Project Angel Pride

Meeting Information

MISSION

GOALS

Meeting Agenda
April 28, 2005
8-10 am
Social Room at East High School
Meeting Agenda

Video presentation: Thanks to parents Nancy Thompson, Duke Hartman and Bertha Lynn Naves
Introductions and approval of minutes from March 24 meeting
Update on athletic fields, donor reassurance from DPS: Larry Williams, Dave Jorschumb, Chris Lembo, DPS Facilities Management Department
Update on the Lowenstein Theater: Charlie Woolley, St. Charles Town Company
Enterprise Zone status for Sullivan Memorial Gateway: Kathleen Butler
Dolphin fountain, DPR Capital Improvement Budget for 2006, fundraising strategy for Sullivan Memorial Gateway, donor reassurance, “Fines for Littering” signs: Helen Kuykendal, Denver Parks and Rec
Landscape design possibilities for East High School plaza: Design Studios West
May 13 lunch and student charette for landscape design for southeast corner of the campus: Louise Connor
Current trash campaign and future dedication ceremony in August 2005: Kathleen Butler
Update on fundraising for athletic field equipment: Louise Connor
Listing on the National Register of Historic Places for East High School: Ira Selkowitz
Other business
Meeting adjourned

NEXT MEETING: Thursday, May 26 from 8-10 am in the Social Room at East High School

Meeting: Project Angel Pride Committee
Social Room, East High School
April 28, 2005
Minutes

The meeting of the Project Angel Pride Committee (the “Committee”) was brought to order at 8:05 a.m. Thursday, April 28, 2005 by Louise Connor, Chair. Those attending were: Wes Ashley, Kathleen Butler, Louise Connor, John Freyer II, Marcia Goldstein, Hayden Hirschfeld, Mark Hoskin, Kevin Jones, Dave Jorschumb, Sarah McCarthy, Sheila Murphy, Ira Selkowitz, Jim Slotta, Tina Taylor, Harold Tubbs, Melanie Weiss-Turner, Sandy Widener, Larry Williams, and Stuart Williams.

Louise Connor showed the new Project Angel Pride (“PAP”) video to the Committee. Louise moved to thank parents Duke Hartmann, Bertha Lynn Naves and Nancy Lamb Thompson who, together, produced the video. The motion was approved unanimously.

Everyone briefly introduced themselves. Louise Connor moved that the March 24, 2005 minutes be approved, Mark Hoskin seconded the motion and the motion passed.

Dave Jorschumb reported that the new athletic field and the baseball field are on schedule, to be completed by July 29, 2005. Work on the new field has begun and work on the baseball field will begin May 15, 2005. Louise raised the issue of “donor reassurance” She explained that many donors are willing to give but only with the proviso that any improvements had a stated future maintenance agreement. Kathleen Butler asked whether there are any written standards for maintaining improvements. Larry Williams said that Rusty Deane or Mike Langley would be better suited to answer these questions. The budget for maintenance at DPS has been cut by 30% over the past 4 years. Louise said that approximately $80,000 of $104,000 has been raised towards athletic field equipment. These donations will fund new bleachers and scoreboards for the new athletic field and the renovated baseball field. Louise said that Mountain States Bank, Vectra Bank and American National Bank will be approached regarding naming opportunities for the new score boards. Larry Williams explained that any scoreboard advertising needed the approval of DPS, the Zoning Board and the Landmark Commission before it could be implemented. Larry said that the approval process should start with the DPS facilities management department and the approval from the Superintendent. Then together PAP and DPS could present their case to the Zoning Commission and to the Landmark Commission. Wes Ashley said that he had pricing for scoreboards which start at $10,000, and that bleachers are readily available. Because of the lead time required for the Landmark Commission agenda, speaking to Christy Murata to solicit her opinion on guidelines for the scoreboard would be very helpful. Wes said that the bleachers under consideration were five levels high and each set holds 50 people.

The first step towards getting the bleachers and scoreboards installed is a meeting with Oz Architecture, who is retained by DPS. Oz Architecture can price the equipment, provide schematic drawings, determine the design requirements and solicit bids from contractors. These steps must be completed prior to meetings with the Landmark Commission and the Zoning Board. Dave Jorschumb said that the electrical conduit will be in place for the scoreboards, but the time line for completing the concrete slab necessary for the bleachers within the framework of the rest of the project necessitates getting approvals and drawings as quickly as possible.

Mark Hoskin said that the Committee understood that money to hire a consultant would be required and that the Committee approved this expenditure. Dave Jorschumb agreed to call Oz Architecture and set up the initial meeting. Leslie Moore, the head of DPS athletics, will also need to be informed.

Hayden Hirschfeld of Fentress Bradburn, architects for the Lowenstein Theater, reported that the Lowenstein project is on track and is currently under design development. The City Council approved the project and authorized a $1.9 million city-backed loan for the redevelopment of the Lowenstein Theater. Hayden said that Charlie Woolley expected to close on the Lowenstein property on May 11, 2005. Louise Connor asked about EHS student access to projects at the Denver International Film Society; Hayden said that the Society is already working with East students and is planning to increase that involvement. The Lowenstein Theater project is scheduled to be completed in June 2006.

Stuart Williams, Manager, Public Works, explained that the Montclair Storm Water Basin Project’s work on 17th Avenue and the esplanade would take place during the summer of 2006. Work will begin on 17th Avenue after the stock show is over and work on the esplanade will begin at the end of school next year. New curbs and gutters will be installed along the esplanade from 17th Avenue to Colfax Avenue, and a new storm drain will be installed under the esplanade. Landscaping, lighting, new paving, irrigation and a new configuration for the esplanade are all part of the project.

Kathleen Butler reported that our application to the Colorado Economic Development Commission was approved and that Enterprise Zone status had been awarded to the Sullivan Memorial Gateway area for $300,000. This will apply to private donations needed to restore the Sullivan Memorial Gateway and the surrounding walls and fountain. Parks and Rec. has prioritized the restoration of the Sullivan Gateway as one their five important projects in their capital improvement budget for 2006. Helen Kuykendal has requested $300,000 for the improvements. Parks and Rec. and PAP will submit an application to the State Historical Fund for the remaining $300,000 in October 2005. The Dolphin Fountain needs some repairs to function. Chips Barry said that the Denver Water Board intends to have the fountain flowing in spring 2005. John Overstreet, Deputy Director of Denver Parks and Recreation, will visit the East High School property as he considers a statement of donor reassurance. The need for statements of donor reassurance applies to improvements to Parks and Rec. property as well as to DPS property.

Kathleen Butler reported that the EHS campus is now being cleaned three times a week, once by DPS and twice by a shared cleaning contract between PAP and the Colfax Business Improvement District with Front Range Services. The trash committee is continuing to work on installing “No Littering/Fine for Littering” signs placed on campus, and to the have the police drive through campus at lunch time to enforce the new ban. The amount of the proposed fine is under consideration.

The flowers around the “E” in front of the school, which last year were such a success, are still under consideration. Although Parks and Rec. will not maintain the bed this summer, Kathleen Butler has approached Hot Wings about funding the maintenance for the bed, as well as for $2,000 in funds to purchase the geraniums.

Mark Hoskin reported that Design Studios West (“DSW”) has agreed to contribute landscape design services for the renovation of the East High School Plaza. This area is owned by Public Works and maintained by Parks and Rec. Denver Public Schools owns only the area east of the “E” to the front of the school. Under design consideration are: handicap access to the front of the school, reconfiguring the plaza in order to provide seating and a gathering space, and creating a more formal entrance to the school. DSW will make a presentation at the student landscape design charette to be held May 13, from 11-12 in the Social Room at East High School. The goal is to have the work on the improvements to the plaza begin immediately following the completion of the work on the esplanade. The student landscape design charette will focus on possible uses for the southeast corner of the campus, as well as for the design of the plaza/entrance to the school. The renovations to the southeast corner will take place after the completion of the renovations to the Sullivan Memorial Gate way in 2007.

Mark explained that there are five phases of work for the Committee. The first is the library renovation which needs approximately $20,000 for completion. The second is to fund equipment to make the athletic fields into fields for competition. The cost for two scoreboards and two sets of bleachers is approximately $104,000 of which approximately $80,000 has been raised. The third phase is the renovation of the esplanade and the school plaza. The fourth phase is the renovation of the Sullivan Memorial Gateway and surround which will cost approximately $950,000; PAP will need to raise one-third from private donors. The fifth phase will be the redevelopment of the southeast corner of the EHS campus.

Tina Taylor suggested that the new PAP video be shown in the school lobby.

Project Angel Pride will be holding a student rally in the fall to dedicate the new athletic fields and to announce the new policies regarding trash. Tina Taylor and Melanie Weiss-Turner agreed to co-chair the Rally Committee. Kathleen Butler suggested that Chipotle be approached to be a sponsor for the rally. Melanie said that she would talk to Chipotle perhaps about sponsoring a band. Tina Taylor suggested that all students be encouraged to wear the school colors, red and white. Wes Ashley said that security for the event would need to be carefully planned.

Sarah McCarthy said that three foundations have been selected as possible funders for the Sullivan Memorial Gateway renovations. They are El Pomar, the Gates Foundation and Boettcher Foundation. Sarah explained that fundraising for this project should start now because our portion of the funds must be in place in the fall prior to submitting the SHF grant application.

Louise Connor explained that naming opportunities exist for the new athletic field, the baseball field, the plaza in front of the school, benches, trees, and bricks on the plaza.

Ira Selkowitz asked Larry Williams about the letter submitted to him, signed by Kathy Callum and Louise Connor, regarding the listing of East High School on the National Register of Historic Places. Larry apologized, saying he has been swamped, but that he would set a meeting with all interested parties including Ira and Christy Murata of the Landmark Commission. Mark Hoskin said that the projects being done and methods being used at East High School by Project Angel Pride will serve as a model for other schools in the district for their campus improvement efforts. Ira said that historic designation would serve to publicize and highlight our efforts.

Larry Williams said that DPS is considering a November 2006 bond election. This 5-year bond would focus on renovations for the infrastructures of East and West High Schools. Items to be addressed by this bond would include repairs to the interior of the schools. A site condition assessment of the front of East High School was commissioned by PAP and completed by Dodds Cromwell of MGT of America, Inc. EHS scored 48 points of a possible 100 on site condition and the deferred maintenance was 51 points. Louise Connor said that in 2000 Colorado ranked 25th in the United States for per pupil capital funding. This ranking was prior to the 30% budget cuts over the past 4 years.

Mark Hoskin reported that last year PAP had approved a matching gift of $2,000 towards security cameras. It was Mark’s understating that the security cameras had been totally funded but that the PTSA has committed $1,400 towards the purchase of a security light for the front of the building. He suggested that when all facts about the security light were made known to the Committee that we would consider changing the matching gift to provide for the security light.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 a.m.

The next general meeting of the Pride Angel Pride Committee will be Thursday, May 26, 2005, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. in the Social Room on the second floor at East High School.

Respectfully submitted,
Sheila Murphy
April 28, 2005

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