[ back ]
School candidate spins out parking-lot issues
(by Sue Hoffman - September 23, 2009)
School candidate spins out parking-lot issues
By SUE HOFFMAN
Solon School Board candidate Kingman El-Jamah recently raised concerns about the Orchard Middle School parking lot.
He said a traffic light needs to be installed at the exit from Orchard School's south parking lot onto SOM Center Road (Route 91). "I believe we need to be more proactive," he said.
School officials said the south lot is being used by school buses, and the north lot, which has a traffic light, is for parent pickups.
"If you're a parent, you should be in the north lot" for student pickup, where there is a traffic light, School Superintendent Joseph V. Regano said.
In addition, those exiting the south lot have the option of following the driveway to Arthur Road. There is a traffic light at Arthur and SOM Center roads, school officials said.
Assistant Superintendent Thomas W. Stupica said the placement of the light at Orchard School's north driveway, which is Kramer Drive, was determined when the dual school opened in fall 1992. The light services a four-way intersection at SOM Center Road, including Kramer Drive, which leads to the bus garage and the driveway leading to Solon Middle School and parking for playing fields in the community park. "The city didn't want to put two lights together," he said.
About a year ago, the district changed parent pickup from the south lot to the north lot, to avoid the traffic backing up onto SOM Center Road, school officials said. The change, recommended by Orchard School Principal Michael Acomb for student safety, followed discussion at a school board meeting at the start of school last fall. The change alleviated the traffic situation, school officials said.
School board member Roger Goudy, a former city councilman, said Mr. El-Jamah could raise the issue of an additional traffic light with City Council's safety committee.
However, Mr. Regano said he doubts that the schools could get an additional traffic light.
Mr. El-Jamah, who had expressed his concerns about the condition of the Orchard School lot just prior to this summer's renovation, asked why the renovation cost $86,000.
The low bid for the renovation of the south lot, completed in July by Cunningham Paving, was $69,975, Mr. Stupica said. There were change orders for additional repair and electrical work, he said. The project included removing the long islands to create more parking spaces and allow for easier snow removal. In addition, worn areas were ground out, the entire lot was seal-coated and catch basins were repaired.
Mr. Stupica said the original estimate for the job without change orders was $80,000, but "in this economy, prices have been coming in considerably less than what they would have been in the past. There were a number of bidders for the project."
Mr. El-Jamah also questioned the accuracy of a bar graph on the school's Web site which shows "6.9-mill revenue impact." He said the bars were not accurately drawn. The chart compares the generation of 6.9 mills in 2006, which was $8.9 million, with the amount generated in 2009, which is $8.2 million.
School District Treasurer Timothy Pickana said he inputted the data into Excel, a computer program which produced a three-dimensional chart. He used the chart in a presentation to Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher last spring, and it was later shown on the school Web site. The top of the bars on the graph shows the accurate amount, he said, and the exact amounts also are shown next to the graph.
[ back ]
