Tisbury school building committee members urged the public to participate in their survey to give them guidance concerning the Tisbury School.
Tisbury school building committee members urged the public to participate in their survey to give them guidance concerning the Tisbury School. The survey could be filled in online, via Survey Monkey, or on paper. The deadline was May 1.
Among other questions, respondents were asked to rank three options for the Tisbury School: a new school at a new site; a new school at the current school site; a renovated school with addition at the current site. They were asked to list pros and cons of all three options. Not offered as a choice was a “basic renovation” of the current school.
At a meeting on May 1 called by the school building committee and the Tisbury vision council for the purpose of generating input from the public, a committee member told me that the survey results would be published on Wednesday, May 3. I attended the May 3 meeting and the survey results were discussed. According to pie charts shown, a clear majority of respondents favored keeping the school where it is. It was not clear whether the survey results would be released beyond that meeting. It was suggested to extend the survey deadline or possibly to start up a new survey. Many committee members stated that they thought the results were strong already. I don’t see the survey results at the school building committee website (tisbury-school-project.com). The attendees who spoke at the May 1 meeting were overwhelmingly in favor of keeping the school at the current site and at least retaining its facade. The selectmen have voted in favor of keeping the school at its current site. The “new site” option is the Manter well site. The whole Manter well area is shown as protected ancient woodlands on the interactive map of the Island prepared by David Foster (a Google search for “Martha’s Vineyard map Protected Ancient Woodlands” brings the map to the top of the images shown).
According to the project website, a final public forum for site option will take place May 24, at 6 p.m. in the Tisbury school gym. All who take an interest in the process, direction, outcome, and cost of this project should plan to attend.
Katherine Scott
Vineyard Haven
Comments
STarry eyed is what it
D Hodsdon VHSTarry eyed is what it appears to be each time people attend the Tisbury School meetings when it comes to picking the Manter Well or the present schools' site. Is everything new better? For me it isn't Yes the existing school is in need of a face lift and restoration. That shouldn't be the reason to spend 51 million dollars on a new building! When asked the question to Peter Rogers, how much of the burden of that sum was to be for the town of Tisbury, the answer was 65%. For that 65% amount of money WE CAN renovate the existing School without the help of the State yet what is it going to do to our towns taxes? Are we prepared. Hurrah! for a good education.
Now back to the starry eyed ...... What I noticed is that the thought of a new school was a cure all. A new school was going to make everything better, more room more this more that. Wrong It is the fabulous teachers we have that make the school. Where it is located is down around third or forth. What a new school brings is a different learning environment not necessarily better. If the starry eyed want a private Academy Setting , the exact location of the existing school is it. It is community based, It's in a central location it is walkable distance from homes the down town, the various play fields. It is within walking distance from the harbor. Take a trip to three or four private schools and see how they merge into the communities they are in . See how they are structured, See how parents are involved, See the pride.
If the elementary school is removed from the existing site we are severing a part of our community.
More observations to come!
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