When Daniel Lowengard was introduced as the Superintendent of the Syracuse City School District in 2006 his "Building the Future Together" plan promised to renovate every city school within the decade. Three years later, Blodgett School is in danger of closing down as it has taken it off the lists of schools to be renovated.
At tonight's Board of Education meeting nine people from the West Side spoke on behalf of saving Blodgett. Although Lowengard's original plan was to renovate every school, he said budget cuts have forced the school board to cut back.
"There are problems with any bureaucracy," Lowengard said after the meeting. "There has been some tension with the mayor and the common council."
Lowengard is referring to the Joint Schools Construction Board, a committee that includes the mayor, the superintendent, and representatives from the common council and school board. The Joint Schools Construction Board has the final decision in deciding what to do about Blodgett. The school was removed from the list because the JSCB has concerns about the cost of renovation.
"The bottom line is $46 million to renovate Blodgett." Lowengard said. "That's without adding academic programs so it would be north of $46 million."
After the meeting though, Lowengard sounded optimistic about the chances of renovating Blodgett. He said he would take what he heard from the speakers and present it to the JSCB at the next meeting on November 20th.
"Buffalo is a good model," Lowengard said. "They're in their third phase so we know it can be done."
At tonight's Board of Education meeting nine people from the West Side spoke on behalf of saving Blodgett. Although Lowengard's original plan was to renovate every school, he said budget cuts have forced the school board to cut back.
"There are problems with any bureaucracy," Lowengard said after the meeting. "There has been some tension with the mayor and the common council."
Lowengard is referring to the Joint Schools Construction Board, a committee that includes the mayor, the superintendent, and representatives from the common council and school board. The Joint Schools Construction Board has the final decision in deciding what to do about Blodgett. The school was removed from the list because the JSCB has concerns about the cost of renovation.
"The bottom line is $46 million to renovate Blodgett." Lowengard said. "That's without adding academic programs so it would be north of $46 million."
After the meeting though, Lowengard sounded optimistic about the chances of renovating Blodgett. He said he would take what he heard from the speakers and present it to the JSCB at the next meeting on November 20th.
"Buffalo is a good model," Lowengard said. "They're in their third phase so we know it can be done."
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