Is South Ward Elementary School's historic, original building worth saving?

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http://www.sptimes.com/News/41399/NorthPinellas/Effort_gears_up_to_sa.shtml

Effort gears up to save South Ward

The district is weighing the cost of repairing the school, which is on the

National Register of Historic Places, against closing it.

By AMELIA DAVIS

© St. sburg Times, published April 13, 1999

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CLEARWATER -- School officials are once again assessing South Ward

Elementary School's historic, original building and would consider closing

the school if upgrades are too costly.

Problems with the building center on the school's indoor air quality. But

the building has structural problems, as well.

Parents and friends of the school believe the building's flaws can be

remedied and are organizing to fight any attempt to close it.

Mercedes Dickinson, chairman of the South Ward School Advisory Committee,

said the school has served the inner-city for decades and " the community it

serves still exists. "

A consultant, recently hired by the Pinellas County School Board, found a

pronounced musty odor in the basement classrooms of the building, which is

more than 80 years old. As a result, four classes in the basement were

recently relocated to other parts of the school.

The consultant, Wil Spaul, indicated in a report to the school and the

district office that as the building has settled over the years, " numerous

cracks and penetrations have occurred in the building's envelope. "

He attributes the musty odor to water seeping through the building's cracks

as well as mold in the aging cooling system.

" We've got some problems with the building and we're trying to take care of

it, " school Superintendent Hinesley said.

He said it is too early in the evaluation process to talk about the school's

future. The school district has hired an architect to determine what needs

to be fixed and how much repairs will cost, Hinesley said.

" We're not going to spend $8-million to fix it, " Hinesley said.

Parents and others interested in preserving the school, which is on the

National Register of Historic Places, are opposed to its closing. Many of

the adults attended South Ward as children and have fond memories of the

school, the oldest in the county.

They have held several meetings. A petition with more than 200 signatures is

being sent to the School Board, Dickinson said.

Dickinson said she has reviewed Spaul's report and considers the problems

" are very, very manageable things. "

At least twice in recent history, the school district has tried to close the

school. In 1992, the state Department of Education survey team recommended

closing the school because of its cramped location on a substandard lot and

because it had too few pupils.

In 1993, South Ward formed a partnership agreement with nearby Morton Plant

Hospital, which allows children of employees to attend there. That boosted

the enrollment to its current population of about 350 pupils.

Two School Board members recently visited South Ward. Board member Jane

Gallucci, who is allergic to mold, said she became ill after spending 15

minutes in the basement of the building.

" If it can't be fixed and made a safe environment for every child, then we

need to take an overall look at that school, " Gallucci said.

Board member Latvala also has said it might be time to consider

closing the school.

" You can't base this on emotional ties to the school, " Latvala said. " It may

be time to weigh the cost efficiency against the value of the building. "

Latvala said she would be willing to consider a new elementary school for

the downtown Clearwater area. Now that minority children who live in the

north Greenwood area no longer have to be bused to schools in Palm Harbor

and beyond, " there might be enough kids to justify a shiny new school, " she

said.

Philip Wisley, an architect with the state Department of Historic

Preservation, said if the school district decides to repair the old South

Ward building, the district might qualify for preservation grants.

" Being on the National Register, it certainly sounds as if it would

qualify, " Wisley said. He said many schools across the state are operating

out of buildings as old as South Ward. " Just because it's old doesn't mean

it's lost its value, " Wisley said.