|
Buffalo Community Center Response Letter
to School Board's Letter to Public Dated October 25, 2006:
"FACTS REGARDING THE BUFFALO SCHOOL SITES"
November 1, 2006
Dear Citizens and Taxpayers of Johnson County:
As members of the Buffalo Community Center Committee, we
would like to address some of the issues surrounding the current Buffalo High
School and Clear Creek Middle School sites. . We have presented an alternative
to the scheduled demolition of the current Buffalo High School. We have
researched our information, studied the ‘needs assessments’, talked to the
School Facilities Commission Chairman, talked to structural engineers familiar
with the building, talked to the Wyoming Business Council regarding new grants
for decommissioned schools, and of course, talked to community members. The
School Board continues to refuse to let us present our case. Why?
FIRST AND FOREMOST, we think our School Board Members must
be accountable to their constituents. As stated in Wyoming Statute 21-15-114(x)
The district shall have final authority over the disposition or demolition of
any surplus buildings, facilities or land, but the (School Facilities)
commission may disapprove any plans submitted pursuant to this paragraph to
protect the financial interests of the state if the plans are not otherwise in
the public interest. Given the new opportunities available to us, the
School Board’s ‘original plan’ does not seem to be in the best interests of the
public. Changes can and should be made.
-
In November, 2001, voters approved a bond referendum
for $8.5 million dollars for building enhancements (including an
auditorium, gymnasiums, shop areas, science classrooms and technology) that
the state of Wyoming would not fund in our building projects for our Buffalo
High School and Kaycee K-12 School.
-
During the 2003-2004 school year, the School Facilities
Commission (SFC) and local officials developed and agreed upon a plan to
build Clear Creek Middle School on the current Buffalo High School Ag
parking lot site.
-
In 2006, $7.5 million dollars was made available
through the Wyoming Business Council Community Facility Grants for the
renovation of decommissioned schools. In 2007, there will be $15 million
dollars available from this same program. These funds are not available to
school districts for buildings that they continue to own. Wyoming State
Statute 9-12-801(e)(ii) states that “No ownership interest to the
project or facility under a project shall remain with the school district
upon expenditure of any funds under this program.” This prohibits local
school districts from applying directly.
-
A school district may not act as an applicant. Statute
does not allow ownership of the project or facility by the school district,”
State of Wyoming Community Grant and Loan Program Rules.
-
Two different groups have approached the School Board
to save portions of the current Buffalo High School building, one group in
2004 and the Buffalo Community Center Committee on September 11, 2006. The
first group circulated petitions and received 751 signatures from Johnson
County residents, and the second group is currently circulating petitions
and has, to date, received over 400 additional signatures for a total of
1251 people indicating their desire to save this building! Yet, on October
23, 2006, our School Board emphasized their firm decision not to reopen
discussion on this issue. Why?
Some of the reasons the School Board has given and some of
the responses by the Buffalo Community Center Committee are below:
1)
The School Facilities Commission guidelines (not requirements)
currently suggest: 10 useable acres with an additional acre for each 100
students for middle schools and 7.5 acres for elementary schools. Given today’s
student population at Meadowlark and Clear Creek Middle School, 21 acres would
be suggested. The Meadowlark/Clear Creek Campus currently has 25.46 acres. The
‘original plan’ designed and accepted by the Johnson County School Board
includes: a 2.62 acre football field, 1.13 acres of grass playground, 1.06 acres
of hard surface playground and 65 parking spaces (38 across Gatchell Street) for
staff parking and 35 additional event and parent drop off spaces. The plan
currently proposed by the Buffalo Community Center Committee includes: 2.62
acres football field, 1.66 acres of leveled grass playground, and 79 parking
spaces (next to the school) for staff parking and 35 additional event and parent
drop off spaces, plus the existing bathrooms for the football field, a
full sized gym with locker rooms, and an auditorium, and additional classroom
space!
2)
Our School Board is concerned that they will have ‘space issues’
because of steep unusable acres at the current Buffalo High School site. The
Buffalo Community Center proposes to turn these unusable acres into flat,
level play areas! This would be accomplished with concrete terraced walls
and fencing. When landscaped, this would be a beautiful addition to the
northeast edge of our middle/elementary school campus. This terraced area
would also provide a safe division between the building and the play areas.
This will allow more acreage than the ‘original plan’ for much needed
playgrounds and green spaces for our middle school children.
3)
Safety! The School Board contends that they are only concerned with
their students’ safety and the presence of a community center on the edge of
their campus would breech that safety. The Buffalo Community Center
Committee members are also concerned with safety. After all, these are our
children, parents and grandparents attending the schools and the Community
Center. We think that by removing the danger of the Gatchell Street
crosswalk and the potentially disastrous location of a parking lot in front
of the playground is essential. The fenced walls between the middle school
campus would also provide additional safety. At this time, the District has
not approached the City of Buffalo regarding the closing of Gatchell Street
nor do they have a plan for any fencing around the grass play area. Nothing
the Buffalo Community Center Committee has proposed is unsafe.
QUESTION: If a
community center (in it’s own building) on the edge of the campus is a
threat to the safety of students, then when will the public be allowed to
walk on the indoor track at the new Buffalo High School, or, for that
matter, use any of the other school facilities traditionally used by the
Community??
4)
We agree that the new Buffalo High School will be spectacular! But
the reality is, the School District, currently has three gyms (2 at Clear
Creek and 1 at the current Buffalo High School), and when we move into the
new schools, we will have exactly the same amount: THREE (2 at the new
Buffalo High School and 1 at the new Clear Creek School). We have gained
nothing!
If the School District
retains ownership of the old Clear Creek School for a future school site,
and does not rent it out, then we could possibly include the gym and
lunchroom/multi-purpose room there for future recreation also.
Buffalo High School,
currently, has 3 Bison Basketball teams, (freshman, JV and varsity) and 3
Lady Bison Basketball teams (freshman, JV and varsity) and a Bison Wrestling
team. Clear Creek Middle School also has two 8th grade
basketball teams and two 7th grade basketball teams and one
wrestling team. In addition to the schools’ teams, the YMCA will soon begin
a youth intramural basketball program and let’s not forget Men’s League
basketball and indoor club soccer! Where will they all go?
5)
The purchase price of $10.00 for the current Buffalo High School site
has been addressed. That figure was incorrect. The real price would be
$8,500,010.00, with $8,500,000.00 being prepaid in bonds for the new
schools.
According to estimated figures
from other community center budgets in Wyoming, costs for the Buffalo Community
Center would total approximately $135,000.00 annually:
Utilities $ 70,000.00
Insurance 17,000.00
Maintenance
Costs 48,000.00
Total
Costs $135,000.00 per year
An entire business plan was
created for this facility. Estimates and assumptions were based on real examples
from around the State of Wyoming. Obviously, the funding proposals are
contingent on the approval of grant applications, private donations, and on the
commitment of future sustained funding by an entity such as a Recreation
District.
While we endorse the idea of a
Recreation District managing and utilizing this facility, we also understand
that this may be a new idea for Johnson County.
Therefore, private funding will
help sustain the building in its first few years.
Until the building is secured for
the Buffalo Community Center there is no chance of raising significant private
funds. We have been pledged $140,000.00, in good faith, by people who believe
in this project. Additional funds will be sought from both private and public
sources. The economic climate has changed in the State of Wyoming and Johnson
County can be the direct beneficiaries of that change through our Community
Center.
6)
The School Board has maintained that they will keep the old Clear
Creek Middle School site. They have received permission from the School
Facilities Commission to keep this site as a rental property, holding it
for possible future expansion. However, this site was given to the School
District by the City of Buffalo and the City has retained a first right to
purchase this property if the district decides not to use it. In the final
minutes of the last School Board Meeting, the Johnson County School Board
asked the Buffalo Community Center Committee to consider the old middle
school site as a viable option for a community center. They have, also,
asked the Community Resource Center and The Boys and Girls Club of the
Bighorns to consider the site. Various city and county agencies and offices
are considering the site, as well, the Sheridan College Outreach program..
While the Buffalo Community Center Committee, has been
offered the use of the old Clear Creek Middle School site, we feel that
displacing the groups who have already expressed an interest in this space,
is simply wrong and not fair. We feel that that the need for space in
Johnson County is so great that both buildings could be utilized.
The members of the Buffalo Community Center realize
that the decision to demolish the current Buffalo High School was not made
lightly. It was made three years ago as part of a comprehensive plan to
create an elementary and middle school campus. While respectful of our
School Board, we do not agree with their present position. Decisions must
sometimes be changed. In hindsight, would we have built the new Clear Creek
School too small? No! Had the current information on growth and enrollment
been available, a different decision may have been made.
We have new information available! We have the
Community Facilities Grant money for remodeling, a potential new recreation
district, the promise of private donations through industry and individuals,
and the desire of our Community which should not be overlooked or taken
lightly.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Buffalo Community Center Committee
The members of the Buffalo Community
Center Committee
want to know what our community cannot
have it all.
Why is our School Board so adamantly
opposed to these ideas?
Why do they choose not to listen? Contact
them and, just, ask why? |
|
