By Kristine Thomas
After touring Eugene Field School, reviewing documents, asking questions, hearing presentations from building experts and pondering options, the Eugene Field Facilities Task Force has unanimously recommended permanently closing the 93-year-old school by the 2016-17 school year. It advised the Silver Falls School Board to consider placing a bond for a new school on the November 2014 ballot.
In a presentation to the board Feb. 10, task force members Joanne Stone and Barb Rivoli shared both the recommendations and the decision-making process.
In addition to Stone and Rivoli, task force members were Bob Dedrick, Jonathan Edmonds, Dean Oster, Stacy Posegate, Tom Schmidgall, Bob Schmidt, Dan Kaplan and Garth King. They met four times between Oct. 23 and Jan. 29, joined by Eugene Field Principal Jennifer Hannan, Superintendent Andy Bellando, now retired Maintenance Supervisor Pete Paradis and board member David Beeson.
Stone, the group’s facilitator, told the board that the task force not only reviewed the structural information, but also looked at current and future use of classrooms, programs, technology needs, parking, safety and the potential for full-day kindergarten.
She pointed out that task force members have varied backgrounds.
“We had people who voted no on the last bond,” Stone said. “We had a wealth of opinions and we had great discussions.”
Stone said the recommendation to permanently close Eugene Field was “not hastily made.” They considered many ideas. Their final conclusion was based on the limitations related to size, safety concerns and “overall inadequacy to appropriately meet the instructional needs of students,” she said.
One of the task force’s concerns is Eugene Field’s location between two highway routes. Another is that the site is too small. The Eugene Field site is 3.5 acres, the recommended site size for an elementary school is five acres.
“Even if you were to put another building on that site, there would be no room for parking and it is still between two highways,” Stone said. “We have talked about closing Eugene Field for a long time. It is something we need to do.”
The task force recommended the school board “Consider all available district property to move Eugene Field School based on economy, safety and community input. However, given information available to the Task Force, we agree that the Schlador site may be the best location for replacement.”
Stone emphasized the task force was recommending the site – not the old Schlador Street facility.
The task force also recommended a bond on the November ballot. “Funding levels should reflect the priority need to address the Eugene Field facility only.”
The task force also recommended the board:
• Proactively inform the public and provide opportunity for additional public input;
• Continue operation of all other district schools;
• Collaborate with Community Roots Charter School Board in planning a permanent home for the charter school; and,
• Develop an action plan for future use of the Eugene Field School site.
The school board listened but did not take any action. Bellando said the board will review the recommendations and determine the next steps.
On March 24, the board and the Silverton City Council will hold a joint work session. The future of Eugene Field School and its site is the primary agenda item. The board also will discuss task force recommendations at its March meetings, Bellando said.
In public comment, Gene Pfeifer told the board he disagrees with the task force. He said he wants to present the board his own recommendations. Pfeifer organized the Save Old Schools campaign that contested school bond defeated in May 2013.
Task force member Dean Oster encouraged board members to consider this question: if they were going to have a school built today, would they build it on the current site of Eugene Field?
“Because the site is between two highways, it is a terrible location,” he said.
Stacy Posegate said despite the task force members varied backgrounds there was one thing every member unanimously agreed on: to close Eugene Field. “I hope this is the time we can do something about this school,” she said.
