131 Walnut Avenue
Roxbury MA,
02119
Meeting No. 0
DATE: 10
January 2013
AT: Higginson-Lewis
School
FROM: Karen
Nelson [KN]
PRESENT: Len Charney (LC), Marilyn Moedinger
(MM), Karen Nelson (KN), Mossik Hacobian (MH) [Executive Director of Higher
Ground], David Wright (DW) [Co-chair of Parent Council, Lena Reddick (LR), and
Renee Craig (RC)
DISTRIBUTION: Joy Salesman-Oliver, Principal, Higginson-Lewis
School
ACTION ITEM:
1.0 Introductions
and reasons for being in the group
1.1 Discussed
the parameters of a Gateway Project
1.2 Discussed
basic facts, hopes for change, and Gateway process and products
Facts:
·
Lewis School is 101 years old. Henry Higginson started BSO. George Lewis was a mayor of Roxbury.
·
K – 8 serving 418 students currently
·
Schoolyard Initiative from Mayor’s office will
create a new playground and outdoor space to be constructed this summer with a
ribbon cutting in October. Landscape
designed by Warner Larson.
[KN emailed and called to get
design drawings; so far, no response.]
Perceived needs:
DW: Create and maintain a parent meeting space; renovate
auditorium to include movie screen
MH: handicap accessibility/carriages and strollers. Need to be up to fire code. Parking is
haphazard. Windows are sieves for heat [cold in winter, hot in late spring]. Be
a squeaky wheel to get funding.
LR: (sponsored by a full service grant to create
partnership with the community) need to create more welcoming sense of
place. Sightlines from office to entry
need to be improved.
Gateway
expectations:
BAC students will
work to identify school, student,
teacher, and parent needs, assess and research the building itself, and propose
design solutions and ideas to help galvanize fundraising. Potential investigations
include accessible entrances into
the school building, accessibility
within the building, proposals for
improvements to the auditorium, spaces for parents and teachers to meet,
community space, and climate control systems/improvements. The BAC students
will liaise with Higher Ground, the school administration, the parent
organization, and students as appropriate. Materials and visioning generated by
the students will be presented and displayed at the ribbon cutting ceremony for
the renovated schoolyard, set to open in October 2013.
Deliverables
A report, including the following:
·
Existing building information and analysis
·
Overall diagram[s] identifying all possible proposals for
improvements
·
Vignettes showing/developing specific design intentions or
ideas
o A poster, showing the above, which the school can use for
fundraising and for the ribbon cutting
NEXT MEETING: To be scheduled
These meeting notes will
become part of the project record.
Please call or reply with additions or corrections to these notes within
five days of receipt. If we do not
receive any changes, these notes will be assumed to be accepted.
