Longtime Newton Upper Falls residents Maxine and Mark Bridger wrote a column in today’s Newton TAB reopening the discussion that the city build a new elementary school in Upper Falls. In contrast, they call Zervas a “dubious candidate for expansion” and suggest “thinking outside the problematic Zervas box.”
They go on to say:
“Every one of the issues above should be explicitly addressed, with facts and figures, before more good money is thrown at rebuilding a school that has become increasingly problematic over the decades.”
If I remember correctly, Bruce Henderson was a big supporter of building a 16th elementary school on Elliot Street a couple of years ago. Did that idea disappear because of lack of funds? Does anyone remember?
If the city repealed CPA via referendum while having an offsetting debt exclusion referendum, that would free up $2.44M/year, which could go to build a new school or to renovate an existing school as well as begin the work on another school.
If the city pursued the naming rights deal floated by the Newton Schools Foundation, that would have brought in $2.1M/year, which could go to build a new school or to renovate an existing school as well as begin the work on another school.
If the city pursued the $7.5M/year benefit we provide Boston for educating their kids in our school system, the city would have money to rebuild or renovate five schools
This though is not how the city, specifically the Board of Aldermen, operates Joshua. As the three ideas you provide would be horridly offensive each to some small segment of the population, the policy of the Board is to implement none and ask everyone to pony up a few hundred more dollars annually. Better that these minorities should all feel good than we should all have a few extra bucks in out pockets. As with all too many issues in Newton, the Board takes an all or nothing approach: ban the option entirely (so that one side effective “wins” and the other “looses”) rather than doing the harder work required to find a compromise in which everyone gives a bit. Not how I would do things, but hey, this is what we get from the people we elect. I guess most of the voting population either approves or, more likely is not paying attention and does not care. After all, a few hundred dollars for many people in Newton is in the noise.
Eric, I was under the impression that they really wanted “a new school”. I was showing them how the city could afford to get them their precious new school.
I’m thinking though, they just wanted to be “the center of attention” by having something to complain about.
Joshua – you’re such a charmer!
Ah, sorry Joshua.
Jerry, considering where you’re coming from with your comment, I’m going to take it as a compliment.
@Joshua. I’ve known Maxine and Mark Bridger for almost half a century and the last thing they crave is to be the center of attention. Mark is a member of the Upper Falls Neighborhood Area Council and I know he has been interested in promoting an elementary school for Upper Falls and immediately adjacent areas. This is really about the heart and soul of the Upper Falls neighborhood that is still bitter about the short sighted decision to close the old Emerson School more than 4 decades ago.
Also, the Bridger’s position dovetails somewhat with a proposal that Bruce Henderson wrote for the Tab awhile back that argued for neighborhood and village schools that kids can walk to.
Finally, Joshua. You have started to become a political activist here in Newton. Your statements here do not help with first impressions. You do not know either Mark or Maxine. It’s dumb politics to blurt out that two people who you really do not know, are doing something simply to be”the center of attention” . You never know. Someday, you may want to lead another campaign for either some issue or candidate, maybe both. If so, I’m certain you would want to enlist supporters and votes from within the Upper Falls community. Hitting on the Bridgers and by inference a lot of other people in upper Falls who feel as they do, won’t make your task any easier.
The Newton Upper Falls Area Council was formed a little over a year ago. At our first meeting, each of us who was elected to be on the board shared with the rest what our interests were and what we would like to see the Area Council pursue. My interest is reestablishing a neightborhood school for the children in Upper Falls. Due to the shortsightedness of the aldermen and the school committee all those years ago, we are losing a lot of the character of our lovely neighborhood. Giving us back our school would solve quite a few problems such as the overcrowding at Zervas and Countryside. And it would allow the children to go to school with the children who live in their own neighborhood. Currently our children are bussed to at least three different schools. This is really not a good solution for Newton. A school in Upper Falls would definitely be a good thing.
We are having a meeting about this at the Emerson Community Center (formerly Emerson School until the City of Newton sold most of the building as condos) next Thursday evening at 7PM. Anyone interested in helping with this cause will be most welcome.
Both Upper Falls and the Highlands were damaged by those short-sighted school closure decisions. At this point, Upper Falls would benefit the most from reopening a neighborhood school. There’s clearly a need for more school space, and modulars are a lousy way to deal with it.
to close emerson elementary school in newton upper falls was a sin , the whole upper falls area is a historic site , but when you close something that is part of history in that very historic area its like killing a community , sure a good remodel would have been good at the time . now a new school is needed . to many of the schools that are still in use look very bad with all the modular class rooms , upper falls seems to get the short end of the stick a lot i know they had to close some schools but upper falls is so different then most of newton , growing up here is a one of a kind , its not as good as it was in the 70s but its still darn good. i cat star to mention all of the great little things we had , even our own public library in our own school find that you never will our great little stores our summer kids programs , and so much more i also know that other elementary schools need to be re modeled or built new , but dont leave upper falls out again i would even get the stupid condos out of emerson and remodel it back to emerson school looking proud the way it should be for the kids of a very grand place NEWTON UPPER FALLS MA