"Insurance payments left the school district with $6 million to repair the school. Architectural firm DLR Group told the panel the district could restore the burned part of the school to its previous condition for $5.1 million."

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/11/portland_public_schools_choice.html

So will they go with the cheaper, $5.1 million renovation plan the insurance money will cover so the Marysville students and staff can end their long commutes and go back to their neighborhood school? Or will they pin their hopes on another bond ask in the fall in hopes of getting the spiffy new $21 million building?

According to this article, PPS wanted a shiny new school, not just a fixed up old school.

And according to this article, the new school must be LEED Silver and should try to be LEED Gold ...

"Insurance payments left the school district with $6 million to repair the school. Architectural firm DLR Group told the panel the district could restore the burned part of the school to its previous condition for $5.1 million."

Unfortunately that would only leave a measly $900,000 for the multicultural kickball/biodiversity/meditation facility and eco-roof covered playgrounds, LEED Titanium certified restrooms, and 17 miles of bike lanes allowing students to make environmentally sound choices regarding primary school transportation. Nope, still can't afford it.

Plus, don't forget the 500 grand in consultants' fees to tell them they're 500 grand short.

Uh isn't safe to assume the $6 million already gone?

Good call, Bill. Which reminds me that they also will need a Citizens Redefining Accountability in Portland committee to ensure that public resources are heavily invested in regular mailings demonstrating the judicious use of tax dollars.

How much do tar and feathers go for these days, btw?

"Uh isn't safe to assume the $6 million already gone?"

Yes. Yes it is.

Or maybe they'll argue that that money is in another "pot" that can't be accessed.

"No, the insurance money that we recieved to rebuild the school can't be used to rebuild the school. Different 'colors of money' you see."

"It's hard for me to understand why this school hasn't been rebuilt."

Because most people want schools rebuilt.

The county/PPS/CoP will spend all their money on what people do NOT want. Then when they run out of money, they can come back with a bond and say "You do want schools, don't you?"

Amazing all the jedi mind tricks these incompetents play.

The money is being used on illusionists, who can conjure a smokescreen over the glaring question in everyone's minds- uh, isn't teacher quality more important than LEED certified buildings? Are we missing something?

Oh wait. Of course, teacher quality is an untouchable subject in Portlandia. Like tonic water, it is entirely in the taste buds of the beholder. An evanescent, immeasurable, floaty cloud of the unknowable and only faintly imaginable.

But if we spike the tonic water enough, people will somehow believe that the buildings are more important than what goes on inside their walls.

I have to respond to jmh, who is probably just trying to be funny.

But one of the sad things about the Marysville School fire is that it took place less than a month after the dedication ceremonies for a beautifully remodeled playground, with, yes, a new field intended for soccer and a covered play area.

See? You can't make this stuff up!

I'd really like to know if the $6 million is just the actual cash (depreciated) value and if's there's more money forthcoming (replacement cost) if they do rebuild.

But, I'm confused. Doesn't the Portland School have a surplus of school buildings right now?

My son goes to Marysville Elementary. He did not attend the school when the fire occurred because we lived in another district at the time. He began going there the school year after the fire destroyed the school. Frequently he comes home talking about the burnt school asking if next year it will be fixed so he and his friends can go to a school in our neighborhood rather than PPS bussing the kids 20-25 minutes away. I would think bussing all these kids so far would in the long run cost the school district more to transport these children almost an hour a day everyday (and that doesn't include the after school and activity busses) than it would to just rebuild the school. Especially considering all of the students would either walk, bike, or get a ride from parents. The burned Marysville school didn't offer bus transportation since all of the kids that attend the school are so close. So far there is no hope in sight of a rebuild after the bond failed .I am furious about this. They are greedy to want a bramd new school rather than just fixing the one they have. It worked just fine before the fire what is different now. GREED and INCOMPETENCE.
I wish my family had stayed living in Milwaukie in North Clackamas school district and as soon as we have the mean to transfer him back there we are going to. PPS is awful the kids barely get any field trips, family nights, they don't even do halloween parties. This is supposedly a funding issue but so many of these things can be done for little to no cost. I have so many great memories of grade school with field trips, activities, and family nights. My son went on 1 stupid zoo field trip this year. He goes to the zoo all the time so it was not even very exciting for him. The kids tease and taunt him and when told the teachers just say ignore it and do nothing. Besides not having the best interests of the kids in mind they have no common sense and ridiculous rules that make me furious. For example.....on valentines day the kids got to trade cards but could not give candy along with it. Even from parents and even if they supply the whole class. It seems as if PPS has taken all the things I remember most from school and taken them away. It has nothing to do with healthy or unhealthy as I first though, if it were the teachers would not be giving cupcakes and candy to the students. ALl they can tell me "that is the school districts NEW rules" ALl of this has NOTHING TO DO WITH MONEY OR FUNDING, WHY CUT THE FREE AND VERY CHEAP THINGS THAT REWARD THE KIDS FOR ALL THIER HARD WORK. SORRY ABOUT GOING OFF TOPIC. I COULD GO ON AND ON....BUT I WONT.

BACK ON TOPIC....... GIVE THESE KIDS THIER SCHOOL BACK.....STOP BEING INCOMPETENT AND GREEDY. THE KIDS DONT CARE IF THE SCHOOL IS REMODELED, SHINY, AND NEW OR NOT THE ADULTS SELFISH BASTARD DO. ALL THEY WANT IS THIER NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL BACK. SO GIVE IT TO THEM.

SORRY ABOUT GOING ON AND ON. IT IS A TOUCHY SUBJECT WITH ME AND MAKES ME FURIOUS AND ALSO SAD. FEEL FREE TO COMMENT AND/OR ARGUE YOUR OPINIONS I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT OTHERS OPINIONS ARE ABOUT THIS.