Open Letter On Greenport School Community Meeting

An open letter to David Gamberg and the Greenport Board of Education,

Regretfully, I will not be able to attend the Community Meeting on Thursday, December 6th as I have a prior engagement. However, I wanted to be sure my voice was heard on this issue, so I have chosen this venue with the knowledge that my words will surely reach you.

To give some background, I am a graduate of Greenport High School, as are both of my parents. My roots run deep and are planted firmly. When my son was ready to start his own education in my beloved alma mater, my heart swelled with pride and love over what I just knew would be an enriching experience for the both of us; and, for the most part, it has been what I'd hoped for. He has had amazing teachers who have all put forth a sincere effort to provide him with a quality education. That's one thing that hasn't changed about Greenport...awesome teachers who care about our kids and who make the extra effort for the sake of our children.

What has changed in the twenty or so years since I was a student is the condition of our building. I'm disheartened at how far the deterioration has gone. It seems almost unbelievable that our school can be in such bad condition while the town around it is being improved and refurbished at lightning speed. How did we get to this place? As this meeting is focused on establishing the needs of the building alone, I will attempt to stay on course as I outline my concerns.

Outside

1. The parking lot...I was pleased to hear at the last board meeting that work on the east side parking lot will begin shortly. The current condition of that parking lot is not only dangerous for people, but also for vehicles. I hope the planned work entails painting of lines, for not just the staff, but also for the students. I also hope it will include large, clear signage to indicate the teacher and student sections. All too often, students are taking the spots designated for teachers. It would also be nice to have a stop sign at the middle entrance. Many times, a parked vehicle makes it difficult to see an oncoming vehicle from the last entrance. Lastly, big, bright lights. At this time of year, it is dark before a lot of students leave school. We need to ensure their safety and big, bright lights would be helpful to do so.

2. The outside bleachers are beyond repair and need to be replaced. In all honesty, it surprises me they are used at all. They are a hazard. When the new bleachers are installed, we should also upgrade the snack shack. While the senior classes always do a great job with what they have, we could upgrade their space into a better functioning area.

3. The track. It is time for a real track. We are the only school on the North Fork that does not have a functional track for our students (and community) to utilize. Every morning, the fourth graders walk the track to get their wiggles out, and they do it on the worst quarter mile anywhere with the same damn giant puddle that's been there since I was in school.

4. The outdoor classroom. We were sold on the idea that our children would be gaining an outdoor classroom. A bench in a garden does not an outdoor classroom make. There are now two sites on the grounds that have be designated as school gardens. These are gardens, which offer amazing opportunities to provide our children with lifelong skills that can truly benefit them, but they are not outdoor classrooms. An outdoor classroom would be its own designated area where teachers could take their students on nice days for a change of scenery and some fresh air. There is ample space on the grounds to make this idea a reality. Additionally, the garden needs a rain water collection system to provide water to the crops. The current system of a hose across the parking lot is not acceptable.

5. The playground used by our youngest students needs new equipment. The current equipment needs to be recycled into new products and never spoken about again. Three or four pieces of quality equipment would do wonders for that area. The little ones need to have safe, fun equipment to play on. Speaking of playgrounds, I would like to see the buddy bench donated by Kait's Angels put on more level ground with more love shown to it. The current placement does no justice to it.

6. The overall general appearance of the outside of the building could use an overhaul. We have a beautiful old building. We need to accentuate its beauty. A good cleaning, some paint, and landscaping would provide a nice facelift. The presence of more garbage cans and recycling bins would also be helpful. An emphasis on pride in our school and facility taught at a young age would go a long way in preserving the work we put in now.

Inside

1. Most importantly, the bathrooms. At just about every board meeting I've attended since the fall of 2014, we have mentioned the bathrooms. We cannot state in any more ways than we already have...fix the bathrooms. Spend whatever it takes to install doors that close, toilets without stains and sinks that have both hot and cold water as well as soap dispensers and hand dryers that work, and toilet paper holders that are full and functional. Removing a urinal and putting a board over it is not a solution. A clean, fully functioning bathroom is not a luxury. I'm sure the locker rooms could also use an update, so be sure they are included in the plan.

2. Throughout the building, tiles are falling off the walls. They should be replaced and perhaps a resealing of the walls is in order to prevent more tiles from falling off in the future.

3. Leaks, leaks, leaks. I'm only aware of the leaks because Mr. Gamberg has mentioned them multiple times during board meetings. He's mentioned them so many times, I'm wondering what's taking so long to attend to it. Leaks can lead to mold, and mold is not something we want hanging out in the classrooms with our kids. Fix the leaks and make sure all is dried out properly.

4. The cafeteria could use an overhaul. Approximately 70% of our students receive free or reduced lunch. The equipment used to prepare those lunches should be up to date and reliable. Parents shouldn't have to find out that their child didn't have lunch because the stove was broken, and they couldn't make alternate plans.

5. The Home-Ec room could also use a major overhaul. I'm pretty sure most of the equipment in the room is the same equipment I burned crepes on in high school. New stoves, sinks, cabinets and an upgrade from the 70's laminate countertops would do wonders for the room. We seem to have spent a lot of money on random chairs throughout the elementary classrooms, but seemingly haven't spent a dime in the Home-Ec room in a long time. It is overdue.

6. Another item touted at the last handful of board meetings is the pending accredited automotive program that is coming to Greenport. I'm a firm believer in a well-rounded education, and while more challenging curriculum is fantastic, not every kid is going to college, so let's be sure to offer a wide range of programs. With the steady decline of "blue collar" professionals, we owe it to our children to provide them with all types of education. We need to make sure the auto shop is up to par (and perhaps beyond) when the program is ready to roll.

7. The elementary and high school libraries need transformation. These need to be made student friendly media centers. They need to be areas where students can study or research. They need to be open and staffed and made a priority. A non-functioning library in a school is the ultimate oxymoron. Both libraries can achieve this goal. The high school library is a beautiful place that has incredible potential. We need to keep up with the times, while not losing our past. The high school library epitomizes that for me.

8. The doors throughout the school need to be updated. Many classroom doors do not shut or lock. We need to be sure our security measures are able to protect our kids in the event of the unthinkable. In today’s unpredictible world, being able to properly lock down if necessary can mean the difference between saving our kids and losing them.

9. Finally, the heat. Something needs to be done to regulate the heat better. Parts of the school are sweltering while others are not. Excessive heat is not a good thing as it can make paying attention and being alert more difficult.

My hope is that this meeting will serve as a new start toward providing Greenport with what it needs. My expectation is that a bond will be presented to the voters of Greenport and I will do all I can to support passage of the bond presented, but I expect the issues outlined above to be resolved by the bond. I look forward to hearing the outcome of this meeting, and I again apologize for my absence, but Cubmaster duties call.

Kindest regards,

Kim Moore Swann

GHS Class of 1996

PTO President

CJ's mom

Greenport taxpayer

Patch file photo.