, Education, Scott Elliott
Comments
By Yvonne
April 25, 2009 7:35 AM | Link to this
As a former neighbor of Julienne, I think it’s time the City stepped up to the plate and saved the school. I think it’s DISGUSTING that they didn’tfor Roosevelt. anBy Susan
April 25, 2009 8:30 AM | Link to this
There is so much mis-information in this article. DPS did not present “many designs” to anyone. The designs presented at the last commission meeting had never been presented to the neighborhood , the Priority Board or the Plan Board. It was a last minute effort by DPS for the City Commission only. DPS has never officially offered the building for sale. Asking a few people in a casual conversation if they might be interested is not making an official offer to sell. What DPS is not telling us is that the largest part of the “ extra cost “ to rehab the building is due to the fact that DPS itself wants to save the auditorium. This cost is not a shared expense with the State funding because an auditorium is not required in an elementary school. If the auditorium is not included go, it takes millions off the cost of the rehab. DPS has simply not been honest with the community and neighborhood.By Scott Elliott
April 26, 2009 5:32 PM | Link to this
Susan, DPS has had multiple rehab/rebuild designs for more than a year. They did present new designs at city commission, but rehab/rebuild designs in the same cost range have been presented several times. And the DDN reported in March, 2008, that the district would entertain offers for the Julienne.