weissjm
Joined: 09 Nov 2007 Posts: 22
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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 7:29 am Post subject: 11-20-07 Couldn't some creative thinking save Schenley? |
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Couldn't some creative thinking save Schenley?
Schenley High School, a grand and historic building, deserves to be saved for current and future generations. Pittsburgh has many philanthropists, along with average citizens, who could come to the rescue. We could start with a fund-raiser and then approach the building like a Junior League Showcase Home. It could be a flagship school and a national model for struggling city schools across the country.
The folks in the city and surrounding counties could show their support for the young people who will go to Schenley and the city schools in general. There is no need for suburbs if there is not a thriving city to surround!
First, give nonprofits an opportunity to rebuild a classroom. A few ideas: UPMC health careers lab, Highmark Blue Cross life science classroom, the Mellon Foundation economics classroom, just to name a few.
Make it a green building and ask local utilities to participate for a tax write-off. They have money for all those commercials.
Then the for-profits: Steelers gymnasium, Penguins exercise room, Giant Eagle cafeteria. Don't forget the banks, which are busy putting up new branches every second block in the affluent suburbs. We also could start an alumni foundation of all city schools for a new auditorium.
Last but not least, have a naming-rights bidding war, as long as the word Schenley is included.
Well, you get the idea. The aforementioned and many others have made their money on the backs of Pittsburghers. It's time to give back in a meaningful and historic way. Superintendent Mark Roosevelt should want to preserve our history; he has a bit of history in his family, too.
KATHLEEN BAKKILA
O'Hara |
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