<p>A community of teachers, staff, administrators, public officials and parents remains at odds over a daunting — and mounting — set of problems at the aging brick school that dates to 1929.</p>
One week after a report revealed unsafe levels of chipping lead paint in nearly a dozen rooms at the Tisbury School, a community of teachers, staff, administrators, public officials and parents remains at odds over a daunting — and mounting — set of problems at the aging brick school that dates to 1929.
Under attack, selectman Melinda Loberg placed blame for the crisis on the school committee.
Under attack, selectman Melinda Loberg placed blame for the crisis on the school committee.
And while other Island children dust off their backpacks and lunchboxes to go back to school on Sept. 3, Tisbury families will see the start of school delayed by a week, and their children divided between separate campuses. “This has been, as you can imagine, a very, very challenging situation,” Vineyard schools superintendent Matthew D’Andrea told the up-Island school committee Tuesday.
After a flurry of meetings in the past two weeks, school leaders have decided that Tisbury students in grades K through four will attend classes in a 1993 wing of the school that has no lead paint problems. Students in grades five through eight will be bused to the regional high school, where a contained area of classrooms has been cleared to accommodate the young students, teachers, a school nurse and other support staff. The first day of school for all Tisbury students will be Sept. 9.
But how long the children will remain in the temporary classrooms and whether and when the problems at the aging school will be remediated is still unclear.
According to Mr. D’Andrea, officials learned the results from the lead testing on Tuesday of last week. One day later, they announced a hastily sketched plan to delay school and relocate students. An initial plan to put lower school students at Camp Jabberwocky was subsequently swapped for the current plan to use the 1993 wing of the school for the younger kids.
The crisis has mobilized other members of the Island community to come to Tisbury’s aid. School choice has been reopened, the hospital will provide free lead testing for Tisbury students, and the YMCA will provide a week of child care for families, at the expense of the town. Tisbury selectmen have scheduled a special town meeting for Sept. 24 to seek $1.5 million for temporary modular classrooms and other costs associated with the lead paint remediation.
Meanwhile, some parents and officials have openly questioned whether spending money now on limited remediation efforts makes sense in light of still unresolved issues of whether to renovate or replace the old school.
At a trio of meetings on Tuesday, school leaders wrestled with the complicated logistics of relocating students two weeks before school was to reopen. The tests for lead paint and other hazardous material were undertaken at the request of parents and teachers. Mr. D’Andrea said school officials had hoped to get the testing done earlier in the summer, but difficulties getting licensed inspectors to the Island delayed the testing until August. And while school officials had considered potential scenarios for the testing results, they did not expect the news they received last week, he said.
But the meetings also sparked political fallout from frustrated parents, who singled out the Tisbury selectmen for blame over the failure of a proposed new $46 million school project in 2018.
“The reason we are here is a complete failure of leadership in our town,” said parent Siobhan Mullin at a joint meeting of the selectmen and school committee held at the town emergency services facility. “When a school does not open in a town, the town has failed . . . you should all be ashamed of yourselves. You should consider resigning. Our town needs a complete overhaul of leaders that we can trust.”
School superintendent Matthew D'Andrea told parents: “I cannot express to you enough how challenging this situation has been over the past week.”
School superintendent Matthew D'Andrea told parents: “I cannot express to you enough how challenging this situation has been over the past week.”
Her remarks drew applause from other parents in the room, many of whom echoed “hear, hear” chants during and after she spoke. Nearly 100 parents filled every seat and spilled into the hallways.
Selectman Jim Rogers was not present in person, but participated by speaker phone. Selectman Jeff Kristal was just elected in April.
But Melinda Loberg, the only selectman present at the meeting who had served on the board during 2018 school vote, instead placed blame on school officials.
“I think there is a misunderstanding on the part of the town about the responsibilities of the parties to perform and do certain things,” Mrs. Loberg said. “The school committee is solely responsible for the school, the educational program, and the building. The town hall and the staff that we supervise and oversee are responsible for preparing the warrant and budget that we approve.”
Parents peppered the officials with questions for over an hour about the reality of the changes.
Some worried about whether their children had already been exposed to health risks from lead in the school.
“The Massachusetts childhood lead poisoning prevention program says that anything above a 1.0 is a dangerous level. In the classroom that my child has spent a year in last year, the levels were at 18.8 to 19.3,” said Angie Francis, referencing a report made public Tuesday. “How do you feel about that?”
A consultant’s report commissioned in 2017 when Tisbury was seeking grant funding from the Massachusetts School Building Association found lead paint in the school building, but did not recommend a major removal effort.
Mrs. Loberg took no formal position on the school project in 2018, while former selectman Tristan Israel opposed it. She also said the school committee never asked for money from town meeting to remediate the issues with the building. As for the 2018 failed project, she said it was the voters who decided.
Parents peppered elected leaders with questions.
Parents peppered elected leaders with questions.
“I know we had a project that would have addressed everything, but the town did not vote to support it,” she said.
On Tuesday, however, the room erupted in anger and resentment toward Mrs. Loberg.
“You sabotaged that project!” one parent responded over the din. “That was the school asking you for the funds and telling you what they needed, and you sabotaged it.”
“The board opposed everything,” another said.
“It was the selectmen who didn’t support the project. It failed by 20 votes [in the ballot box]. Not even one of you could stand up and represent that half of the town,” said another parent.
School committee chairman Amy Houghton asked parents to calm down. But the divide between the parents and Mrs. Loberg was evident throughout the meeting, as she remained dug into her position, saying she could not support what she termed a “blank check” school project, citing the town’s high tax burden.
Principal John Custer, moved to tears, took responsibility for the state of the building.
“I feel responsible for everything that happens in the school. That comes with the job. I accept it and love it,” he said. “And I’m sorry we’re here.”
Meanwhile, school leaders must now decide whether it is worth fixing lead paint in a building with a long list of other problems.
“We can’t keep looking at this building and say we need to band-aid it,” Mrs. Houghton said later. “We can’t fix the paint without fixing the ventilation system. And you can’t fix the ventilation system without fixing the windows. It goes down this whole path. This is a comprehensive problem within the school. It is not something that is an easy fix.”
She also refuted claims by Mrs. Loberg that the school committee did not seek funds for repairs at the school.
She said the school committee asked for six figures worth of maintenance money in the first draft of their budget last fall — and selectmen requested they remove it.
“I think there was a misrepresentation . . . that the school hasn’t come asking for help, or that the school hasn’t wanted money. And that’s absolutely not true,” Mrs. Houghton said.
She continued: “I think the bigger issue is how do you build going forward? And how do you stop pointing fingers? Because that’s what we need to do.”
Mr. D’Andrea admitted there was a lot of responsibility to go around, including the school committee, the selectmen, and himself.
“All of those people up front were responsible, myself included,” the superintendent said. “We’ve got to do a better job. I don’t think any of us could stand up and say we’re not responsible. Something like this cannot happen again.”
He also said he would support a new school project, especially considering that children will be in temporary classrooms.
“There are going to be a lot of conversations and discussion over the next few months about what we are going to do moving forward,” Mr. D’Andrea said. “I am in support of saying, hey, they are in the modulars, let’s get a building project done.”
Comments
So what exactly is Mrs.
Schools Out MVSo what exactly is Mrs. Loberg's role? It's clearly not leadership. Her comments last night were a disappointment.
Ms. Loberg was very actively
Frank Brunelle Vineyard HavenMs. Loberg was very actively and persistent in sabotaging the property owners on Beach Road and the island residents when the issue of the Shared Use Path was being decided. Tristan was no better and both actively and passively participated. On the matter of the school vote with Ms. Loberg abstaining and not voting nor commenting on the need for a new school with state funding the town lost a huge opportunity. In fact, this is a trend of power grabbing for all the wrong reasons and she should resign at the very least. Apologies are in order for her sabotaging Beach Road, for denying our children a new school which is needed, for her participation in the drawbridge fiasco which is designed badly and causes huge backups in addition to manu issues coming directly from her influence. The entire direction of the town would be far better served with her resignation. She is a like a malevolent virus on the board.
Even if the town had voted to
Carla CooperEven if the town had voted to construct a new school, this situation would have not been averted. Very disappointing situation. But now we have to do what's right for the kids and not punish them for the failures of the "adults in the room". Everyone on the island, stop whining and let's welcome those kids from Tisbury with open arms!
While it is factually
Really?! VINEYARD HAVENWhile it is factually accurate that 1 selectman voted no at TOWN MEETING in 2018, 1 abstained and 1 took no position, it is not accurate that they did not oppose the project and as much as they want to hide from the letter that was signed by many people 5 days before the vote, they cannot. https://www.mvtimes.com/2018/04/18/new-suggested-size-tisbury-school/ This letter clearly indicates that voters should vote "NO". Elected officials are in a unique spot. They all have personal opinions and are entitled to them. But as elected officials, you have to work through your boards and committees to influence and lead on behalf of the whole town. It is unimaginable that after being the selectperson on the building committee for the entire time, the chant to vote "no" comes out 5 days before the ballot. Perhaps there was some reservation on cost expressed along the way. But publicly opposing the project you worked on for nearly 2 years at the very end. Just Wow. I suggest the signatories from that letter find it in their hearts to work hard with the current building committee to deliver a project that will gain the support of voters and meet the needs of the current and future students of the Tisbury School. If you cannot do that quickly and with full commitment, please remove yourselves from your public roles. Public education is not going away and regionalization is not around the corner to solve the problems at this building. Get on it.
Truthful and well said,
Henry Vineyard HavenTruthful and well said, Really?!. Thank you.
Please look at the picture
OH MY TisburyPlease look at the picture closely OH MY!! what is Melinda looking at while families are pouring their hearts out discussing their children and the school. OH MY!! I guess these families were not her constituents so they did not deserve her undivided attention. When families, towns folk, constituents, show up it, one would expect every member of every committee present to be responsive and attentive.
I would think D'Andrea should
Don Edgar Oak BluffsI would think D'Andrea should be replaced. He's the go to leader for selectmen,principal, teachers,and parents. The principal should be held responsible next.Did they know this problem all along but expected a new school to solve it? Can you still buy a lead test kit at a paint store?
Once the class action lawsuit
William McCarthy TisburyOnce the class action lawsuit is leveled against the school district, from the parents of students who have been exposed to lead contamination, D'Andrea will have to resign. It is just negligence for the Superintendent of Schools to know about the lead issue, and other poisonous waste, and not do anything for YEARS. I feel so bad for the parents and the children of our community.
"Did they know this problem
Islander Too"Did they know this problem all along but expected a new school to solve it? Can you still buy a lead test kit at a paint store?"
This is the first question that popped into my head.
It was quite obvious to me that the school had been allowed to deteriorate because the teachers, the members of the school committee, the principal, and the superintendent all assumed that a new school would be built. This was even stated openly on a number of occasions in the spring of 2018. All the energy was focused on lobbying voters to pay for a for a new school. Meanwhile the actual school looked disgusting. These conditions however were not seen as flags of the unconsionable neglect of the building actually being used. Instead they were used as evidence that a new school was needed! It should have been obvious very early on---starting in, say, 1978, when lead paint was banned---that there probably was lead paint in the school and it should be removed or encapsulated. That is, decades before there even was any discussion of a new school, or getting into the State's program, etc. Where was the School Committee on this? Where was the School Building Committee on this? Where was the principal? Where was the superintendent? This dereliction of responsibility and lack of common sense seriously reduces confidence in all of these parties.
I agree, Don. This is
Kelly Hess EdgartownI agree, Don. This is terrible leadership.
I agree. I feel like this is
M EdgartwonI agree. I feel like this is pay back for not getting their new school. Who doesn’t realize the lead problem, and if they didn’t that is enough for a change. What were they doing all summer?
To blame the Superintendent
Rick Travers Vineyard HavenTo blame the Superintendent is unfair on so many levels. The school has been in dire need of total rehab or replacement for years now and Dr. D’Andrea has been advocating for a new complex since day 1. He recognized the need. If you are really not interested in working the problem and feel the need to blame someone, blame the voters who gave up the chance to have a new building erected but passed on it. Stop pointing the finger and come to grips that with the fact that a new complex was warranted decades ago. Rally together and move forward becaus this situation will be corrected.
There's a lot Tristan didn't
Kelce TisburyThere's a lot Tristan didn't do in his 25 years.
Are you kidding? Do you not
Fonehome TisburyAre you kidding? Do you not know that it is the responsibility of the elected School Committee to maintain that building? Stop the blame game, please, it is so unhelpful.
Enough already.Moving forward
Eric Deactuer TisburyEnough already.Moving forward.Our children are the future,their education is vital.Communication is needed,selectmen,school officials and taxpayers.Can you all just make this right? Thank you Gazette as always for a fine reporting job.
Our principle has advocated
C. Bernard TisburyOur principle has advocated for the school and the kids relentlessly. They just did work on the building this summer after requested funds were granted at Town Meeting. He is not a facilities expert, nor would we expect him to be.
It seems like a double edged sword — ask for funding to meet maintenance needs, but if you ask for too much, people question why the school is still in need of an overall building upgrade to meet modern education, safety, and ADA access needs. No coat of paint or proper envelope seal is going to address that.
The building is a money pit that no longer adequately serves those who use it daily.
Principal
Jo-Ann West TisburyPrincipal
Skimmed right by that typo,
C. Bernard TisburyI skimmed right by that typo, thanks Jo-Ann!
I know this is all very new.
Kimberly Araujo Oak BluffsI know this is all very new. But, what happens when the mobile classes do not arrive or are not ready until December? Is there a plan for when the Tisbury students end up attending school at MVRHS for the entire year? This could happen, as generally speaking, big moves like this rarely happen quickly or efficiently. I hope that it doesn't take until Christmas to solve this issue. D'Andrea should be reprimanded.
But that was a great concert
Tom VHBut that was a great concert right, we will be able to use all the money that came into town coffers from the promoter, how much? To reimburse the towns people for the inconvenience of holding the for profit show and drinking gala to cover how much of the work that needs be done at the school?
The concert is completely
SK Vineyard HavenThe concert is completely irrelevant to the topic of the school.
SK, Money is never irrelevant
Ton VHSK, Money is never irrelevant when speaking about capital improvements I'll keep asking how much promoter put into the towns account until I get the answer
In all this, I think it can
Tisbury Bystander EdgartownIn all this, I think it can be noted as a sidenote that the argument that this island relies on tourism, an argument that supports the Steamship Authority’s temporary outlandish expansion, and supports exorbitant prices by nearly all businesses, and constantly tells those of us who live here to put up with the ever-increasing throngs because we rely on tourists, is now an old one. Guess what? If tourists were really so helpful this article would never have to have been written. The argument for the so-called tourist economy on this island is clearly only good for so much. The tourist economy certainly didn’t help these kids. Time for a broader perspective of the contributions we require to successfully raise our island children in Tisbury.
I think what goes hand-in
Naomi Vineyard HavenI think what goes hand-in-hand with the tourist economy is the property taxes given by non-resident home owners who do not burden the school system. That’s an advantage that does compliment the tourist economy but can be used during the winter months by year-round residents of MV.
Yes! You said it. Many forget
VH Villager Spring StreetYes! You said it. Many forget that this island could not support itself without that tax base of homeowners who are seasonal and do not use those services. They fund much of our town for us to enjoy 12 months a year when they only burden us 12 weeks. The tourism argument has NOTHING to do with the school.
I love the Vineyard and feel
Kiwi NcI love the Vineyard and feel so bad for the parents and children. For all the money they bring in that school should he spectacular. Look at Billerica Memorial High School renovations on the internet. That town doesn’t get even close to the money spent on the Island. I smell greed somewhere? Maybe Former President Obama could help? He just purchased a 15 million dollar home there.. That revenue in taxes alone just help? But for now my prayers are with all of you. And I would class action the hell out of them!
Why can’t a completely new
Concerned parentWhy can’t a completely new building be put back on the table as an option? If it needs to be voted on at a Special Town Meeting, why can’t that happen?
get a grip. lead is only a
dgw obget a grip. lead is only a problem if kids are ingesting it. Are they? Your children are better off than many, many kids in this country that face existential threats on a regular basis. Don’t eat the paint. Same can be said for many families residing in historical Vineyard homes. $46M? yeah, obviously a no.
Home safety tip: Lead is not
Charlie Oak BluffsHome safety tip: Lead is not only found in pre-1978 paint but also in fishing weights, lead soldiers, pewter and stained glass. Don't eat old paint chips or breath dust from sanding old paint.
You make too much sense!! It
righty obYou make too much sense!! It's all about new, new, new.
I went to school there a long time ago maybe I should be tested, oh but I didn't eat the paint. When the High School was cleaned up supposedly all the schools were tested.
Tisbury school is done for,
Tom Engley West TisburyTisbury school is done for, Vineyard Haven is an amazing town and it should lead the charge for a regionalized all grade school at the high school property. Think of the energy savings.
Yes.
Down IslanderYes.
Or at least the middle school grades.
It is a mystery to me why this issue is not more seriously discussed before major investments are made in elementary schools. Failure to get this dialogue going is another failure of the superintendent of schools.
There was a superintendent
Dee West TisburyThere was a superintendent quite a few years back, a Mr. D...?, who wanted a regional middle school. He was run off the island.
The town should be offering
Citizen EdgartownThe town should be offering to pay for lead screenings for anyone who wants it for their Tisbury School student.
Do we really need 5 grammar
Paul Adler tisbury and west tisburyDo we really need 5 grammar schools, for a population of about 12,000? Why doesn't Tisbury join in with a neighboring Town and save the taxpayers millions, and the children will still have the same education? Or one grammar school near the High School? While you at it, why not one central police station, etc. Just so wasteful having 5 or 6 of everything.
Doubt the 2020 census will be
gina Menemsha/nycDoubt the 2020 census will be 12,000 think closer to 18,000 + population Hmmm the R word. has been kicked around for decades.. The schools might be the first to be regionalized but the individual Police dept. never. who would pick the Chief & what if any Selectmen would give up any power ??? In theory an excellent /efficient approach to the future. of Island Government as everything becomes more expensive to accomplish.. Maybe concentrate on school maintaince first..
Paul, the other schools are
To much to late Vineyard HavenPaul, the other schools are all relatively new and have no desire to join with Tisbury. Look at the difficulties that occur when you try and decide a formula to pay for the high school remodel or the student formula. Never going to happen.
A bit of history:
Robert OBA bit of history:
In 1978/1979, MVRHS classes were held from early afternoon until about 7pm each weeknight at the school in Vineyard Haven. Elementary students held their classes there earlier in the day.
The reason? Asbestos contamination at the high school.
Lesson learned by the leaders of island schools? I guess not.
I was always baffled by
Kenny IslanderI was always baffled by Tristan's era. He really left no legacy except to be an obstacle to progress for 2 decades. Why has he been silent in his retirement? Well, for sure, no school will ever be named for him.
If my memory serves me . The
OH MY TisburyIf my memory serves me . The selectmen had an opportunity to work with MSBA and allow the building committee to go a little longer to make some necessary changes that might have allowed the town go to another special town meeting to approve a slightly different design for the new school. The selectmen and Jay Grande put a Kabosh on the idea of looking at the T2design and tweetking it. Shame on them. Let’s not forget. The town did vote no but the selectman had an opportunity to fine tune a design more to their liking and they decline unanimously in front of OUR families in the gym. There is enough blame to go around for where we are, and. I will remind us of where I think some of it belongs.
There were very good reasons
Down IslanderThere were very good reasons for declining the plan for a new school presented to the town by the School Building Committee. And, that plan would also have resulted in students being displaced and also being surrounded with dust from demolition and construction. Actually, the whole neighborhood. It was never discussed how construction vehicles and machines would even get from the ferry to the site. Up Spring Street? Via Pine Street? How??
The school-age population of Tisbury is declining. The Town could not afford the very high (and in many respects open-ended) bill for this new school (which many found to be a terrible design---there were so many things wrong with it), despite the Mass subsidy.
It would have been far better for the School Committee to get into the state's renovation program.
Voters turned down the project, despite the guilt-trip-laden lobbying by parents, teachers, and administration.
Now is the time for SERIOUS discussions of regionalization.
What makes you think where we
OH MY TisburyWhat makes you think where we are now or where we were going was or is going to be less expensive and less dust from demolition or constructions. The town has awakened the MAMA BEARS. The lie in all this is that other towns want regionalization. Have you paid attention to the discussions around the regional formula for the high school. If you had you would see that even at the high school it's not really working financially for some towns. Regionalization was a fabricated lie told by a selectmen of our town to divert yours and anyone elses attention and get you, I assume you, to vote no as if there were already negotiations happening.
Ship sailed in the 90s. When our town said no and all the other towns built new.
Let’s fact check here. New
Really? TisburyLet’s fact check here. New construction = dust and noise. Renovation = dust and noise. The plan, if you read it, was to keep the kids in the current building while constructing the new. It is still available online. Check the facts. Both need trucks from the ferry and they have to get there on some road. You were asked to approve 32M in town spend as part of an overall 46M project. Not an open ended expense. Warrant articles don’t work that way. I am sure you have a source for the numbers of students that will be in the Tisbury school in 5, 10 and 20 years. Please share it. But make sure all affordable housing units in Tisbury are for seniors only so the declining school kid population can be a reality. Every voter has a right to fill in a box for yes or no on a ballot sheet. Please use actual facts for your decision making.
There are too many non
Carol EdgartownThere are too many non profits who do not contribute to the tax base on Island.
Many of them are in Vineyard Haven. I do not think the Movie House and Play House and others contribute to the Island economy or to children's education. I think a lot of Executive Directors and staff and others live off of a tax free or advantaged situation at the expense of funding for schools.
Correct me if I’m wrong but
Naomi Vineyard HavenCorrect me if I’m wrong but don’t forget about the new Museum in VH. I heard that they are buying some property around the museum which will also take away some property taxes.
Key words “I do not think”.
Carla CooperKey words “I do not think”.
I’m sure older homes in
Rich Vineyard HavenI’m sure older homes in Vineyard Haven have as much lead paint as these school buildings. And children spend many, many times the number of hours at home than they do in these buildings. This all seems like much ado about nothing.
Lead is a genuine danger to
Down IslanderLead is a genuine danger to children under six. Lead can impair normal development of both brain and musculature.
It is quite easy to test for lead paint with kits available at the hardware store or online (local hardware stores should make sure to keep fresh supplies of these kits in stock). Now it is legal to encapsulate lead as opposed to eliminating it via sanding, refinishing etc., which creates lead dust. Many lead paint situations can be handled with encapsulation. There are plenty of good lead encapsulating paints on the market. Do an online search for "lead encapsulating paint."
I wonder sometimes if we live
Jason EdgartownI wonder sometimes if we live in such a nanny state that we have forgotten how to do for ourselves. Yes, local government dropped the ball - big time. This problem was a long time in coming and lots of administrators/teachers/workers must have seen and commented on the peeling paint for years.
That said, we have so many painters and HVAC specialists on this island that I wonder why we can't create some sort of voluntary assemblage of tradespeople, and adult volunteers to resolve this. Even if we can't solve 100% of the problem on our own, we can surely do better than act surprised and disappointed that government dropped the ball. Maybe we can solve 75% of the problem which is a big step forward vis a vis where we are today. This is less a time for finger pointing and the blame game and more of a time for action.
Suppose every business and tradesperson that voluntarily (or at a steeply discounted rate) contributed to the solution (manpower, supplies or funding) received free advertising and promotion by the local papers and school system such that the public was encouraged to hire them for any other jobs/tasks/projects they had. This is routinely done. Lots of companies and professions perform pro bono work to improve their communities while enhancing the value of their reputations and franchises in the process.
We have volunteer EMT departments, fire departments, hospital candy stripers, citizen patrols, HOAs, etc. many of whom routinely shoulder complex and dangerous tasks that make our community better. The problem at hand does not seem beyond our capabilities. But, if we wait for school boards, administrators, unions, government officials, the state, etc. to resolve this (I.E., THE BIG NANNY STATE) we will get nowhere fast. I fear sometimes that we have grown so dependent on government to run our lives that we have lost the ability to think and do for ourselves, all while paying hefty taxes, lots of lawyering up and limited accountability. Maybe the answer really is in in our hands to resolve as opposed to the nanny state? Maybe the answer really is smaller government?
I love this idea.
Mack and the boys WTI love this idea.
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