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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend April 10, 2006 Parents rally to save school By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune Concerned that Roosevelt Elementary School in east Medford could be shuttered under a possible schoolhouse replacement bond measure, a parent group launched a campaign Friday to keep the historic school open. "We want to educate our parents and help them voice their passion to the school district to save the school," said Kristie George, president of the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization. Built in 1911, the school on Lindley Street is a landmark and the center of its east Medford neighborhood. Parents and students say they cherish the building for its link to the past and close-knit community. "We feel the historic element of Roosevelt is very important to the community we live in," George said. "We want to retain a community school here because Roosevelt is a walking school, and to move it would destroy that." Advertisement A Medford School District planning committee has targeted the school for replacement because of structural instability and deterioration. District officials said they fear the school would disintegrate if an earthquake struck, and repairing the building could prove more costly over time than replacing it. The mortar on the school is crumbling, the roof leaks intermittently, chunks of asbestos tile are chipping away and wall cracks have traveled from room to room. What would happen to the existing building and where the new school would be built are not yet known, district officials said. The committee has offered three options for possible bond measures. Options range from $99.5 million for making basic repairs to all 18 campuses in the district to $222.4 million for repairs and the construction of schools to replace Roosevelt, Jackson and Lone Pine elementary schools and North and South Medford high schools. Committee members say building a new school in place of Roosevelt would cost about $8.7 million compared to $4 million just for correcting the building’s structural deficiencies. The committee has been holding a series of meetings to garner feedback from the public on the options before making a final proposal to the school board in May. About 55 people turned out for the forum April 3 at Roosevelt, the strongest showing of all 14 meetings held so far. "This information blindsided people," said parent Marcia Fond. "I don’t think anyone was prepared for the statement, ‘Hey, we are thinking about moth-balling your school.’ " Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4459 or e-mail Parents rally to save school ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s