Hi South High Supporters,
I wanted to give you a quick update on what's happening with Barnard Field. There are two meeting’s minutes you can read and both on the South High Site Council page. http://south.mpls.k12.mn.us/site_council_6 First. are for the special Site Council meeting on January 5th with Superintendent Graff where he told us the ABE/T+ project is proceeding, Site Council also voted to establish a committee to gather input for a Barnard Field plan. The second minutes to read are for the first meeting of the Barnard Field Committee on January 11th. The committee is in the process of gathering as much input from those that practice on it, coach on it, work with it, as well as the rest of us who would like input so that it is the best long-term facility for the future South students. Many of these areas are mentioned in the minutes. Surveys to the coaches and clubs have been sent out. Surveys to the parents/caregivers should be sent out soon. As always, please feel welcome to attend or to let me know if you have input you would like to see addressed or included in the committee. The upcoming committee meetings, January 25th and February 8th, 4:30 pm, have been sent out in the Tiger Pride newsletter and are posted on the South High site, but since many of you have been part of these emails for months now, I wanted you to know you are still very much included in the process. There is a long way to go and we don’t know the outcome. I hope you stay informed and vocal. Thank you, Scott Schluter South High parent Barnard Field Committee chair
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Update: There is a South High Field Planning Committee helping gather input on what the South students, staff, coaches and community want for a NEW South High athletic field and facility. Committee updates and minutes are located on this site and the South High Site Council page. What the options are from a space and budget standpoint are what we are wanting to determine. What can we do now? What can we do in the future by planning for it now? One thing was made clear by our coaches surveys, everyone wants/needs more space.
Hi South High Supporters,
A brief update on the special Site Council meeting and the Corcoran Neighborhood Organization meeting last night. Site Council meeting: Superintendent Graff stated that the ABE/T+ building is moving forward. There was no flexibility on this point. Mr. Graff went on to say that Jay Pomeroy of Anderson/Johnson, a landscape architect, was brought in to come up with an athletic field plan for South. When someone asked Mr. Pomeroy whether eight lanes would fit, he hesitantly answered “yes”. He was brought in just before 12/25/16, so he said he hadn’t time to plan it out. Mr. Pomeroy stated that he needed to know what South wanted. There is a good starting point that was done by the South High staff in 1995 and that was part of my presentation of the history of Barnard Field and the athletic field options that had been planned over the past 21 years. Jack Tamble of Adult Education and Rochelle Cox of Special Education gave a quick summary of their programs. Trent Tucker spoke briefly of working to have an athletic field for South. A Site Council vote was taken to form a committee to meet two times before the next Site Council meeting to have the workings for a plan for the South Fields. Mr. Graff would like to have the field done by 2018/2019. The goal is to include staff, students, coaches and community in the South High Barnard field plans. The CNO meeting had a presentation of the ABE/T+ to the Corcoran community by the two architects, David Miller and Rick Wessling from Urbanworks, Mark Bollinger, Jack Tamble and Rochelle Cox from MPS, Richard Mammon of Change, Inc. Mark Bollinger stated that MPS and CNO had been working on this project for seven or more years. At that time, Jim Davnie, District 63 legislator and South High parent, asked David Miller, lead architect from Urbanworks, what he was charged to do with this project. His response was to build for the two programs. Mr. Davnie then asked if he was asked to include South for input and Mr. Miller said “no”. Mr Davnie asked the same question to Mr. Bollinger, who worked on purchasing the property for MPS and his response if he was asked to include input from South was also “no”. Ray Aponte gave a viewpoint from South. I also said it would have been so much better if South had been included by MPS in the same timeframe as CNO. Unfortunately, it makes it seem to some that we are against ABE and T+, which we are not. The lack of having all the parties at the table from the beginning makes it seemingly pit against each other and that’s not what we want at all. CNO unanimously voted to approve the ABE/T+ plan for the CNO Board vote next week. Scott Schluter South High parent History of Barnard Field 1995 - South High School Architectural Plans and Input -Show Entire Plan -Staff input on athletic needs and space-list -31st Street vacated in plan -Athletic fields north/south, 31st to Lake 2000 - City of Minneapolis Lake/Hiawatha Master Plan -show map -athletic fields enlarged -31st Street removed 2003 - MPS asks Minneapolis to vacate 31st Street -Mpls refused vacate and 2nd request at plaza street also denied 2014 - Sale of 6.5 acre Brown Institute site - Bollinger letter of expanding existing neighbors - Bates letter asking about SHS expanding fields to Lake 2016 - January MPS Board letter by CNO, SHS, Cano, Foundation - asking for master plan for campus before any building takes place 2016 - CNO submits "mid-town campus" plan - plan shows need for enlarged athletic fields and entire new SHS building 2016 - This is the fourth property owned by MPS - The Y was to have a competition pool for South High swimming. - 1995 plan states only 50% of phy ed space needs, so 15 minutes of phy ed is walking to Fieldhouse. 2016 - Eight Superintendents over this time period. Show South High Star Tribune video from 11:10 to end. http://www.mnfootballhub.com/news_article/show/186211?referrer_id=648058 This is what this is all about, the students. The ability for the students to compete, to succeed, to fail and to get picked back up. It is also about the ability to allow the students and the community to cheer our students on, to feel welcome and appreciated and to welcome and appreciate each other. Shocker that apparently there are updates to Barnard Field improvements to be shown by MPS AD Trent Tucker and a Mr. Pomeroy. I know of no one who knows anyone or anything about any involvement in these "updates”. No idea who Mr. Pomeroy is. No idea on the improvements. Transparency is still very opaque. Scott AGENDA SITE COUNCIL South High School Media Center January 5, 2017 4:00 – 5:00 pm 4:00 – 4:05 Welcome and Introductions (Steve Richter) 4:05 – 4:15 Superintendent Comments (Superintendent Graff) 4:15 – 4:25 Principal’s Report (Ray Aponte) 4:25 – 4:35 History of Barnard Field (Scott Schluter) 4:35 – 4:45 Update on ABE/TPlus Building
4:45 – 4:55 Update on Barnard Field improvements
4:55 – 5:00 Future Items
Hi South High Supporters,
Three important events this week pertaining to the South High Athletic Field: 1. Special Site Council Meeting Superintendent Ed Graff is attending a special South High Site Council meeting this Thursday, Jan 5th, 4 pm. in the SHS conference room across from the office. This is an open meeting and all are welcome. http://south.mpls.k12.mn.us/graff_to_visit_site_council_thursday.html 2. MPS Presentation of its Lake St Building Plans There is also a presentation by MPS of their plans for the ABE/T+ building on the site next to the South High athletic field at the Corcoran Neighborhood Organization, Thursday, Jan 5th 6 pm, 3451 Cedar Av S. http://south.mpls.k12.mn.us/mps_to_present_plans_to_cno_thursday_night.html 3, Occupy Barnard Field Rally Parents United for South High and the Site Council are hosting the entire South High community at “Occupy Barnard Field” to rally in support of campus improvements, Friday, Jan 6th, 3:30-4 pm at Barnard Field. http://south.mpls.k12.mn.us/parent_event_at_barnard_field.html Superintendent Ed Graff will be at the Site Council meeting. At the October 26th meeting at South, he told us the Lake St. building plans were a “done deal”, but on December 19th, he replied to a Site Council meeting request by saying "No final decisions related to significant projects at or near South High will be made until after the January meeting.” Our goal for this meeting is two-fold in (1) to once again show the history of South’s plans to improve and expand it’s campus, it’s fields, it’s practice space and (2) to ask the District for a viable plan that addresses the needs of South before the Lake St. building is finalized. History included: 1. 1995 architectural plans showing a north/south field to Lake St and vacating 31st St. (These are the plans that built the third floor in 1997.) 2. 2000 City of Minneapolis Master Plan of Hiawatha and Lake showing an enlarged South High athletic facility and vacating of 31st St. 3. 2003 MPS plans to vacate 31st St and then attempting to get Mpls to turn 31st into a plaza street. 4. South High Foundation’s plans to increase the field size and parking. 5. 2016 Corcoran Neighborhood Organization’s plans to increase the athletic facilities and build an entirely new South High Campus to Lake Street. We have been told about plans for the fields that MPS says would work in the existing footprint, but each time I do the measurements, their plans don’t physically fit in the current space! This just tells me that no one has done their homework with an actual plan. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or if there is anything you would like to pass along if you are not able to be there. Thank you for caring and hoping and let us hope Mr. Graff listens to what has been said in our past and what the student’s of South need for the future. Scott Schluter South High parent [email protected] [email protected] More history at: http://mpsneedsaplan.weebly.com/ The real truth in this story is not any individual coach or player, but it is about the student, our students, now and future. What do we show them? How do we teach them? How do we help them create their foundation? How do we let them fall down and lift them back up again? How do we make them feel cared for and valued? How do we allow them to cheer each other on? How do we let them feel proud of who they are and where they come from? This is not about us. This is about them.
Please watch this video linked below. This is about the students. Their hopes, their dreams, their struggles, their failures, their successes. The athletic fields are about all of this and about our ability to be there to encourage them and to cheer them on and ourselves at the same time. VIDEO: 'We will go up! Are you with me?'By McKenna Ewen, Star Tribune 10/23/2012, 7:15am CDT An undermanned team at a large city high school, the South Tigers were followed on the field and off by Star Tribune videographer McKenna Ewen. http://www.mnfootballhub.com/news_article/show/186221?referrer_id=648058 The South High PUSH (Parents United for South High) took place in the Media Center, Monday, December 12th. Site Council Co-chair Steve Richter opened the discussion about the South athletic fields. What we thought was going to happen for South in improving the safety, size and practice space that South High students have needed for years and MPS providing an equitable athletic facility....is not happening. What is happening, is the MPS is planning a building for two existing MPS programs, Adult Education (ABE) and Transitions Plus (T+). With MPS streamlining the bidding process in the first quarter of 2017 and plans for construction to happen in the second quarter of 2017, there is no time left for the South community to be quiet. If MPS constructs their building and finally comes up with a plan for South athletic facilities and says, "sorry, we needed 20 more feet, but we can't get you a properly sized field, or there is no room for lights, or the track has to stay six lanes" and so on. Richter went on to show that this is the fourth property that MPS has owned next to or near South High. Included in those properties are the YWCA, in which the agreement was to have a competition swimming pool which South High swimmers would be able to hold meets. Didn't happen. The Y fieldhouse property is still owned by MPS, yet it is often difficult to work out time for South athletes in their building. The 6.5 acre "Brown Institute" site sold by MPS in 2014 (that still has six more years available lease for ABE) was not considered with South. Number four, the Lake Street block between 21st and 20th. Adjacent to the South High field. This might be the last chance for space for South. We need to know that MPS has the space, has a plan, that will fit the needs of the students of South High and we don't have that from MPS. South High parent Scott Schluter then presented plans showing the South High fields running north/south to Lake Street. Plans utilizing the two half blocks from 19th to 21st. Plans that show the removal of 31st Street creating a inclusive and safer campus plan. Those plans also showed the school's needs and desires at that time. Those plans also addressed the need for more space in a school that had outgrown its classrooms with the addition of a third floor on part of the building. The other needs mentioned, including the athletic facility, were left on hold. Below is the plan showing the desired fields for South High. Why did no one at MPS involve South in discussions on properties that were part of their 1996 master plan? Who watches over the plan? It was then shown that since the 1996 South High Master Plan was formulated, designed and blueprinted, MPS has had EIGHT Superintendents! Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendents Since 1996 Peter Hutchinson Carol Johnson David Jennings Thandiwe Peebles Bill Green Bernediea Johnson Michael Goar Ed Graff The proverbial "ball" was dropped and it did not roll South High's way. Since then, the City of Minneapolis presented a Hiawatha/Lake Master Plan in 2000 (shown below). That plan also shows an enlarged South High athletic facility and the removal of 31st St to connect the school and the fields. The South High Foundation also submitted design plans years ago to MPS with a larger athletic fields footprint to help bring South up to an equitable facility and the money promised from MPS at that time never materialized. Even the neighborhood that South High resides in (Corcoran Neighborhood Organization) has sent a design proposal (below) to Superintendent Ed Graff to be considered as a "masterplan vision" for South. This shows that this problem is nothing new. This shows that designers, architects, city officials, alumni and neighborhood organizations for over 20 years have seen, have known and have spoken to the need for South High students to have a safe and equitable facility. Why MPS decides to build on land that was decided 20 years ago was part of the South High vision and then not include South High Adminstration, students or South High attendance area community is wrong. What can the South High community do before the streamlined MPS bidding process begins in January 2017? Go to the contact page. Email the Superintedent, the MPS Board, the MPS Athletic Dept, the South High Principal, the media, your friends, neighbors, city council. This is the fourth piece of land that MPS has owned next to South over the past 20 years, yet, for some reason, South doesn't seem be at the head of the table. 1996 South High School athletic facilities design as part of an encompassing master plan. MPS did part of this plan in adding a third story to part of the building. Hiawatha/Lake Station Master Plan 2000 http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/planning/cped_lakemidtown#P3_116 Corcoran Neighborhood Organization submitted this "Masterplan vision" to Superintendent Ed Graff 12/3/16.
Hi South High supporters,
There are some immediate items I would like you to know, ie. PUSH meeting and MPS Board Meetings. In the last email when we were celebrating a mini “yay” for at least getting a vote from the Board in favor of applying for a grant and MPS funds. We are now down to the last days of trying to get Superintendent Graff and the MPS Board to make a plan for South before they sign a building contract in the first quarter of 2017 that will lock South High into it’s current footprint. A footprint that is too small to support it’s students athletics in track and field, soccer, lacrosse, football, ultimate frisbee, much less any space for them to practice without being bussed all over Minneapolis. As always, please keep telling your Superintendent, your MPS Board members, your Principal AND your friends, neighbors, fellow students your thoughts and concerns and wishes. Superintendent Ed Graff [email protected] MPS Board http://board.mpls.k12.mn.us/ South High Principal Ray Aponte [email protected] Other topics are highlighted below and are included in more detail on the www.mpsneedsaplan.weebly.com. http://mpsneedsaplan.weebly.com/ Thank you, Scott Schluter South High Parent [email protected] PUSH Meeting, Monday, Dec. 12th, 6 pm, SHS Media Center http://south.mpls.k12.mn.us/p_u_s_h South High Athletic Field Updates 1. Introductions 2. What the South High community thought was happening with the land on Lake Street. (designs from 1996 and 2000 will be shown) 3. What MPS currently plans to build on the land adjacent the South field on Lake Street. (designs will be shown, MPS stated bids start Jan. 2017, construction slated for 2nd qtr. 2017) 4. What does South High School need to happen for the long-term future of the students regarding the fields. 5. What do we as the South High Community need to do right now? MPS Board meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 13th, 5:30 pm, Davis Center, 1250 West Broadway Av http://board.mpls.k12.mn.us/calendar 5:30 public commentary signup http://board.mpls.k12.mn.us/public_comment We need you!!! There has been a public comment from someone from South High at each MPS Board meeting since July! Bids for the ABE/T+ start in January 2017. We need someone, parent or especially a student, (students make a big impact upon the Board) who can remind the Board that they should have a plan for South High BEFORE they sign any contract that forever locks down the South High Campus without considering South’s future! If you can speak, please let me know. I would love to know that we have South represented. I cannot make it this Tuesday, but am very willing to help anyone if they have a question on what they would like to say. MPS Finance Meeting, Tuesday, January 3rd, 4:30 pm, Davis Center, 1250 West Broadway Av Even though there is no public comment at these meetings, our MPS District 3 Board member Siad Ali has told us that it would be good to show South High interests as other high school communities are regularly in attendance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Go to www.mpsneedsaplan.weebly.com to see past emails, press and contact information http://mpsneedsaplan.weebly.com/ Information on topics below will be expanded upon within the mpsneedsaplan blog site. Corcoran Neighborhood Organization sends a letter and South High Campus Master Plan proposal to Superintendent Graff - Dec. 3, 2016 Plan will be shown at PUSH meeting. While it is good that the local neighborhood is thinking of South High, South needs to be the driver in this conversation. Letter and plan will be available soon on blog site. MPS Field Plan Three does not meet South High field current footprint. Concerns that MPS has no plan that has architecturally measured options for South before land space is lost. Site Council in November attended by MPS architect and MPS facilities Director. http://south.mpls.k12.mn.us/site_council_6 ABE and T+ building size and parking constraints discussed by architect. South High School Plans from 1996 showing a north/south athletic field and 31st Street removed. Minneapolis City Hiawatha/Lake Master Plan from 2000 showing 31st Street removed. Corcoran Neighborhood Organization submits South High Campus Master Plan to Superintendent Graff12/11/2016 ---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ed Graff <[email protected]> Date: Tue, Dec 6, 2016 at 2:18 PM Subject: RE: South High Campus To: Flannery Clark Cc: Mark Bollinger <[email protected]>, Jenny Arneson <[email protected]>, Carla Bates <[email protected]>, Siad Ali <[email protected]>, Eric Gustafson <[email protected]> Flannery, Thank you for following up regarding your January letter regarding capital planning for the South High campus and adjacent area. Ideally, my goal is to have one capital planning process that is holistic in nature and incorporates plans for existing school communities with a uniform, district-wide process framework. Of course, the framework can be nuanced to accommodate unique needs at particular sites. My goal is for families across Minneapolis to understand that an equitable, transparent and accountable process, and set of criteria, is being used to prioritize capital dollars, engage families and other interested community members, and complete projects. I am meeting this week to ensure that the South High community and the process recommendations you have suggested are considered in the master planning work. In the meantime, I believe I owe the South High planning group a return visit just to update everyone on where we are, and provide information on our ABE/T+ program and the track and field improvements. I will be working with Principal Aponte to arrange a time. Until then, Ed Ed Graff Superintendent, Minneapolis Public Schools p 612.668.0200 a 1250 West Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Flannery Clark Sent: Saturday, December 03, 2016 4:10 PM To: Ed Graff Cc: Mark Bollinger; Jenny Arneson; Carla Bates; Siad Ali; Eric Gustafson Subject: South High Campus Dear Superintendent Graff, Please find attached our letter from January 2016, proposing a meeting on a long term Master Plan for the South High Campus. With the ABE/T+ project moving forward, we believe it is time to revisit the points addressed in the letter, and to convene a conversation about long term plans for the South High campus. I have also attached an example plan drafted by Phillip Koski, a longtime Corcoran resident and volunteer. I look forward to your response. Best, Flannery Clark Chair, Corcoran Neighborhood Organization |
Scott Schluter
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