I don't mean to be rude but why keep a low achieving school such as Buchtel open? Same question for Portage Path Elementary near my home, none of my neghbors send their children there because it is a low achieving school.

Forget teh field issue - combining middle school & high sachool into one building is one of teh dumbest ideas ever. There is no way 12 year olds & 18 years olds belong on the same campus with each other. Get a grip!

Solution-use Buchtel's stadium for practice field and schedule games at Uakron.Uakron is equip. for the over flow. Back in the days,two games were schedule at Rubberbowl.New stadium,new field vs.cost of delay. Who is working for who??

Hey its only 11 million more, whats the problem. Or, if you nut politicians want to save the citizens some money why don't you bus the football players and anyone else that wanted to watch, to the Rubber Bowl for pratice. And on the way to the Rubber Bowl you might want to take the time of the trip to teach the students something. Good luck, you will need it. ????? 11 Million ?????

Akron has declined enrollment. Like many other communities they need 1 high school, 1 middle school, and 1 grade school and bus the kids to school. Rolling Acres area has plenty of space to accomodate it.

This is rediculous. Drive by Buchtel during the day and see what is hanging in and around the building. 11 million is crazy. How about teaching Buchtel students to go to school every day, try to learn something, don't procreate while in high school and then and only then determine if they deserve this investment. I'm telling you, if you build some wonderful facility there it will be destroyed within months.

=================
The project is part of Akron's ongoing $800 million school construction program that will shut down, renovate or replace every Akron school.
=================

That's funny...

No where in the Akron City Council Resolution 81-2003, Akron School's "Master Facilities Plan, ImagineAkronSchools.com website, nor the wording of ISSUE 10 which was placed on May 6, 2003 ballot mentioned anything about the SHUT DOWN of any Akron School.

I wish the Ohio Attorney General would look into this blatant case of deception and failure to deliver upon the promised construction.

An appropriate remedy would be the immediate termination of the .25% additional income tax imposed on Akron's residents and workers.

Arn't we glad that we have higher educational standards. What happens when they take your ball away?

To texasbuckeyejfw,

First, while the current plan calls for Perkins and Buchtel to be co-located on the site, they are actually separate schools. The educational wings, are separated, so are the gyms, the library has two sections etc. The only common areas are the cafeteria and the auditorium. In terms in overall cost, it is more cost effective to combine these two schools instead of building two new ones. Second, entrances to each are separate and their start and end times will be different.

This is similar to Litchfield-Firestone, without the duplication of the physical plant.

Overtaxed Voter give us a break. If you're going to replace the schools. Where are the kids going to go while they replace them? The're actually saving monies by using the same properties where schools are already located.

When the new building is built on the exiting practice field and the existing building is demolished . . . there should be ample room for a relocated practice field where the existing building stands. That is the way that it should be planned.

R M Kraus
Akron

To Overtaxed Voter,

Actually the OSFC funds 59% of this project based on enrollment projections that they compute. When I first started working on this project the initial projection was for 30k students. Of course everyone thought we could keep the same number of buildings. Each subsequent enrollment forecast has been lower. Thus, we will not have the same number of buildings. We are not trying to overbuild, we are trying to right-size the district. Current enrollment is under 23k students. OSFC will not fund more than that, unless future projections indicate an increase.

To r m kraus,

Exactly.

The only long term solution for our country's schools is privatization!!! Give each family a voucher to attend a private school. By doing so public schools will ultimately fail but the students will be getting the best education (which is MOST important) at the location that you as a parent chooses. This is also a civil rights issue...You as a parent have the right to send your child to the school of your choosing and not be limited by where you live.

Save the existing building for a jail that's where most of them are going to be.

It seems like Mr. James is being a realist and Mr. Neal is bing a populist. Both positions have merit, but the bottom line is the money. If the Buchtel/Perkins project is allowed to go well over budget to accommodate athletics, then other Akron schools will want the same kinds of considerations. Over the years, Buchtel has been the recipient of extraordinary amounts of extra funding (e.g. Buchtel Urban Demonstration Program, magnet funding, GRADS). I fully support these kinds of efforts that were and are aimed at academic achievement. I think the line must be drawn when it comes to spending that kind of money on sports.

East is doing the same thing. Putting the middle school and high school together. You think you have a teen pregnancy problem now you just wait till those schools open. Those ages do not need to be together.

If you never attended Buchtel High School then you cant say that it is low achieving. Buchtel is a great school and has made big improvement with the help of former Principals like the Late Sandra K Stubbs with her Believe Percieve Achieve Dream, Dr Sylvester Small and Dr Houchins. None of them gave up on their students. Not all children that attend Buchtel turn out to be thugs, crooks and criminals, some of them actually get college degrees. People shouldnt make assumptions if they dont really know what goes on inside the walls of BHS!!

Don't send them to Akron U, the crime rate there is high enough without more buchtel thugs coming around. @ Buchtel Alumni with your Believe percieve Achieve Dream...keep on dreamin! I dream of a day I can go to Akron without some Buchtel drop out stickin a gun in my face!

There is NO data; on cost; of this project; if School Board; REFUSED; to pay; Foreign and Domestic Investors and Stockholders (money marketers); for the more stock dividends (money); they market quarterly; in the wholesale and retail price; of EVERY product and service Human Beings use for life. And Government needs to build, maintain, and operate schools; infrastructure; and provide government services; and national security. That gets only product or service. With money derived from wages or independent business profit!

Buchtel Alumni,

Amen! We have a lot of caring families and staff who are trying to do what is right for our children. We have a strong PTA at Buchtel with a large number of parents who are involved. Our problems are not going to be solved in an instant,and there is no magic wand. For those naysayers out there, I challenge you to get involved, even if you don't have children in school.

Sweetlips Firestone/Litchfield have co-existed for over 40 years and this is nothing new being done. You'll not see surge in teen births just because they're bringing East/Goodyear and Buchtel/Perkins together. The kids already live in the same neighborhood and they're together far more than school hours.

@KnightRider, all of the thugs that are out there arent from Buchtel High and I am also a graduate of Akron U

@AkronSupt,I dont think they will get involved they are too busy hiding behind a computer screen being neagtive instead of supporting education.

Rip the field out. It's not worth $11million.

@Justcause - It cost money for APS to play in UA's football stadium. UA doesn't let other entities use their facilities for nothing. Plus it's too large for most HS football games. HS football on the UA campus looks stupid and is a waste of space and money. If Buchtel can practice in its stadium, they can also play in the same stadium. Anything else is a waste.

There plenty of practice space at Erie Island and the Perkins and it won't kill the sports programs to used those fields for couple of years. They could than install practice fields in front of the school and play baseball games at Erie island fields. Those practice fields are a mess and are not worth saving.

Loren Eberly,

Why do you bother to post that gibberish? What English as a second language program taught you to use semicolons every other word?

If you ever have a normal, coherent thought someday which you can manage to assemble into a properly constructed and punctuated sentence, then I am sure we would all be glad to read it.

Knight rider, you could always ride your behind south on I-77 until it ends.

Now, in regard to the story at hand, Mr. Kraus has hit the nail on the head.

Erie Island, Perkins Middle School, Old Forge and many other places are available as practice fields. If I was an Akron taxpayer I would pull out my hair over the decreasing quality of education my tax dollars were going into.

okay-here we go again--asking the taxpayers to put out money for a new practice field at Buchtel--what the h--- is wrong with putting the students in construction classes to work and fix up the Rubber Bowl--after all time and money spent in the past--at least they could be using their knowledge to make it worth using again--Ellet could use their talents in working on the seating--Kenmore and North could use their technological talents to fixing the bathroom facilities, press box, etc. Then go back to using the Rubber Bowl on Friday night double headers, and Saturday afternoon games and of course use it on Turkey Day for the city championship games. There is absolutely too much money wasted on the CLC buildings (which are supposed to be used for public gatherings and after school activities, but has anyone ever considered the mess that these people leave--oh well--I forgot they don't have to clean up after themselves--that is what the school custodian and kitchen help are getting paid for. Come on Akron, lets get after the school board and any others that are involved in making all these grandiose plans and not consulting with the public that have to pay for them.

This shouldn't even be a delayed decision. It's time for the Akron BOE to show fiscal responsibility. An $11 million overexpenditure is not it. The rest of the city schools aren't catered to like the Buchtel community. Enough, show some cajones.

Jacquie Butler-Silas hit the nail on the head: these are students before athletes.

slpit the practice time with (for now East) who ever is at the Central-Hower building and go to Old Forge Field.or merge East & North and you can still"practice" on the regular field--so it gets"torn up" a little--remember the OLD Rubber Bowl?

They should sell off all the available land being used for football stadiums at Buchtel, Ellet, and Kenmore. Then tear down the rubber bowl and build a new stadium. It doesn't have to be like the rubber bowl, more like the existing high school stadiums at the above mentioned schools. I never thought it was very fair that those three had stadiums while the others do without.

@Mary The rest of the city schools aren't catered to like the Buchtel community. Enough, show some cajones.

Does Buchtel have a swimming pool? How about all the other goodies that Firestone has? It's for good reason that they named the gym after Linda Kersker. (sp?)

A little history lesson is in order here. Buchtel was the "original" Firestone; That is to say it was once the school that got everything--including the existing Football Stadium--and where Akron's elitists and cake-eaters sent their kids.

In 1980 APS closed South High School, which was the old "Buchtel" with a majority African-American population, to meet federal desegregation mandates. The kids that didn't get bused across town had to go somewhere, and so those that could went to Buchtel.

Firestone by then had taken over as the school for Akron's elite. Interestingly enough, Firestone has by far the largest gym of Akron's high schools (3500 max seating capacity), and an olympic swimming pool which no other school has. Oddly, Firestone High has no football stadium, although they do possess the proper configuration of land for one.

Here's another bit of info that people here sometimes forget: Kenmore was once a separately incorporated city, with it's own schools. They built their own stadium and fieldhouse for high school football.

Ellet and it's schools also weren't originally part of Akron. They intended to remain separate but were forced to petition Akron for annexation when they were completely overwhelmed by masses of in-migrating rubber workers seeking homes. Kenmore also had to merge into Akron when the City of Kenmore went bankrupt. But both continuted retained a sense of their separate identities up to the present day.

Even after merging into Akron, Ellet High continued to compete in the old Metro League along with other suburban schools like Barberton, Kent, Cuyahoga Falls and Ravenna, up until 1970. They had their own football stadium built just for this purpose.

"You have kids who are just off the bottle there with their fathers,"

Ah,Ha,ha,ha

(continued.)
East, North, West, South, Central, Hower, Garfield and Firestone never had their own football stadiums built. They didn't need to because they had the Rubber Bowl for that. Even after the city sold the Rubber Bowl (for $1) to the U of A, the Akron High Schools retained the option to play their games at the Rubber Bowl, and did so for pretty much all of their games, until a certain UA football coach (Faust) expressed his displeasure with sharing his college team's facility with high school teams. That's when APS began relying upon Buchtel, Kenmore and Ellet's stadiums to hold more games.

In all fairness to the remaining four high schools that don't have their own football stadiums, how is it possible for North to play a "home" game at Ellet, or for Firestone to play a "home" game at Kenmore? And yet this is the arrangement APS has gone with since the end of the 1980s since no money was ever allocated to build additional stadiums. East and Firestone do have the land for a stadium, however. But North and Garfield might have to make some other arrangements.

At least with some of the elementary and middle schools being consolidated or closed, their athletic fields could potentially become land for new football stadiums or practice fields. As far as Buchtel is concerned, if Perkins is merging into the school, what about using its land for a practice field? Erie Island, which is a bit closer, is supposed to close as well, so its' land could also be used for a practice field.

I do agree with Hardy and James, though. Academics should be the priority here, not athletics. There are ways to work around the loss of an onsite practice field.

And as for those concerned about Buchtel and East becoming consolidated 7-12 High Schools, this isn't without precedent for Akron; Ellet High was once 7-12 before Hyre was built.

Also, something to consider: If budget problems grow worse, you'll be considering yourself lucky to have seven functioning, 7-12 high schools.

Do some fundraisers where they sell crack.

why are we building community centers onto these schools when they are not offering anything at the community centers but basketball and dance???

Combine the schools (middle and highschool) keep the hoodlems in one central area--easier for the cops the find and pick them up if they go to school.

I live in this area and send my children to private schools so that they can recieve an education in academics not how to cheat and get welfare.

Dont give vouchers-if you want your children in privae school then you should sacrifice like we do to send our children to good schools.

The problem with practicing at Perkins, Erie Island, or Forge Field, is you now have to pay for transportation to practice for the life of the school. Not just for the High School teams but the Middle School also. We are talking up to 9 teams a year.

They say right now they are paying almost a million dollars a year transporting students from East High district to the Central Hower building. How much is it gonna cost us to transport 10 athletic teams to practice everyday for life of the building???

Football
Soccer
Softball
Softball
Baseball
Baseball
Track
Track
Track
Track

APS could probably buy all of Rolling Acres Mall buildings and land for $4-5 million, and make it a beautiful, spacious high school campus. The infrastructures are there. And a pathetic eyesore could be cleaned up and renewed.

As for some who think the location is too far from the present Buchtel HS location ... the kids had no trouble getting there when it was a mall.

What is this "Akron U" everyone keeps mentioning?

ITS THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON UA not AU!

Here is an alternative answer ---------


1) Relocate all the fine and performing arts programs (Miller-South as well as the fine and performing arts magnet programs of Firestone) as well the Early College program to Central-Hower (right on Akron U's campus


2) Relocate Buchtel High School into a renovated Miller-South building, renaming it Buchtel-South (reassign the students from the old South High cluster from Kenmore cluster to Buchtel) as Miller-South has a large field behind it and would he easy to make handicapped accessible.

3) In Kenmore, move the fifth grade into the renovated Innes, making up for the lost students from the removal of the old South cluster


4) Build one elementary school to replace Pfiffer, Smith and Lawndale

Arguably, the smartest person ever in the Akron Public School system, and probably Walsh/St.V/Hoban, went to Buchtel. Period.

Anyway.

Considering Akron's economic depression, as noted by all of our politicians, I can't see how the school system could even consider any expansion of the original plans for Buchtel. Sorry, but the money just isn't there.

We've already overspent on the projects to make so many of these buildings a community center, which we didn't need.

There's plenty of practice areas near Buchtel, so that isn't an issue.

Let's not sell athletics short. In the case of the Buchtel student, I would guess that maybe half of those students, now I am talking about the good students, who are athletes, also, probably need their athletics as a way to pay for their college education. Those who are the hard workers deserve their practice facilities, not a patch-work design.

Those who designed the new Buchtel need to listen to the parent groups and learn from them. Not all the students at Buchtel are thugs. Those who deserve should receive. And I am not from West Akron.

how about we spend 11mil on book and teach the kids. The last time I looked we had the lowest or one of the lowest ratings one could get for a school system.

Teach the kids!!!.When you can get a higher rating like other school districts then that is when you should talk about needing more money or more useless community centers that the mayor said we needed and don't. This city wastes so much money then they want to tax us to get more.

I agree, "get a grip." We shouldn't sell athletics short. At the same time, I think over the past 15 years, they have been overemphasized in most school districts, not just in APS. Too many students and their folks have come to look at football and basketball as a "lottery ticket" into the NFL or NBA. But as we can all see, LeBron James was that one-in-a-million lucky winner from Akron. Last time I checked, this city doesn't even have a quarter million people anymore, so go figure.

Here's another idea. Use Buchtel's existing stadium as a practice field, and then build a new Buchtel Stadium on land at Erie Island or Perkins. That way, you are only spending money on student transport during game days, and not every day of practice. This isn't without precedent for Akron, since Kenmore's football stadium is also located several blocks away from Kenmore High School.

I kinda like the idea of APS building its' own football stadium for the four schools that don't currently have stadiums to save money on playing at UA's new stadium. But where would it go (The Forge, maybe?) and would it be any more or less expensive than upgrading four smaller fields with bleachers, fieldhouse/lockerroom/restroom facilities and lighting? APS should conduct a feasibility study.

I was stunned when I read this article. Minority students across this country are failing academically and we are contributing to the pipeline to prison by ignoring the central tenant of education. How about practice being held at South field. The extra money can be used for additional qualified math and science teachers. How about a state of the art science lab. People wake up! I am not against sports but we are living in a global knowledge driven economy--and if we fail to promote the best edcuation possible for our children, we will pay an awful price for spoiling the hopes of human potential. **My children are graduates of Buchtel.

Our city leaders used our childrens' school fund to pay for the police.








The money came from somewhere. Looks like we found it.

$11 million to save a practice field?
It's a no-brainer.
Concentrate on what are really important, academics.
Let's not waste more taxpayer money on such foolish endeavors.

@Uncle Jack:

Thanks for filling in some blanks on the history bit.

Very astute observations surrounding the facts.

Well done ...

Why doesn't Akron rebuild Buchtel and Perkins on Miller-South's site, with the large baseball and football fiel

Why doesn't Akron rebuild Buchtel and Perkins on Miller-South's site, with the large baseball and football facility

@spirit of reagan

Funny you should mention our boy Ronnie the Populist. He started the demise of schools in California with his voucher bologna, and privatization insanity. Same thing he did to our country with his Friedman/Greenspan'Rand economics theories. In both cases from at or near #1 to way down the list. How's that pension doing since we've had Republicans calling the shots? How is that standard of living going for you? How much has your income risen compared to inflation since the Ray-gun years? That's what I thought.

Get real folks. The SI is giving you some great facts on a great plan. But it's only a start. Mr Supt, "caring" parents and teachers are doing nothing. Leave that concept in the 60's where it belongs, and get serious. Here is an article to help you get started with direction.
http://www.truthout.org/1110093

Stick to your guns on the funding, and the rebuilding program, give the crack to Mr Spirit (he must be out), and take over the lives of these kids and get them educated IAndre Agassi's school has the perfect example of how, if you need one. 100% of graduating seniors go to college)

There are several good ideas just from some of the posters here to avoid the $11M cost. Hopefully the Board will come up with something to avoid wasted spending.

By the way, how much does UA charge for a high school game?

(Also "Akron U" is a long-established affectionate nickname.)

How about doing what should have been done in the first place? Close Buchtel and save $46 million.

@educated one

Probably because it's the inner-city youth we need protected from. Instead of going to school they go out all night smokin crack and committing armed robberies. Then they sleep in all day cause their parents are in prison.I find it funny how the Ellet schools never has these problems. It's always the westside??????

Close Buchtel!!! Where would the kids go? Not Firestone or Kenmore. The kids are not wanted there!!!

@Marketos...yep, you're doing really well out there with Democrats & Arnold spinning your wheels and making the hole deeper!

The nickname for The University of Akron is the "Zips" and not "Akron U".

"Akron U" is a long-established hillbilly way of talking here in the capitol of West Virginia.

Perhaps APS need to look at and DO something about their high number of low achieving schools. No wonder, people are walking away from their homes, and moving elsewhere. But don't worry, the city of Akron will have the money to spend on the upcoming holidays, and that should make everyone feel good.

Also, The city of Akron dumped the Rubber Bowl onto UA (not sold) for $1.00. Believe me, the city was not doing UA any favors with that "sale". The city had to do it because it couldn't afford to operate the facility. And since then, UA had to wear that albatross around its neck and still does. While the cost of operating it for football games no longer exists, UA still must spend considerable $$$ for its general upkeep until UA disposes of it one way or another. So, letting HS football return to the Rubber Bowl is not all that simple of a solution. The piper will still need to be paid by APS for use of the Rubber Bowl.

How can a field add 2 yrs to a 3 yr project. It's dirt, plant grass and put a fence around it.

All academic-related sports programs are money-drainers that coddle athletes at the expense of others.

From what I've read, Buchtel could use a nursery for the students babies.

Another race-card issue...

Amenities at Firestone H.S. were from the Firestone Rubber Family--no tax money.

What's the roster of HS football team? 48?
How does it make any sense to spend $11 million to serve 1/30 of the schools students?

Once the new school's built, and IF there's any money left to be found, the city could always use eminent domain to level the block of Moreley and Sunset. They could probably pick up the whole block for less than 2 million.

@ powerless

Could not agree more. Our scholl system is dismal at best...why??? GOVERNMENT.

from http://www.cato.org/pubs/briefs/bp-023.html
Our elementary and secondary educational system needs to be radically restructured. Such a reconstruction can be achieved only by privatizing a major segment of the educational system--i.e., by enabling a private, for-profit industry to develop that will provide a wide variety of learning opportunities and offer effective competition to public schools. The most feasible way to bring about such a transfer from government to private enterprise is to enact in each state a voucher system that enables parents to choose freely the schools their children attend. The voucher must be universal, available to all parents, and large enough to cover the costs of a high-quality education. No conditions should be attached to vouchers that interfere with the freedom of private enterprises to experiment, to explore, and to innovate.

school

@genie.

I think you made my point. Arnold, is a Republicrap. I stand by my facts.

It's a shame!!!

Akron School leaders should have had the foresight a year ago to apply for federal stimulus money to fund these additional costs (auditoriums, gyms, etc. for schools). Where was the vision?

There is plenty of land there at 1040 Copley rd, as long as you build the new school in the right place. If they do put practice fields in the front, will they design them in a way not to take away from the local property values.

=============
JVBZook wrote:

Akron School leaders should have had the foresight a year ago to apply for federal stimulus money to fund these additional costs (auditoriums, gyms, etc. for schools). Where was the vision?
=============

Those (lack of) visionaries are jumping ship as quickly as possible.

One will be the newest "At-Large" Akron Councilwoman (oh boy!) while another heads for more $$$ running Stark County's bus system, another becomes a full-timer for Secretary of State (and wanna-be U.S. Senate candidate) Jenny Brunner, and a 4th member of the current School Board decided not to run for re-election because "I have some other things that I'm interested in doing and it's going to take a lot of my time".

Simply put, this would NEVER happen or be acceptable in the following High School Football towns: Steubenville, Massilon or Canton!

The community would rally to the defense of the school in question and raise the necessary funds to finish/start the project.

That's what we have to do, must do in West Akron. Can you imagine what a sports complex, similar to the one at Miller South, in West Akron could do. The funds and business it could generate in the community with the local merchants. Just like when the University of Akron made the best move in the world to build their new stadium on campus.

Have you seen the hustle and bustle down there on game day. A sports complex like what the resident in Ravenna; turf field, all-weather track, heated restrooms and locker rooms contained in the stadium, plus a weight room! West Akron could host National Track Meets/Invitationals, football & baseball tournaments, concerts...the sky is the limit!

I personally don't see this as a stumbling block but as a stepping stone for the residents of West Akron to step up to the plate, raise the funds needed to build a facilty that fits the needs of our students and control our own destiny!

Shawn,

For West Akron to step up to the plate, we need to make sure that the new building leaves enough space either in the front or the back where there is still room left to build a facility.

Education should be the number one priorty of the Board of Education, anything other than that should question the capabilities of our leaders that we have put in place to run our school board.
As far as finding a place to house the football team until the new faculity is build is simple. The Board of Educatiion has closed Erie Island and looking to close Perkins. If that is the case the property still belongs to the city, and it doesn't cost the city much to continue to maintain the two football fields that are actually the size of Buchtel's current field. Which will do two things, allow for the new construction to begin and continue to house the football team in their home school area. It would be nice if another area school had a nice home field, where tax dollars would benefit from the revune that holding other sports events in an inner city school district. Someone mentioned Lane Field, a new project that the city funded and you don't even see this sports complex used in the compacity that it could be used. Maybe the Board and the City could come up with a joint venture that would benefit all in the city of Akron.

By the way, if people are going to complain about education being the focus of our board, they should have argued when the board lowered the GPA for althetes to compete in sports. Instead of eliminating sports to focus on education.

All you idiots who think the high school kids and the middle school kids will be a problem, did you forget that Firestone and Litchfield has always been that way. In your openly racist minds you, you closed your eyes to whats in your back yard.
Idiots.

To: Spirit of Reagan: I was wondering the same thing and came up with a few possible answers. First, the exsting building would have to be razed before new construction could start. Second, the plan for the new buidling would need to be modified if it is to sit on a different piece of land. Third, the places that would house Buchtel students while demolition and construction takes place would need to be modified to accomodate high school content. For example, vocational programs at Buchtel that require specific kinds of rooms and shops could not move to just any space. I do not know of any of these area among the reasons for the extra time but strike me as possibilities.

I cannot be silent any longer. So many of you that have commented do not even know what you are talking about. In the last state report card, Buchtel was the ONLY Akron Public School to increase their OGT scores in ALL 5 areas of the exam. Buchtel was the ONLY Akron Public School to meet AYP. Buchtel class of 2009 earned the most dollar amount of college scholarship out of all the Akron Public Schools including a Gates-Mills Scholar. These are just a few of the many great things Buchtel is doing.

Why does everyone think that Buchtel students do not deserve a new school? The only way to continue the improvement of schools is to keep up with technology and the old buildings cannot support that progress. Buchtel Cluster deserves this. They are educating our future leaders as much as any private or suburban school does.

Maybe next time before you make a comment, you should do a little research on the subject.

=============================
ElizabethTerrill posted:

Why does everyone think that Buchtel students do not deserve a new school?

The only way to continue the improvement of schools is to keep up with technology and the old buildings cannot support that progress.
=============================

Who has posted 'Buchtel does not deserve a new building'?

The issue at hand is the $11 million difference (BTW, the article says "Besides the logistical hassles of relocating the students, the change of plans would boost the construction cost from $46 million to $52 million, accounting for design changes and inflation of construction costs.", which is $6 million difference, not $11 million) in making accommodations to not lose the current practice field.

How many more of the 'great things' you have described happening recently at Buchtel could be accomplished if the $6 or $11 million difference was directed towards EDUCATION instead of a piece of ground?

eliz... needs to know what the subject is and then stay on it.

Saving Buchtel practice field will cost school district NOTHING!
Natural Law: what Mother Nature, God, or Whatever Power decreed to be the reality of the real world, God, democracy, capitalism, the US Constitution, and free, fair, and affordable commerce.
Demands every corporation, farmer, business, outsourcer sweatshop, and nonprofit, tax-exempt, organization and Church; markets the cost; of Buchtel practice field; in the wholesale and retail price of his or her product and service; and Fathers disqualified for affirmative action with white skin, Union workers, consumers, taxpayers, and Americas grandchildren’s children; fund total cost of Buchtel field; with money; derived from wages or independent business profit!

@SlotcarBob...I think Arnold would just laugh at ya and say, I don't sweat no liberal girly-man!"

Any major improvement of the size that the school system is doing will result in some inconvenience during the process. Things cannot continue uninterrupted while the schools are being built. Some people (students in this case) have to sacrifice in order to improve things (schools) for future generations. The school board is trying to lessen these impacts on the students. However, they have financing constraints that dictate how much they can do so.


The students and parents feel short changed, and rightly so. But 11 million dollars is too much money to solve their problem. It is what it is. They are not the first generation that has had to sacrifice for the greater good.

Uncle Jack, the new stadium could replace the rubber bowl. I would bet that the city still owns the land that the rubber bowl sits on.

Overtaxed is exactly right...the .25% tax in '03 was supposed to raise x amount of dollars to build and renovate new schools. It passed. Before building started the number of new schools and number of the schools to be renovate was CUT. They still had the same x amount of dollars. When they use only use 1/2 of that x amount, where the heck did the rest go ??

How about paying a one time fee to put turf in the Buchtel playing field? The only issue about a practice field vs. game field is the condition of the playing surface. If you practice on the same field, every day, it will be completely dirt and thus treacherous. I dont know what turf would cost but I would assume less than 11 million and it would not be ongoing.

That said, I taught at Buchtel for a year and loved every minute of it. I had some troubled kids, but I have some troubled kids in suburbia where I teach now. I had some terrific kids that cared. Spending that money on some more books won't help them. Unless and until the family life and the values instilled from them are improved, no measure of books will change anything. Sports are an escape for many of these kids. For some, its their only chance to escape the home life their parents brought upon them. That is the reason why so many people are up in arms about the field.

Jason,
Yes, the official nickname is Zips. But Akron U is a common nickname or I guess I should say abbreviation certainly used by many more than just hillbillies. You seem to think it's derogatory, but it's not. Similar to abbreviations such as OSU, Army, Navy, UConn, etc.

To all residents of Akron,
There are still 3 schools yet to be completed (high schools) that we are talking about, Buchtel, Kenmore and Garfield. Why not build a new school at Miller-South for the Buchtel-Kenmore students with the sports venue over the hill and build a new school for the Garfield-Kenmore students on the old Firestone land and still use Kenmore stadium for that school. I don't know the money that was going to be used to build Buchtel and renovate Garfield and Kenmore, that I would like to see.
Also Supt. why are the old schools still standing that have been replaced. Are we still heating them, running electric and have janitors in them? I thought that if we needed new schools, we would get rid of the old schools.
Just thought I would throw my 2 cents in the ring.

Just think of the money that could be saved if there were only four state-of-the-art newly constructed high schools. Four football programs, four yearbooks...four bands. At a recent Garfield/Buchtel game, the Buchtel band had 14 students on the field. Fourteen students in a band! A band teacher leading 50 students gets paid a salary and a band teacher with fourteen students a salary. Do the math.
I would bet money that an Advanced Placement student at Buchtel couldn't even begin to compete with an Advanced Placement student from Hudson. How many National Merit Scholars have graduated from Buchtel recently? This is one school that should have been closed years ago. Bottom line. There are too many high schools. Enrollment is steadily declining. Crime is increasing and people with children really do not want to send their kids to school in Akron.

Marie.

How many at Hudson won a Gates Millenium Scholarship?

http://m.wkyc.com/news.jsp?key=94882

A Buchtel kid was one of only 11 in the state to win one. A scholarship that will pay for everything through his PHD.

I just wanted to say that I am a Buchtel grad, class of 1999. Graduated at the top of my class(#7), and I am a successful nurse. The majority of my class mates are success stories too.

hubman... It is a great achievement. We in Akron should be proud of him, but you cannot be white and win. I am not saying Hudson has no blacks...additionally your family can make no more then $50,000.00 a year. This criterion leaves millions out of the equation.

Students are eligible to be considered for a GMS scholarship if they:

• Are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander American, or Hispanic American;
• Are a citizen/legal permanent resident or nationals of the United States;
• Have attained a cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (un-weighted);
• Will be enrolling for the first-time at a U.S. accredited* college or university as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student in the fall of 2010; or GED
• Have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities;
• Meet the Federal Pell Grant* eligibility criteria; and
• Have all three forms (Nominee Personal Information Form completed by the student, Nominator Form completed by an educator familiar with the student’s academic record and a Recommender Form completed by a person familiar with the student’s leadership and community service) submitted by the deadline.

Boundbyfaith.... great for you. As for the majority of your classmates being sucess stories, I am happy for them as well.

So we are on the same page, I think a sucess story 10 yrs out of HS would include... being a home owner or renter (not living at home), being employed, never been arrested, having a valid drivers licensce--and insurance, and being married to the mother or father of all of my children.

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.

"There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."

"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand."

"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."

"Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."

"Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."

"And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.


Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.

And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.

Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.

Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.

"There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."

"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand."

"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."

"Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."

"Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."

"And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.


Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.

And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.

Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.

Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change

I would just use Lane Field at Miller-South for all Buchtel's games and practices.




Also, what about the vocational wing at Buchtel, where trades like auto mechanics, pre-nursing, informational technology, restaurant management, etc., are currently being. It would REALLY be a shame if those programs would disappear!!