User: gpicciri/Time: 04-25-2010

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DemocratandChronicle.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2010

$1.50 NEWSSTAND

SPECIAL REPORT ON REAL ESTATE | PAGES 1E-9E

JAMIE GERMANO staff photographer

Irondequoit Life

In-depth look at our

areas housing market

Sizzling: Sales climb for two straight quarters, 1E

Going green: Energy efciency is key to new builds, 1E
Heartache, then joy: First-time buyer tells her story, 2E
Where to buy: Community proles offer some clues, 5E

Check out our 14-page

special section to see
whats happening in
Irondequoit. Inside

Tours with tunes

Well give you the

skinny on ve of the
summers biggest music
festivals, 10C

ONLINE EXTRA Whats selling? Go to RocDocs at DemocratandChronicle.com.

Bills QB situation

Columnist Leo Roth says

Buffalos decision to
stick with incumbents
will drain fans hopes, 1D

Young at ART

A photo essay
showcases a program
that connects students
with local artists, 4C

Getting active

Healthy Kids Day aims

to raise awareness about
weight and diet, 3B

Amerks back home

JEN RYNDA staff photographer

Elisa Ruises third-grade class walks to lunch from a portable classroom at School 50 in
Rochester. Proposed work at School 50 would eliminate the need for portable classrooms.

Rochester, Abbotsford
meet tonight in Game 6
of playoff series, 1D
Effort to promote state
wines features in-store
TV network, 1B

CHRIS SWINGLE

STAFF WRITER

Work on Rochester districts worst buildings

shelved as ination undercuts ambitious plan

ALSO INSIDE
EDITORIALS | 24A
BOOKS | 7C
DEATHS | 2B
CROSSWORD | 9C
WEATHER | 8B
JUMBLE | 9C
SUDOKU | 9C HOROSCOPES | 2C

NESTOR RAMOS

STAFF WRITER

COMING UP

Your Health: A guide

to looking and feeling
young. Wednesday.

Note to readers

Weekend subscribers,
who traditionally are
delivered holiday and
special project newspapers, will receive the
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on Thursday, May 13 (Lilac Festival feature) and
again on Monday, May 31
(Memorial Day). If you
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The number is (800)
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Copyright 2010
Gannett Rochester Newspapers
Seven Sections

A B C

When the Rochester School District and the city undertook the
billion-dollar task of updating its
aging school buildings, School 22
was an obvious choice.
The old school on Zimbrich
Street in northeast Rochester was,
by some measures, the worst building in the district: cramped and
outdated, with a frame made of
century-old timber, asbestos behind
the walls, and a small green area
and dreary parking lot across the
street that passed for a playground.
District, state and city ofcials
trumpeted the Facilities Modernization Program at a news conference there in 2007.
But as the project moves closer
to putting shovels in the ground,
School 22 is no longer among the
rst schools on the list. In the most
recent draft plan, many of the citys
oldest and most dilapidated schools
have been removed from the projects rst phase in favor of younger
buildings that require less work.
And as frustration with the projects pace grows, ination is driving up costs.
The $325 million budgeted for
the rst phase wont stretch as far
as it would have a few years ago,
SCHOOLS, PAGE 6A

JEN RYNDA staff photographer

Emanuel Flecha, 8, center, raises his hand while sitting

between Carmen Jimenez, 9, left, and Ynejah Davis, 8,
during Lisa Peers third-grade class at School 50.

Alec Chierici was exhausted in March

from a stressful hospital stay prompted
by a life-threatening heart rhythm. Then
he opened a letter from his insurance
company that denied the entire
$84,154.02 claim for reconnecting his
new heart debrillator
for not being medically
necessary.
What are they trying
to do, kill me off? asked
Chierici, 70, of Rochester. It threw me for a
loop.
His insurer, Empire
BlueCross BlueShield, Chierici
had called him before
the surgery to warn that the planned reattachment of the dislodged debrillator
wires was considered an outpatient procedure requiring less than 24 hours in
the hospital, so thats all the insurer
would pay for.
They also told him not to be alarmed
and that he wouldnt have to pay any remaining bill but Chierici was still concerned. Problems had kept him in the
hospital four days. He called the insurer,
who told him they would request more
information from the hospital and that it
would be worked out.
Few patients seek reconsiderations
from their insurers and even fewer take
the appeal through all the layers available. Patients either give up or lack the
ability, the health or the necessary paperwork from their physician to pursue an
DENIALS, PAGE 12A

JEN RYNDA staff photographer

DEADLY STORMS SWEEP SOUTH

School 22 in Rochester was originally part of the Facilities Modernization Program, but it is not on the list
for phase one, which doesnt allow new construction.

INSIDE A map shows the 13 schools earmarked for the rst phase of the districts modernization plan, and two that were on the original list, as well as some
pertinent data about those schools, Page 6A

Vigil for missing teen, one year later

Its been a year since Chili
teenager Brittanee Drexel
disappeared while on spring
break in South Carolina.
Her family has never given
up on the hope that the Gates
Chili High School student
would be found, but todays
milestone is hitting them hard.
It just makes us feel so

frustrated and upset that we

dont have any answers, said
Keri Drexel, Brittanees aunt.
And while South Carolina
police have said theyre now
investigating the case as a
homicide, experts say its important for the Drexel family
to hang on to hope.
You cant take hope from

the (families) because that is

the only thing they have. Its
what they have when they
wake up, and its what keeps
people moving through the
day, said Monica Caison,
founder for the Center for
Missing Persons in North
Carolina.
STORY: 1B

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But success found by

some of those who do.

SCHOOL WOES

New way to toast

Few duke
it out with
medical
insurers
on denials

BRIAN ALBERT BROOM The Jackson, Miss., Clarion-Ledger

Hillcrest Baptist Church Youth Pastor

Jason Newell tries to salvage what he
can from the church that was destroyed by a killer tornado that ripped
through Yazoo City, Miss., Saturday
afternoon. STORY: 3A

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User: wkuchman/Time: 04-24-2010 18:01/Color:

C: Used M: Used Y: Used K: Used/Prod: Democrat_and_Chronicle/Pub: 04-25-2010/Ed: Region/ A 6

6A SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2010

DemocratandChronicle.com DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE

Schools

As with several of the

schools on the updated
list, School 50 is popular
with district parents. Its
kindergarten class is one
of the rst to ll.
Adding a new wing to
replace the portables
would help the school
meet demand, Mains said,
and eliminate logistical
and safety problems with
the trailers. Because portables are not connected
to the main building,
students have to walk
outdoors to go to lunch,
gym or for other reasons,
even in winter.
My space problems
would be solved, Mains
said. I wouldnt have the
danger thats involved
with having kids in a
building thats not attached.

FROM PAGE 1A

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Under the latest proposal, several younger

schools would see construction to eliminate the
use of portable classrooms, in addition to
other work. Meanwhile,
the districts worst school
buildings would continue

Thirteen city schools proposed to be renovated

WE

School 22 woes

Rochester
School District

DE

At the root of the problems, some say, is the

legislation that allowed
the district to exceed the
state-imposed maximums
on borrowing.
The law, sponsored by
state Assemblyman David
Gantt, D-Rochester, and
signed by then-Gov. Eliot
Spitzer, is similar to laws
authorizing projects in
Syracuse, where ofcials
are wrestling with similar
delays, and in Buffalo
before that.
The project, in those
cities as in Rochester, was
designed to exceed the
citys debt limit and take
advantage of a high rate
of reimbursement from
the state in order to upgrade aging and outdated
schools. More than a
billion dollars would be
borrowed through bond
sales. But though the
cities are in some ways
similar, their needs can
be very different.
We spent money and
effort really thinking
through what were our
unique needs, said James
Fenton, a Rochester district administrator who
worked on the project
until a recent promotion.
We crafted a piece of
legislation I thought was
very good. It was unique
to us. What we ended up
with was exactly what
Syracuse had passed with
some provisions that
David Gantt wanted. It
was really just a heartbreaking thing.
In the end, the legislation for the rst phase of
the project only allowed
for rehabilitation and
renovation not new
construction. So instead
of being able to tear down
and rebuild old schools
such as 22 and 36 as the
district had originally
planned, the focus shifted
to upgrades and expansions at newer buildings.
The Rochester School
District denied a Freedom of Information Law
request for the recently
updated master construction plan, but a list of the
13 school buildings included on the updated
draft plan for phase one
was obtained by the Democrat and Chronicle.
Ofcials conrmed the
list but stressed that it
was still a draft. They also
promised a robust public
input process in the
months ahead.

Bell said the shift from

rebuilding schools such
The entrance of School 33 shows off the $36.5 million project that was completed in September. Superinas 22 and 36 to upgrading
tendent Jean-Claude Brizard says he would like all the schools in the district to look like School 33 some day. schools including 50 was
largely due to legislative
limitations, but not entirely.
Things change as facts
change, Bell said. Most
Number of school buildimportantly, I suppose, is
ings: 39 elementary; 15
(that) the performance of
secondary.
each school changes, so
Enrollment**: 30,000+.
youre
investing your
Teachers: 3,700.
resources
in the schools
Budget: $700 million.
with
the
highest
potential
Poverty*: 84 percent.
for
success.
I
think
thats
*Eligible for free or
what the superintendent
reduced lunch.
and his team are con**2010-11 estimate.
stantly
doing.
SOURCE: Staff research
In Syracuse, similar
legislation authorizing
to be maintained and
the project there created
used until at least the
a similar sticking point.
next phase of the project,
An aging school there,
which requires new legisBlodgett Elementary, was
lation and could be sevslated to be rebuilt in the
eral years off.
rst phase of the project.
JEN RYNDA staff photographer As in Rochester, its been
That has left some
Carmen Jimenez, 9, draws during Lisa Peers third-grade class at School 50 in
questioning whether the
shelved for now.
Rochester. Storage space for students is limited in the portable classroom.
hundreds of millions of
And Rochester ofcials
dollars in state taxpayer
are hoping to avoid a
money slated to be spent
repeat of some of the
on Rochesters schools in
most troubling problems
the coming years will be
encountered in Syracuse,
104
IRONDEQUOIT
put to good use.
where critics say tens of
Thirteen Rochester School
R D.
22 School needs to be
millions of project dollars
District schools have been
E. RIDGE
A
RIDGEWAY AVE.
tentatively selected for
razed and rebuilt, said
have been spent with
104
D
renovation during the first
school board member
very little to show for it.
phase of the billion-dollar
1 mile
Van White, who attended
Syracuse is in a quagE
NORTON ST.
Facilities Modernization
the school as a child.
mire,
Brizard said.
Program. But the list does
B
If the legislation
Theyve spent millions
1
not
include
schools
found
AVEN UE D
doesnt permit that, well,
and gotten nowhere.
LEXINGTON C
AVE.
to be in the worst condition
2
legislation can be reFormer Syracuse
in a 2006 study, such as 22
CLIF FORD AVE.
EMERSON ST.
written, he said.
school board President
and 36. None of the eight
schools built before World
I dont think those
Kim Rohadfox-Ceaser
War I is on the list.
F
kids and those teachers
said Rochesters project
and other staff people
has already avoided one
LYELL AVE.
590
should be in an envipitfall that has derailed
E . M A IN
ST.
31
ronment like that, White
Syracuse.
H
said.
The biggest issue for
G
I
ATL ANT IC AVE .
490
We have some schools
us has been the way our
J
96
that are completely wood
Joint School Construction
33
frame that we think
Board has been strucH. No. 58
93,651
95
2010 renovation list
should be on the list
tured, she said. Its actuNo./name
Sq.-ft.* Age I. East H.S.
K
430,492
53
sooner or later, Rochally made up mostly of
ester School District
politicians.
A. Marshall H.S. 273,996 76 J. No. 28
95,284
41
Superintendent JeanRochesters board inRochester
L
B No. 7
69,327 44 K. No. 2
88,829 50
Claude Brizard said. But
cludes experienced priC. No. 34
66,041
83 L. No. 19
97,232
39
those schools ranked
vate sector leaders, peo383
BROOKS AVE.
D.
No.
50
59,955
54
M.
Congress
Ave.
57,558
94
among the very worst on
ple with expertise in conM
Genesee E. Franklin H.S.
481,129
82 Not on list
the original master plan
struction and contracting
River
crafted by district ofand community and no
F. No. 6
71,586 48 1. No. 22
67,260
94
cials in 2006 didnt
elected ofcials.
G. No. 17
94,548
43 2. No. 36
69,134 112
nd their way onto the
Political wrangling was,
390
list that will likely guide
in
part, what derailed the
SOURCE: Rochester School District *Total sq. ft. (includes floor and additional community space)
KEVIN M. SMITH graphics editor
the project until at least
Blodgett project, though
2016.
the Syracuse districts
Parent Lisa Busby,
dont know how you push earlier this year, nearly
22. That school and
current president, Laurie
three years after the legis- School 36 were to be torn Menkin, noted theres an
whose daughter Chathat off to a later phase,
lation passed.
juandra Beaman is a
Gantt said. Why would
effort afoot to revive it for
down and rebuilt.
Another critical hurdle
fourth-grader at School
they want to do schools
At School 36, principal phase one. But even
hiring a program man- Paul Montanarello said
22, said the building is in
over and not get to that
though the plan has been
ager to oversee the rst
bad shape. It needs a
school? Why would we
hes pleased with the
altered to t the legislaphase is expected to be work done to make techwhole bunch of work
get away from that?
tion Blodgett is now
nalized this month. Indone to it theres walls
But Gantt expressed
nology improvements in
slated for a large-scale
terviews were held in
cracking and the bathsurprise at the idea that
the old building. Built in
rehabilitation rather than
early April.
rooms need to be bigger.
the legislation he helped
1898, the school on St.
a new building Menkin
They have to stand in a
pass was partly to blame,
Jacob Street in northeast
said the political will
The history
long line to use the bath- and added that hes been
Rochester is the oldest in doesnt exist to get it
room.
keeping his distance from
the district.
done early in the cycle.
In 2006, the district,
It needs so much work, the project.
We have technology,
They really werent
with the help of an archidistrict ofcials said, that
Do I wish that the
were not that far behind, interested in investing
tect, prepared a detailed
its not cost-effective to
process was much faster? plan that made the case
he said. Theyre doing
that kind of money, she
renovate it tearing it
You bet I do, Gantt said. for modernizing the
enough things that, obvi- said of the city governdown and building new is I dont want to taint the
ment there. Its in one of
buildings. It identied the ously, we would remain
the only option, and thats process with politics.
open. But the gym is
the poorest sections of
13 schools that would
not covered in the rst
The pace of the project have been part of the
inadequate, he said. Dur- the entire United States.
phase of the project.
has been a source of con- projects rst phase and
ing a recent kickball
Voter turnout is very low.
That legislation does
sternation on all sides.
You can read between
described the work to be game, the ball bounced
not allow you to build a
Our frustration, if we
from foot to ceiling to
the lines on that one.
done.
new school. It only allows have any, is that we want
oor to wall like an overThere was widespread
A model of sorts was
you to modernize an
to get the project going,
sized racquetball.
anger when the commuthe $36.5 million in work
existing facility, Bell
Bell said. We know one
Montanarello said he
nity found out that Bloddone at School 33 on
said.
of the things that affects
hopes the school nds its gett was left out, Menkin
Webster Avenue. The
Frey Kassa, whose 5outcomes in the schools
project, which included a way into phase two of the said. Rightly so. Promyear-old daughter, Hewot, is the environment. The
ises were made eight
new community center, a three-phase project.
started at the school a
faster we improve the
School 50 principal
years ago that Blodgett
new public library and a
few months ago, said
environment that theyre complete overhaul of the Tim Mains was less chari- would be renovated, she
shes considering other
learning in, the better the attached school, was
table. School 36, he said,
said.
schools. They need more results will be.
needs to be abandoned.
Rohadfox-Ceaser said
completed in September
cleanup and play areas,
But the facilities modSchool 50, on Seneca
the bureaucracy set up by
after nearly a decade of
she said. It looks like the ernization board, which
Avenue just south of East the legislation was priplanning and construcschools not ready.
was required by the legis- tion. It was not paid for
Ridge Road, is among
marily to blame for the
lation authorizing the
delays.
with FMP funds, but at its those on the updated list
The legislation
project, didnt meet until ribbon cutting in October, of phase one schools, and
Instead of saying,
a year after the law
Gantt, the veteran asBrizard said that one day Mains conrmed that the each city is unique,
passed. Several months
proposed work there
Rohadfox-Ceaser said,
semblyman who sponhe would like all district
includes eliminating the
we try to put this cookiesored the legislation, said were spent ironing out
schools to look like
the details of a memoran- School 33.
use of portable classcutter legislation toSchool 22 needs to be
dum of understanding
gether, and it doesnt
repaired or replaced
The FMP plan included rooms. All four thirdamong the new board, the buying land around some grade sections are held in always serve the commusoon.
city and the school disconverted trailers behind nities needs best.
Given the school and
school sites, including
trict. That was approved
the neighborhood I
NRAMOS@DemocratandChronicle.com
two blocks around School the school.
JEN RYNDA staff photographer

POR

Legislative questions

Avoiding quagmires

JEFFERSON AVE.

said Kenneth Bell, chairman of the seven-member

Rochester Joint Schools
Construction Board, the
independent board overseeing the rst phase of
the three-phase, 15-year
program.
Five years ago, that
money would have
bought X. Now, its one
half of X, Bell said. And
with the state struggling
to meet existing obligations, if we delay this
project much longer, we
may lose some of the
money.
In fact, while ination
since 2006 has totaled
about 9 percent, the cost
of new K-12 school construction has jumped
about 32 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer
Price Index.
In the end, Bell said,
there might not be
enough money to work
on 13 schools when construction starts some
time next year.
It sounds like a lot of
money, when you say a
billion and a half dollars,
said Bell, a retired HSBC
executive appointed to
the FMP board by Mayor
Robert Duffy. But over 15
years, thats really not a
lot of money. So we have
to be careful that we
spend our money wisely.