The Observation Deck

So Lincoln School "Gingerbread" is looking pretty fancy while Roosevelt and Grant are sort of "Plain Jane".

Its seems to me from comparing Lincoln's renderings to all the "Gingerbread" at the Lincoln construction site that there may be add ons to Lincoln School that have contributed to the $6M cost over runs?

Don't a majority of the school board members live near Lincoln?

Is this a form of "redlining" by the School Board folks, i.e. unequal treatment for the kids in the rich neighborhoods?

Are these "separate" schools being treated "equally"?

Brian,
I believe that there are many of us that believe that all but Ed Farve, are a part of the Summer's gang. After all, Petrie's father was the one running the anti- hospital issue 64 campaign. His name was on the disclaimer. If we had the time and did some research , I would not be surprised if we found some dubious business dealings.

Edward Favre wrote: In short, we're in a seller's market when it comes to construction costs in Cuyahoga County with all the other projects going until after the RNC boom. Yet the Board has been and is committed to previously set timelines for opening the new schools.

Board members are not happy about these cost increases either.

Mr. Favre,

I have verified with contractors that the "RNC boom" is not a real or relevant factor in construction costs in Cuyahoga County--someone is pulling the wool over your eyes in this one. There are plenty of folks still out of work and there are no material shortages being reported. So there is something else going on with the Lakewood city Schools cost overruns.

What percentage is the $6M as compared to the entire cost of all the projects?

Lori Allen _ wrote:Brian,
I believe that there are many of us that believe that all but Ed Farve, are a part of the Summer's gang. After all, Petrie's father was the one running the anti- hospital issue 64 campaign. His name was on the disclaimer. If we had the time and did some research , I would not be surprised if we found some dubious business dealings.

What? C'mon.

You state on other threads not to bring national politics into local threads and then you bring the Mayor into a school related thread.

Your response does not address any of Essi's questions (below in italics) yet you are trying to drag Ed Favre name in the mud. Ed, and family, have been huge advocates for schools and advancing the youth of Lakewood for decades. No conspiracy theory in it - the Favre family wants what is best for kids and have been proving so for years, and years, and...

Don't a majority of the school board members live near Lincoln?
Is this a form of "redlining" by the School Board folks, i.e. unequal treatment for the kids in the rich neighborhoods?
Are these "separate" schools being treated "equally"?

Interesting question. One should be able to see the line item cost for the various aspects of each building, and see if Lincoln has a larger budget for decorative treatment.

cmager wrote:Interesting question. One should be able to see the line item cost for the various aspects of each building, and see if Lincoln has a larger budget for decorative treatment.

You would also have to take into account the size of each individual school (larger building = more surface area for decorative treatment). Each school would have a different size based on expected attendance. (For example: I think Lincoln has twice the attendance as Grant.)

I have great respect for Mr. Favre--he has had the courage to speak out against corruption--hence his email about the "Greatest Corruption Scandal of All" which is the subject of other threads,

I was only suggesting above that he had been misled about the RNC boom causing the $6M cost overrun.

BTW:

1. Lincoln has only about 40% more students than either Roosevelt and Grant--I understand that is because of open enrollment and the gifted programs.

2. I believe that all three schools were to be the same size in terms of square footage.

Does anybody know how much of the $6M overrun comes from Lincoln vs the other three construction projects?

I am led to believe that the general contractor on the school projects is "at risk"--meaning that the only way there could have been cost increases is if the "owner" i.e. the Board of Education agree to make changes to the original contract.

Isn't Tom Einhouse essentially in charge of this process i.e. the guy who campaigned on his alleged superior competence in construction supervision who said he is the only one capable of the supervision?

If so, then isn't he the one who agreed to the $6M is cost overruns and isn't he to blame here?

It would also appear that the $6M may not be subject to public bid requirements.

I'm all for great schools and facilities, but there ought to be some accountability here and fairness as between the "rich" neighborhood schools and the less well off neighborhood schools.

Hmmmm

As a retired educator and as a Lakewood Schools volunteer, I can absolutely assure anyone reading this that never, and I repeat never, have I encountered anything that would unfairly distinguish one Lakewood school economically from another one. In fact, the new Harrison school, in Lakewood's east end, is an absolutely beautiful building, well designed for the twenty-first century. In fact, some of Lakewood's first school rebuilding efforts transpired in areas where academic and economic needs were greatest.

There were in fact, many who resisted construction of new Grant and Lincoln schools, but eventually, and after careful consideration, those plans were discussed, designed, and put into play. The new schools and their architectural designs were publicly reviewed and concerns addressed. The end results, I believe, will be a fine credit to not only the Board, but to all of Lakewood's citizens who have participated in the process of developing better public schools.

Lakewood has a terrific tradition of building each new building with a nod to the traditions of those buildings that were replaced. The Garfield school retains its original facade, and the Harding school retains the historic names on the side of its building that were originally on the old Madison school that formerly stood in its place. There will undoubtedly be those who will criticize those extra details as being unnecessary and extravagant. Oftentimes, these critics will be the same anti-public school people who gripe and moan about anything related to public education.

Fortunately, there are many of us who remain strong advocates for public education, even and perhaps especially if we give a little more to our schools, including allowing them to honor traditions, sometimes if that costs a bit more money.

Because of our collective efforts, Lakewood's public schools remain shining beacons of hope and opportunity for all of our children.

One further point that I will make here, this being a nod to those private citizens who provide their financial support, and thousands of hours of volunteer service to our schools. Without the private support of hundreds of Lakewood's private citizens, Lakewood's schools could not do what they are able to do.

Finally, I would like to remind readers that the school board is completely independent of Lakewood's city hall government, whatever the opinions might or might not be of that government by individual school board members. In our country, school boards were purposely set up to be totally independent from other governmental bodies. That was not done by accident. Schools are charged with the education of children, and do not answer to city government.

Back to the banjo...

Brian Essi wrote:I have great respect for Mr. Favre--he has had the courage to speak out against corruption--hence his email about the "Greatest Corruption Scandal of All" which is the subject of other threads,

I was only suggesting above that he had been misled about the RNC boom causing the $6M cost overrun.

BTW:

1. Lincoln has only about 40% more students than either Roosevelt and Grant--I understand that is because of open enrollment and the gifted programs.

2. I believe that all three schools were to be the same size in terms of square footage.

Does anybody know how much of the $6M overrun comes from Lincoln vs the other three construction projects?

I am led to believe that the general contractor on the school projects is "at risk"--meaning that the only way there could have been cost increases is if the "owner" i.e. the Board of Education agree to make changes to the original contract.

Isn't Tom Einhouse essentially in charge of this process i.e. the guy who campaigned on his alleged superior competence in construction supervision who said he is the only one capable of the supervision?

If so, then isn't he the one who agreed to the $6M is cost overruns and isn't he to blame here?

It would also appear that the $6M may not be subject to public bid requirements.

I'm all for great schools and facilities, but there ought to be some accountability here and fairness as between the "rich" neighborhood schools and the less well off neighborhood schools.

Hmmmm

You're right, Roosevelt and Grant have about the same number of students. Lincoln has about 100 more students than those 2 schools. My bad.

Brian Essi wrote: I have verified with contractors that the "RNC boom" is not a real or relevant factor in construction costs in Cuyahoga County--

I cannot speak directly about the school construction process, but I can tell you that the RNC effect is indeed a 'thing' right now. I am in the architecture/construction business and it has affected some of the jobs I am working on or know of others. Everyone wants to be done by July and there is only so much manpower to get it done. It's not totally a materials thing. It is a labor demand. Especially with the guys that everyone uses or the companies most experienced in larger construction. So many are tied up completely until we get past July so scope on other projects is delayed until they are freed up. I will say also that there are some materials that now have a longer lead time because they cannot get it into the area fast enough for how much everyone needs. So yeah, not sure who you talked to, but I have definitely seen it.

Lincoln may be benefiting from this generous private donation.

http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/2015/0 ... oln-school

Valerie Molinski wrote:

Brian Essi wrote: I have verified with contractors that the "RNC boom" is not a real or relevant factor in construction costs in Cuyahoga County--

I cannot speak directly about the school construction process, but I can tell you that the RNC effect is indeed a 'thing' right now. I am in the architecture/construction business and it has affected some of the jobs I am working on or know of others. Everyone wants to be done by July and there is only so much manpower to get it done. It's not totally a materials thing. It is a labor demand. Especially with the guys that everyone uses or the companies most experienced in larger construction. So many are tied up completely until we get past July so scope on other projects is delayed until they are freed up. I will say also that there are some materials that now have a longer lead time because they cannot get it into the area fast enough for how much everyone needs. So yeah, not sure who you talked to, but I have definitely seen it.

Ms. Molinski,

I appreciate your post--my sources say otherwise on the labor and material RNC factor--there is still a lot of manpower on the sidelines.

1. Do you have any specifics that those alleged shortages are actually affecting the Lakewood City School project?

2. If the contractor has an "at risk" contract, why would Lakewood be responsible for any of those costs associated with any such shortages?

3. In your experience, wouldn't the owner, i.e. City Schools need to approve changes to the contract?

Thanks

I understand there is a lot of controversy in town right now, but with all due respect to all, here are a few points regarding this thread. I came in late, but here goes.

Roosevelt, Lincoln, and Grant Elementary Schools are being build for about the same amount, approximately $13 million. All three have the same architect. From the outset of this project, we were determined not to build cookie-cutter buildings. That is not what the community wanted. Roosevelt is in a complete residential area, Grant is in a residential area bordering commercial areas, Lincoln is in a residential area on a main federal and state thoroughfare. All, by design, are different buildings. In 2014, there were four public meetings for each school. Those thoughts were collected and factored in the design and construction.

This final phase of the reconstruction of the school district is a $100 million project. The total project is $270 million, I believe still the largest construction project in the history of Lakewood. The overage is approximately $5.2 million, of which the state (Ohio School Facilities Commission, or OFCC) is paying about $1.8 million.

I hope this helps.

Ed, How is this project being financed? I know it is somehow part of our real estate taxes. Are bonds issued, over a period of (how many) years, and are the bond premium and interest divided up among the Lakewood real estate, over that number of years? What is the interest rate, and can we buy the bonds through ... our brokers? Thanks.

The project is being financed through bond issues. This last part, as were the others, are 29 or 30 year bonds. Yes, they are being paid by property tax on the various properties in Lakewood. There was an initial offering on the bonds and they were sold, so they would have to be purchased secondarily now. I know we got a good interest rate, but I cannot quote it off the top of my head right now.