[Vision2020] old buildings

[Kai Eiselein]

People need to look at buidings as tools. Like tools buildings wear out. 
What worked 40, 50 or even 20 years ago may not work now.
Students need facilities that are condusive to learning in a modern 
technological enviroment. How many of you remember the "filmstrip"? When was 
the last time you had a kid tell you he/she watched one at school? Those 
days are loooong gone my friends, today its powerpoint, video and internet.
In order to compete on a global scale, we have to give our kids the means to 
be succesful. Which means we need schools that can grow and adapt to 
changing technologies, have modern wiring that can handle the increased 
power loads from computer systems and other power draws, access to high 
speed internet and remote teching/learning programs and the space for them 
to learn in an uncrowded environment.
I understand the sentimental feelings about old schools, I was in the last 
graduating class out Nogales, Arizona's old high school built about 1901, as 
I recall. Like Moscow, it was located downtown. Like Moscow, Nogales is only 
able to grow in three directions because of a border. The new school was 
built on the outskirts of town, and people complained about how far away it 
was. No longer. Nogales has grown to the north following the main highway, 
now the school IS more centrally located in relation to the population. 
(Hmmmmm, smart planning?)
Would I have been happy at the (then) new school? Probably not, I rather 
enjoyed having an open campus and being able to go across the line (border) 
with my friends, where we would hang out at Olga's Cafe' for lunch, eat the 
best tacos on the planet, have a couple beers and head back to school. (It 
WAS the early 80's and the rules were different. I bet Keeley would have 
done the same, if she had been 60 miles closer.<grin>)
The fact was, the old school was no longer able to serve its purpose. After 
80 years, it was time for something new. Part of the old campus was turned 
into adminstrative offices and part was turned into an alternative high 
school. (Sound familiar?)
Moscow is now going through what Nogales went through 25 years ago, maybe 
people should research what other towns, with similar populations, growth 
rates and border issues have done.
Take the best ideas and make a plan for Moscow's schools.