The fate of the Fine Arts Building has been decided: it will be demolished.
After six months of consideration that included a public forum and input from several community members, the Houston school board voted unanimously Tuesday night to bring down the facility. The district awarded a $90,000 demolition bid – one of four received by the May 31 deadline – to Gator Industrial LLC of Joplin.
“To me, I boil it down to this: preservation versus progress,” board member Leon Slape said. “What’s important here is students, not preservation. We do have students in mind and want the best for the school district.”
Houston resident John Impey, who was outspoken against demolition of the Fine Arts Building and canvased door-to-door at times, addresses the school board Tuesday night.
The decision marks the culmination of a long and many times emotional process that started in January when the board began pursuing bids. A group of citizens rallied to form a committee and asked that the 1921 building be restored. A majority of parents polled by the district and citizens who spoke at a May 3 public forum favored demolition.
“This was the most difficult decision I’ve been part of. That includes bond issues,” Superintendent Scott Dill said. “I feel like the board gave a listening ear to the community for months. The opposition to this was clearly heard and clearly understood. The board moved forward with full knowledge of both sides of the argument.
“The fact that they had a unanimous vote on this speaks very clearly to their perception of the community’s expectations and where a majority of the community came down on this issue.”
Before calling for the vote, board president Jo Holland thanked her colleagues for their efforts through the process.
“Sitting in these seats is a privilege and great responsibility. We’ve been charged with making decisions that we feel are in the best interest of our students,” Holland said. “I appreciate each of you for upholding that standard.”
Houston resident Karen Cavanaugh, of the Community Coordinating Committee, speaks to the school board Tuesday night. The group organized in an effort to restore the Fine Arts Building.
After the vote was taken, patron Karen Cavanaugh asked for a roll call of votes. Cavanaugh is a member of the Community Coordinating Committee that has campaigned for restoration. She addressed the board before the vote and asked that the building not be demolished. She also expressed concerns at the end of the meeting.
All seven board members – Sam Kelley, Curtis Hubbs, Russell Gaither, Jennifer Scheets, Stacie Ely, Slape and Holland – gave firm ‘yes’ votes.
“The main thing I come back to is this is a stand-alone building in the way of progress,” Slape said prior to the vote. “We’re landlocked here and if we do new construction, we must have a place to do it. We must look at progress for our students as well as the school district and community. I want to see the best, not something that might be adequate or minimally good.”
The board selected Gator Industrial over bids from 06EVN ($93,896.25 plus a $2,816.89 performance bond), Jared Smith Hauling & Excavating LLC ($98,500) and Godi’s Excavating ($194,225). Smith was the only local contractor.
Kelley, who made the motion for Gator Industrial, cited the organization’s experience and equipment in his decision. The group features 60 environmental engineers, two chemists, two safety professionals, three project managers, eight site supervisors and more than 20 specialized and heavy equipment operators. Among the organization’s inventory of machinery are four cranes, 28 excavators and eight 30-ton haul trucks.
Gator Industrial was heavily involved in the cleanup efforts following the May 2011 Joplin tornado. The group transformed a 14-acre landfill into a 70-acre spot and worked 12 hours per day, seven days a week with 30 full-time employees at the location.
Dill said Wednesday morning that asbestos abatement should begin soon and take up to 12 days. AG Environmental Incorporated was awarded the hazardous material abatement for $46,892.50 at the April 12 board meeting.
“Potentially at any point after that, barring anything unforeseen, demolition could take place,” Dill said. “It’s my understanding that it’s the intent of the board to move forward as quickly as it is practical.”
Slape said he hopes now that a decision is finalized, the community will pull together.
“I’ll interject a faith statement here that we need to walk in love,” he said.
The Fine Arts Building on the campus of Houston R-1 Schools was vacated in 2008.