Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The obvious stood out as hundreds of people gathered outside the Blodgett School on Syracuse's Near West Side Tuesday evening to advocate for renovations for the school. The "u" in A. Burr Blodgett J nior High School was missing from the block letters which loom large over the school's front doors, underlining the need for a minimum of $46 million in renovations.
"This neighborhood and this community have waited far too long," said Rev. John R. Carter of Abundant Life Christian Center to the crowd. "In saving this school we save this community.”
The Joint Schools Construction Board is supposed to vote Thursday whether Blodgett will receive money in the first phase of a district wide renovation effort. With the economy in a downward spiral, the district's budget has been hurt as a result. With less money and many schools needing renovations, the high price Blodgett would demand could leave the school, in its current state, out of luck.
"There must be a way to care about other schools without casting this school aside," Carter said.
Syracuse Common Council President Bea Gonzalez gave Blodgett three different fates when speaking to the crowd: renovate Blodgett, build a new school or close Blodgett. The crowd chanted for renovations. When asked after the rally what she thought would be the result, Gonzalez said she had no idea.
"None of us should be proud of the Blodgett of today," she said to the crowd. "What we need to be proud of is the Blodgett of tomorrow, whatever it is."
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