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Extensive repairs needed at Selma High
Published Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Photo by Caleb R. Johnson
Coordinator of Auxilliary Services Ray Mathiews points out a pair of blown lightbulbs to Selma High School Principal Wanda McCall. Mold can be seen on the ceiling in the background.
Superintendent Dr. Austin Obasohan walked through the corridors of Selma High School. Around each corner, the lights grew dimmer. He walked past classrooms lined with dingy carpet and underneath ceiling tiles stained with water and mold.
"To me, it's unacceptable," Obasohan said. "It's just not adequate at all."
Obasohan said he would form a committee next week to research future options for Selma High School. These options include: an extensive renovation of the existing building, a new building constructed on the current site and a new building constructed on another site.
Two years ago, Volkert & Associates, Inc. of Mobile performed an assessment of Selma High School. The engineering firm, which has offices across the Southeast U.S., estimated renovations of the high school would cost about $20 million, while constructing a new high school would cost between $38 and $40 million.
Volkert’s vice president of project construction management Philip Russell said those prices would not have fluctuated much since the assessment. Russell said the firm awarded contracts at a lower cost than budgeted during the current recession.
"If you've got the money, now's the time to buy construction," Russell said.
Volkert identified a number of problems with Selma High School including: unutilized square footage, water damage in the auditorium, outdated dressing rooms in the gymnasium, a poorly located cafeteria and many problems in the east wing.
"Your east wing is dilapidated," Russell said. "It has some mold and mildew issues."
Obasohan, principal Wanda McCall and coordinator of auxiliary services Ray Mathiews walked through the east wing and other parts of the school last week. The east wing was constructed more than 50 years ago. Since then, the wing has not undergone any major renovations. In contrast, the main building was renovated within the last 10 years.
Mathiews scribbled in a notebook when he saw blown fluorescent light bulbs and damaged ceiling tiles. Despite the efforts of Mathiews and his staff, Selma High School cannot be patched up anymore.
"I think we do a pretty good job of maintaining what we have," Mathiews said. "It's the layout and just the overall condition. It needs to be replaced."
Problems are not confined to the main building either. Jacolby Adams, a senior, said the roof leaks in the freestanding band building.
"If it rains real hard, it's going to flood in there," Adams said. "One day when it rained, we had to have a bucket in there."
McCall said an outdated and damaged facility was no excuse to stop working though. She said her faculty and staff make do with what they have, but deserve much more.
"Despite our building, we're still teaching," McCall said. "The kids and the staff deserve an up-to-date facility."
Physics and chemistry teacher Malysa Chandler said she learned to improvise when she was hired two years ago. Chandler said her room was bare, except for dusty carpet on the floor and mold on the ceiling. It was almost dark as night in that classroom on the east wing, too.
"The first thing I noticed when I got here was the darkness," Chandler said. "I've done the best with what I had. Everything's just outdated."
Mathiews agreed with Chandler. The building just does not meet modern standards. There are too few electrical outlets, and the plumbing and some heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems are outdated. Mathiews said the combination of a poor original design and countless additions created a maze of corridors, classrooms, nooks and crannies that make the school impossible to monitor.
"This school was built for the '50s and '60s," Mathiews said. "It doesn't flow right, and it's hard to supervise."
PTO president Wanda Goodwin said supervision and safety are her primary concerns. She said there are too many entrances to the school, which makes it impossible to know who comes and goes.
"New schools are designed to promote safety," she said.
That is why Goodwin would like to see an entirely new high school built where the 70-year-old building stands. While school officials do not know exactly how much money President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package would provide for the project, Goodwin said the time is right to build.
"We need to go on and explore the possibility of the new school, or we will be left in the dust," Goodwin said.
Mathiews said the school system has some capital improvement funds available, and he hopes the economic stimulus package provides some help. He said the school would still need to finance the project whether it was an extensive renovation or construction of a new building.
Obasohan said options are still being explored. The next step occurs when Obasohan recommends the list of names for the committee to the school board at the Thursday, March 12, meeting at 6 p.m. at Pickard Auditorium.
School Board President Barbara Stapp-Hiouas said she would wait on community input before deciding what action should be taken. She said something must be done quickly though.
"It's just in dire need of so much repairs," she said. "I don't know that we can really point to one. We're talking leaks; we're talking mold; we're talking electrical work."
Obasohan agreed the time to act is now, regardless of potential funding obstacles.
"We know we're in proration, but our children can no longer wait," he said.
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Comments
Posted by ChangeSelma (anonymous) on March 4, 2009 at 10:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's long over due for an article about the condition of Selma High . I am so glad Mr.Jones posted this article . It makes no sense to me why the school board would build a new school board building and ignore the terrible conditions of a school that is on the same campus they are on . It's very obvious the building is in real bad shape and needs to be replaced with a new one . It's also a health hazard and mold is very toxic . I am so glad my daughter was in the Early College program when she was in high school so she wouldn't be at the school on a daily basis. Parents and those who are really concerned about the childern should make there feelings known and voices heard . There is strength in numbers . It's time we do more for the childern of this community .
Posted by I_saw_what_you_did_in_Selma (anonymous) on March 4, 2009 at 10:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can honestly say I've never set foot in the building, but I had friends that went to SHS and from all accounts, the building was falling apart in the 80's.
Carpet in the classrooms? That's a new one to me. I didn't think you got to have carpet in classrooms until you got to college. Maybe in the library, but not in classrooms. Learn something new every day.
Posted by nowhining (anonymous) on March 4, 2009 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe some of the STIMULOUS money can help out. We could actually see a shovel ready project here in Selma. I'm sure we have plenty of qualified construction workers who need a job right now with the economy going south, and soooo many people out of work. I'm only in favor of repairing or re-building if they use a local construction company, and local workers. If they do like most large projects in this area, bring in the workers, it(the construction) isn't helping Selma's economy, and last I knew, it is our tax money supporting our schools here.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on March 5, 2009 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The thing that blows my mind is these people act this is something new. This building has been in bad shape for a long time. Why wasn't this acknowleged years ago? Did the school board just choose to ignore this? They are the one's responsible for the "up keep". It's also amazing that the school board could take the steps to build them a new baord office due to the other being old and dilapidated, but couldn't foresee Selma High's problems. WHy have they not had a "Shovel Ready" plan of action when ANY money comes to the table? I hate to say it Selma, but looks like you might be getting a new $40 million dollar school......AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW TAXES TO PAY FOR IT. SO run out and vote YES for your school and tax increase.
Posted by Clarissa49 (anonymous) on March 5, 2009 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with nowhining. If there is going to be construction in regard to Selma High School, local construction companies and local workers should be used. Our tax money should be used to support our economy and our people. I am tired of seeing construction workers (legal and illegal) in our community from south of the border.
Posted by SelmaSmartBoy (anonymous) on March 5, 2009 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This problem has been addressed since 2006 and if you want the honest truth, it was ignored. It was ignored by school board officials, and non-caring citizens who didn't have children in the school system. Mayor Perkins tried to bring the new school proposal to the table but it was shot down. I remember when people were bad-mouthing him about it. But what poeple didn't know was that the only reason Mayor Perkins brought the new school proposal to the table was because WE (the students) had brought it to him at the time. He hosted a City-Wide Youth Town Hall Forum. It consisted of 3 Meetings. The first was for the elementary schools. The second was for the middle and high schools. The last was for the college students and young adults up to the age 25. All three had great turnouts, but the middle/high school one was the largest. I should know, because I was there and the biggest issues the students said was, "We wanted a movie theater (by the way....that whole issue was made by students also)" and "We want/need a school. We don't want repairs. We need/want a new school." Mayor Perkins was simply trying to carry out the requests of Selma's Youth, but it was shot down. People have seemed to forgot those series of events. So it saddens me how we choose to wait until it becomes public news that the school is falling apart when it should've been taken care of long time ago. I understand there are other schools that need tending to also, but the city only has ONE high school. If that one high school comes down...where will the children go? I'll leave it at that.
-Be Blessed
Posted by weenz (anonymous) on March 5, 2009 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
An arms length analysis of the condition of the building should be done by professional architects, appraisers, and consultants with a background in construction, with no personal interest or potential monetary gain. Anything short of that will give you false answers. Just because it looks bad on the surface, doesn't mean it can't be repaired in a prudent cost effective manner. Having been involved in Construction, Develpment, and Real Estate I have noticed a lot of greed in each of these fields. The present location is great, the architecture is a plus, and if the foundation is in good shape, what's wrong with a good quality rehab?
Posted by ChangeSelma (anonymous) on March 5, 2009 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are absolutely correct SelmaSmartBoy .The school has been neglected for many decades and nothing was done about it . Madame Butterfly always gets on view point and and talk about the good old days when she attended Selma High when it was Hudson High. That was 80 years ago . Computers didn't exist in school then . She hardly offer any solutions .She doesn't have to endure what the students have to endure on a daily basis to get their education .That school is very out dated and doesn't meet modern standards of today . The teachers and staff who work there say so themselves . That's enough proof for people to get to work to do something about it .
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on March 5, 2009 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What Perkins failed to tell you is that Selma doesn't have a $25 million dollar tax base for a bond where (1) Theater only made up a small portion of this bond. He also failed to mention that this new High School would cost up to $40 million dollars on the backs of a County that has one of the highest employement rates in the State of Alabama....therefore, having a very low tax base to support it. Fiscally, this city could not support it. This school board has done nothing but fail YOU and the rest of the city students. It is their jobs to maintain the structures. Like they didn't know SHS was falling apart?!?
Something you'll learn when you get out on the real world and pay a mortgage, bills, and taxes. Everything has a cost. You just don't throw up a $40 million dollar school. Someone has to pay for this...and that being the tax paying citizens of Selma. It deosn't matter if you have kids going to the school or not. The point is, are these citizens willing to pay more taxes...period?
Posted by monique72 (anonymous) on March 5, 2009 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is time to put words into action. It is better to be safe than sorry, because if the ceiling falls on some of those children or if someone falls through the floor anything that can harm a child seriously 20 million will not be nothing compared to what a lawyer would say.
Posted by ChangeSelma (anonymous) on March 5, 2009 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Eyeoneyou, your assumptions about me means nothing whatsoever. Your comments about me are very ignorant. Some people just can't stop themselves from being negative when it comes to really trying to improve things in this town for everyone . They find it easier to attack people instead of attacking the problem . Sadly,that's why Selma is having a hard time moving forward .
Posted by mccrary36703 (anonymous) on March 5, 2009 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Words from the wise, there are two things that will happen in life. Your race will remain and you will die. The ultimate thing that will certainly happen is you will be tax until your last days on earth. So why not pay whatever it takes to built something that was here before some of you were born. Let that old spirit and ghost go away forever. Selma High looks very depressing inside. It is very creepy. That gym is so tired. The light is very dim. It is an unsafe school. The staff there don't need to make do. That is back in the day attitude. Our children deserve better and should have the best. No Child Left behind. That needs to be enforced.
Posted by bestofselma (anonymous) on March 5, 2009 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My vote is for a new Selma High preferably in a new location. As Mrs. McCall and Mr. Mathiews stated the present school is not secure and is difficult to manage due to the way it is laid out. The electrical situation is outdated for present day technology needs. Many of the buildings continue to leak after repeated attempts at roof repair. It would be my hope that the new location and some positive PR would bring a better racial balance to the school. Our children in Selma are growing up without learning racial tolerance due to the lack of diversity within the school. A new location would bring a new start. Of course it would be expensive and the funds would have to be secured before constructing a new building. I feel that an investment in a new building would be an investment in our future.
Posted by uniontown (anonymous) on March 6, 2009 at 7:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Think I would wait on this. With the closing of Bush Hog and International Paper on the watch list, this school will not have the population it needs to keep it running once so many of these families have to move from Selma to find jobs.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on March 6, 2009 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry, I was actually directing my comments to SELMASMART KID and not ChangeSelma. I thought that was implied and easy to pick up on considering he said HE was part of the Youth Forums. Hence, paying your mortgage and bills when you get "older". Maybe "some" people in Selma need to be less defensive and stop jumping to conclusions.
Posted by shamel (anonymous) on March 7, 2009 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This may be coming a little late in the game, but I still think schools (officials, parents, students) everywhere could benefit by applying remarkable mold research done by environmental expert Dr Ed Close. Simply diffusing a therapeutic-grade oil regularly in these buildings would likely result in an environment very hostile to mold. Moreover, numerous studies have shown breathing natural oils improves classroom performance. http://www.secretofthieves.com/mold.cfm/...
Posted by TakeControl (anonymous) on March 10, 2009 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SHS has needed an upgrade for years. When I got to SHS in the mid-90s it was in dire need of upgrading! This is nothing new at all.
Just like everything else in Selma, it will only get worse.
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