WONDERLAND- it’s bacccccccckkkkk—-Another fine mess…..
June 10, 2012 at 12:04 pm 25 comments
UPDATE: THE FOLLOWING RESPONSE FROM MR. JIM SMITH
Site 4
After hearing about a proposed gift of land to Lorain City Schools by Joe Lucas I talked with Mr. Lucas by phone to thank him for his generous offer. The school board was informed of the offer by Tony Giardini, attorney for both Mr. Lucas and the Lorain City Schools Board of Education. I informed Mr. Lucas that I was not in favor of building the high school on the donated property for the following reasons:
1. The land is heavily wooded and swampy.
2. It is located near a designated Wet Lands area.
3. A major water line runs through the property and reduces the amount of land on which a permanent structure can be erected.
4. The city seems willing to take a number of ball fields away from Lorain Youth Baseball to accommodate the high school. I am not willing to see that happen.
5. It will delay the construction a new high school by 6 to 12 months or more.
6. It will take time, and money, to determine if the site can even be used.
7. There is no land that connects to any current roadway.
8. The school architect does not recommend the site.
9. The moving of students will still take place.
The donor has not presented the school board with any written documents regarding the offer. In my opinion the school board would be acting irresponsibly to decide on this matter before the offer is expressed in writing and all required due diligence is completed.
The views expressed on this matter are mine. I am not writing on behalf of other board members, or on behalf of the school board.Jim Smith
ODE to Wonderland
Oh! Alice the games we play in this non fairy tale land of Lorain – those of the inane make wonderland look sane
One – two – three oh which site will it be?
Oh! hold up – stop the presses there is more
we have another site FOUR
Don’t move, mayor asks schools: Suggests a new Lorain High School site, averting student shuffle(Morning Journal)
http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2012/06/10/news/mj6334073.txt
We dither and dather and all have our “rather”
but if you ask me Alice all they do is “blather ”
Nothing gets done except cause taxpayer fury
those that will ultimately be the judge and jury
Did you ever have to make up your mind? Lovin spoonful –
The New Lorain High Anthem!
Did you ever have to make up your mind
Pick up on one and leave the other behind
It’s not often easy and not often kind
Did you ever have to make up your mind
Did you ever have to finally decide
Say yes to one and let the other one ride
There’s so many changes and tears you must hide
Did you ever have to finally decide
Entry filed under: a Cow -elle opinion, city of lorain, education, notorious opponents of exactitude, personal opinion. Tags: education, local politics, Lorain, Lorain City Schools, opinion.
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1. meddling gardener | June 10, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Spot on post! Love love love the new anthem!! Lucas High School has a swirl to it…at least they keep the LHS. This calls for a mascot change, too. The Plumbers? The Wrenches? “We will we will FLUSH YOU!” 😆
2. thatwoman | June 10, 2012 at 4:31 pm
🙂 or dare I say “The Fighting Ballcocks”
3. aka/mozart | June 10, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Well said Jim and Loraine..in my opinion this whole thing reeks Giardini…and now it looks that chase has bought the toe tag. Perhaps maybe even Anne Molnar…i remember her saying over and over if chase gets involved with tony…she would no longer support the Mayor on council floor…now i hear she sings both their praises…another bought and sold perhaps…who else is subscribing to the tainted koolaid?
I have left my messages in columbus and will follow thru with personal contact.
Thanks Loraine…for posting what Jim had to say…on a forum that can be discussed civilally…..maybe?
4. thatwoman | June 10, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Denise , it will be civil because only those who post under their own names who have anything to say about the people involved will be posted. Others who have their “moniker” are known to me and who do not make personal attacks and can back up their opinion with documentation (on or off the blog) are also allowed… but name calling – calling out someone behind a nom de plume will be edited and moderated …….
5. meddling gardener | June 10, 2012 at 4:59 pm
The Lucas High School Fighting Ballcocks! PERFECTO!
And the girls teams could be the Flipping Flappers!
6. Loraine Ritchey | June 10, 2012 at 5:13 pm
with their “tank ” tops ?
7. aka/mozart | June 10, 2012 at 5:29 pm
…but i see where confusion could about…where are the teams exactly playing…i see arrows pointing in all directions….good giref…
no way will it be Lucas high….more like…lucasini high….with a steeple chase.
8. Bill Sturgill | June 10, 2012 at 8:07 pm
You know I really was for the Fighting Perch the first time around. The above posts really were funny. I needed a laugh out of all of this….
9. Loraine Ritchey | June 10, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Oh Bill that is a little “fishy” but then again………. 😉
10. Dennis Lamont | June 10, 2012 at 9:38 pm
And the Soccer Academy is still MT
11. Loraine Ritchey | June 10, 2012 at 9:53 pm
SHHHHHHH Dennis that will be site 5 and don’t forget we have that OE plant property hmmmmmmmmmmmm
12. meddling gardener | June 10, 2012 at 10:01 pm
@Dennis
The soccer academy was annexed to Amherst Schools. The soccer academy people didn’t think they would be able to draw the talented kids they were looking for by promising them an LCS education.
The soccer academy might make a very nice Valor House, though.
13. meddling gardener | June 10, 2012 at 10:04 pm
And that OE property is in all kinds of special “zones” making it eligible for all kinds of government goodies, too. 😉 What else are they going to do with that property, give it to the same people who are keeping us off of Harmon’s Beach?
14. Dennis Lamont | June 11, 2012 at 10:50 am
Dear Med,
Did you never see the concept drawing of the 10-15 story glass sided building sitting there in all it’s glory ??? I forget the detail of what goes around it.
15. Loraine Ritchey | June 11, 2012 at 11:59 am
Concept(ion) drawings I have seen a few and the only thing I have seen is that the tax payer to get to conception usually gets “scre..d ” 🙂 isn’t that always the way to begat…..
16. Brian | June 11, 2012 at 9:47 pm
The school system is setting itself up to crash and burn. The district is still running around like it has money to burn, and while some, or possibly all of the board members may like Tony G, this was one extremely stupid move.
This whole idea was insanely borderline super unethical. Many a folks have been fired for much less.
17. Loraine Ritchey | June 11, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Well if you follow the comments and Andrew Branham some things may be starting to make sense
Chase wants to sell the old iron ore land in and around the current city hall. Supposedly, he has a buyer looking for this prime, lake front property.
Here is where it starts to stink – instead of taking the money and building his dream City Hall on the swamp land – he wants the AK land. He doesn’t care about the kids. He only cares about getting his city hall and service center. He is like George in the episode of Seinfeld where he pushed all the old ladies out of the way to get out of an apartment fire. Chase will step on disadvantaged kids in order to build a damn city hall. He wants to displace the kids off to some wetlands so he can satisfy his own need. And Tony is just a puppet right now.
If the swamp land is so nice then go build your empire there Chase.
and
andrewbranham1 3 hours ago
This entire thing appears to be a calculated move by Tony G. and Chase. It is very naive for them to think the people of Lorain would fall for one of their political chess moves.
1) It is now clear why the Mayor wanted to be included on the selection committee. This is REALLY a prime example of very dirty politics at work in Lorain. Corruption and manipulation.
2) It is also clear why Tony G. wants to throw his name in the ring. This entire thing is a complete, premeditated and calculated conspiracy by Tony’s crew. They envision a perfect world where they have 100% complete control. Basically a dictatorship of the schools. As part of his plot – Tony would be the SI (unqualified to run a large school system but allowed under the muni rules). He would report to Chase. Chase would get his new city hall and service center in the prime location he wanted. The kids would be “thrown into the swamp”. In addition to all that – LCS would become a municipality run school system. It would mark the end of the line for Lorain as the final spear enters the wounded animal.
3) If Tony gets the job as the SI reporting to Chase – then he has full reign on the city. He’ll have the unions running the schools and students. The liberal left would then be running the schools.
It is outrageous that these two think this is ok. Do they actually think the people of Lorain would fall for such a ridiculous scheme? Lucky I don’t live in Lorain or I would be arranging a recall election for Chase.
Essentially – this is all going down because Chase wants the school land for his coveted new city hall and service center. Doesn’t anyone wonder why this ‘prime’ land that was donated won’t sell? It is a wetland ~ a swamp! If it is so good then why doesn’t Chase and Tony build their dream HQ there?
The people of Lorain have got to stand up to this SLAP IN THE FACE!
These are your democratic leaders folks! Self-centered, ego-centric, narcissistic politicians. Forget the kids – it is all about them them them.
WOW
18. aka/mozart | June 11, 2012 at 11:49 pm
as was said to me via the phone…”what tony touches turns to puss”….
Well stated.
19. Dennis Lamont | June 12, 2012 at 12:02 am
Let me get this straight ( I get so confused) we know they wanted to move the City Hall off “prime” property (last I heard) and move it to not-so-prime property …ie: around 21st St to prop up ailing St Joe’s.
Isn’t this why dollars were spent on blight studies ?
Now do I have this right …they want to move from prime property to other prime property ….am I missing the point again ????
20. Loraine Ritchey | June 12, 2012 at 12:37 am
Dennis—– I can understand wanting to move City Hall that has been bounced around for at least a decade. and thereby opening up the lakefront especially with the Power Towers coming down- I would think a developer would want acreage that is unencumbered ….I can understand partnering with the services eg a service complex with other entities who share the same needs makes sense… that idea was floated years ago and I seem to remember the old stove works being one of the sites. for the complex..
I just don’t understand why the need the halt the Lorain High School ( new) and stop the demo of the old AK what has one to do with a new city hall . this isn’t about kids and losing them.. because this latest fiasco has certainly not helped the taxpayer having any faith.Oh well we will wait and see what page turns next……
21. aka/mozart | June 12, 2012 at 12:45 am
if my dad were alive…he would say…”as the stomach turns”…if my judge Joe were alive…he would be saying…”horses ass’es”
They were both very wise men.
22. gramster1 | June 12, 2012 at 11:10 am
It is just amazing to me. I go away from the computer for a few days and all h*ll breaks loose once again. Why oh why do people who have their own hidden agenda have to meddle in the affairs of education. Let it be known, that this morning’s comment about a certain family member owning property next to the “gift” is going to play a part if we allow ourselves to be drawn into this fiasco. Not a doubt in my mind. If we are only going to have a single high school, why would we move it to the farthest side of town? Were we not trying for a more (ha ha) central location? Why would we even consider taking on a piece of property that comes with restrictions? Why would we take on more problems than we already have? It’s amazing to think we just keep allowing this stuff to keep happening to us. It sounds like the board president is already on board with this issue. Oh my! How could it be discussed by “officials” when everyone was not notified about the offered until “after the fact:”? There are laws covering that sort of “discussion”. Or, didn’t the lawyer and head of the county “party” know about the LAW? And, what does that say about him and his agendas?
23. Loraine Ritchey | June 12, 2012 at 11:52 am
I just posted what was not said 🙂
24. gramster1 | June 12, 2012 at 2:25 pm
I saw, thanks.
25. Lisa | June 12, 2012 at 9:40 pm
Maybe they can move the existing City Hall building to the St. Joe’s property (once that building is gone – it’s only a matter of time) and we can reduce-recycle-reuse just like the early Lorainites 😉
Is there an architect in the house? 😀