Comments on Previous Post
I'm repeating here a comment from the "Local Option Budget" post, and my response to the comment. If you're interested in this local matter, you will want to read the post first. My response was too long to fit in the comment box, so I'm putting it here. The original comment is here because my comment refers to it.
The matter of the old gym is a more complicated matter because of alterations to the space while it was used as Pleasantview Academy. Its gym function is altered because of duct work for a heating and air conditioning system that occupies space near the ceiling, and a dropped ceiling has been installed. It could be raised several feet again, but not to its previous height--at least not everywhere. Those who consider indoor basketball and volleyball a necessity find this unacceptable. I've heard informally that, even if it can't all be raised to its previous height, it could possibly still work for basketball, and work as well for volleyball as it ever did. I'm picturing the corners or edges being lower, but am not sure how it actually is. We who used the space in the past all know that the ball often hit the ceiling.
On its use as an auditorium--the stage has been removed, which creates a layer of complication for its use as an auditorium, but, as you say, restoration is possible.
On the adequacy of the size of the gym . . . I overheard complaints from someone who sat where they couldn't see anything during the 2014 graduation. There was enough room, however, for family members in the auditorium, but some ushering aberrations may have interfered with the plan. We had a huge high school graduating class this year, and a sizable grade school class, so crowd size was exacerbated. Many homeschoolers also participated in the graduation ceremony. CCC was well-filled--all the way back in the learning center. This "mother of all crowds" is being highlighted (unofficially at least) as justification for the assertion that the old gym is too small--because our supporting community is larger than the old Elreka's supporting community--a ratio of 650:400. There is some truth to this, since we have students from five different churches attending. If all members come to school events, we have a different scenario than was present when there were essentially three church groups whose students attended Elreka.
My position on this matter is that we simply need to change something about the events themselves to make them doable in a smaller venue, or expectations about the necessity of "everyone's" attendance needs to be altered. I'm in favor of both.
Regarding the gym, another matter on the slate is the "fact" that the high school needs that space for a learning center. That assertion doesn't match my understanding of the needs. The plan that I thought was found to be workable is this: Remove the wall between the old 5th & 6th grade room and the 7th & 8th grade room to create learning center space. (A sound room carved out of the old 7th & 8th grade room would also be dismantled.) I heard from someone who knew the exact measurements that it would have made a slightly smaller learning center than we have now, but not much. In addition, a doorway would have been created in the west wall of the learning center into the old library, which would then have served the function of the Pilgrim High typing room. I see that space as having met our needs adequately.
I simply don't find the official or unofficial arguments compelling in favor of building an auditorium, especially in connection with the school. (e. g. unofficial: "Other communities smaller than ours have community buildings.") I don't find the arguments for building a gym that compelling either, but a bare-bones play space like the one another school has found very adequate could accommodate a basketball court or two volleyball courts and cost us about $65,000 instead of $200,000, not counting a heating and cooling system, which is the bare-bones version of the only auditorium/gym option we've officially been informed of.
Making the $200,000 structure into a community building would necessitate adding a kitchen and restrooms, and a lot of parking space--at substantial additional cost, and, in my mind definitely tipping the whole matter into the empire-building category. Parking space is partly what drives the "need" for purchasing more land from MHN (which may already have been done, as I understand it--why?).
If a gym must be built, I favor building the $65,000 one on the current school acreage. If a community building must be built, I favor doing it in the far distant future in the location across the road, where the parking space is already more than adequate for that. This auditorium location would be just as convenient for the school, and would greatly limit its inconveniences to the school.
Following all these threads to their logical conclusion leaves me feeling that the basic question of what is important in an educational endeavor is being lost under layers of talk about matters that are only peripherally related. I feel sad about this.
Favoring Curry, thanks for the comment. My thoughts go your direction many times. I hope your pain and mobility issues can be resolved. That would be good news, but not as good as the news I'm hoping to hear shortly from your part of the world!
The matter of the old gym is a more complicated matter because of alterations to the space while it was used as Pleasantview Academy. Its gym function is altered because of duct work for a heating and air conditioning system that occupies space near the ceiling, and a dropped ceiling has been installed. It could be raised several feet again, but not to its previous height--at least not everywhere. Those who consider indoor basketball and volleyball a necessity find this unacceptable. I've heard informally that, even if it can't all be raised to its previous height, it could possibly still work for basketball, and work as well for volleyball as it ever did. I'm picturing the corners or edges being lower, but am not sure how it actually is. We who used the space in the past all know that the ball often hit the ceiling.
On its use as an auditorium--the stage has been removed, which creates a layer of complication for its use as an auditorium, but, as you say, restoration is possible.
On the adequacy of the size of the gym . . . I overheard complaints from someone who sat where they couldn't see anything during the 2014 graduation. There was enough room, however, for family members in the auditorium, but some ushering aberrations may have interfered with the plan. We had a huge high school graduating class this year, and a sizable grade school class, so crowd size was exacerbated. Many homeschoolers also participated in the graduation ceremony. CCC was well-filled--all the way back in the learning center. This "mother of all crowds" is being highlighted (unofficially at least) as justification for the assertion that the old gym is too small--because our supporting community is larger than the old Elreka's supporting community--a ratio of 650:400. There is some truth to this, since we have students from five different churches attending. If all members come to school events, we have a different scenario than was present when there were essentially three church groups whose students attended Elreka.
My position on this matter is that we simply need to change something about the events themselves to make them doable in a smaller venue, or expectations about the necessity of "everyone's" attendance needs to be altered. I'm in favor of both.
Regarding the gym, another matter on the slate is the "fact" that the high school needs that space for a learning center. That assertion doesn't match my understanding of the needs. The plan that I thought was found to be workable is this: Remove the wall between the old 5th & 6th grade room and the 7th & 8th grade room to create learning center space. (A sound room carved out of the old 7th & 8th grade room would also be dismantled.) I heard from someone who knew the exact measurements that it would have made a slightly smaller learning center than we have now, but not much. In addition, a doorway would have been created in the west wall of the learning center into the old library, which would then have served the function of the Pilgrim High typing room. I see that space as having met our needs adequately.
I simply don't find the official or unofficial arguments compelling in favor of building an auditorium, especially in connection with the school. (e. g. unofficial: "Other communities smaller than ours have community buildings.") I don't find the arguments for building a gym that compelling either, but a bare-bones play space like the one another school has found very adequate could accommodate a basketball court or two volleyball courts and cost us about $65,000 instead of $200,000, not counting a heating and cooling system, which is the bare-bones version of the only auditorium/gym option we've officially been informed of.
Making the $200,000 structure into a community building would necessitate adding a kitchen and restrooms, and a lot of parking space--at substantial additional cost, and, in my mind definitely tipping the whole matter into the empire-building category. Parking space is partly what drives the "need" for purchasing more land from MHN (which may already have been done, as I understand it--why?).
If a gym must be built, I favor building the $65,000 one on the current school acreage. If a community building must be built, I favor doing it in the far distant future in the location across the road, where the parking space is already more than adequate for that. This auditorium location would be just as convenient for the school, and would greatly limit its inconveniences to the school.
Following all these threads to their logical conclusion leaves me feeling that the basic question of what is important in an educational endeavor is being lost under layers of talk about matters that are only peripherally related. I feel sad about this.
Favoring Curry, thanks for the comment. My thoughts go your direction many times. I hope your pain and mobility issues can be resolved. That would be good news, but not as good as the news I'm hoping to hear shortly from your part of the world!
posted by Mrs. I (Miriam Iwashige) at
8:03 AM
It would probably be helpful if we'd be honest and admit that this isn't about the school. I don't really think we're talking about spending the ___ thousands of dollars for three or four school programs a year. This is about having a large facility to host other events. It's fair to consider the merits of that idea on its own, but it would probably be clearer if we would treat it separate unless a substantial majority of the school staff are asking for the large facility.