The End of Blodgett School?

November 12, 2008

Tanya Sealy says her children missed the West Side of Syracuse so much that she moved back from Florida – just so her children could return to Blodgett School.
"My kids love Blodgett a lot," Sealy said at the Syracuse Board of Education meeting Wednesday night. "It's a perfect location, and the police station is only a block away."
Since 1915, Blodgett School has been an important part of its surrounding community. But due to a lack of funding and poor building conditions, such as leaking roofs and crumbling walls, Board of Education members are now questioning how much longer the historical landmark will be open.
"We don't have the money to renovate all our schools," Commissioner Ned Deuel said. "The first step is to see what happens to the Blodgett building, and then we'll look after its staff and kids."
Since 2000, Blodgett had been at the top of the school district’s renovation list. The Joint Schools Construction Board, led by Mayor Matt Driscoll, is considering removing Blodgett in the first phase of its renovation plan.
The JSCB project manager Gilbane Building Company says renovating Blodgett would cost $46-million, leaving not enough money for other schools that need work badly. Superintendent Dan Lowengard says he hopes to convince the state to build a new school, which would be much cheaper.
Abundant Life Christian Center provided signs that Blodgett supporters held during the meeting.
"The school closed down many years ago, and everyone was devastated,” said Pastor Joe Coudriet of Abundant Life Christian Center, who helped raise money to build a library at Blodgett. “Now we should all help these kids and families by keeping it open."