By JOE JAROSZ
Northeast News
March 26, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – In their mind, the Save Thacher, Save Our Schools group wasn’t given enough time to save the former elementary school.

Now, with a better idea of what the old school can be turned into and the backing of an area architect, the grassroots group is ready to ask the Kansas City Public Schools’ Board of Directors for more time before they decide whether or not to tear down the abandoned building.

The group, and members of the community, plan to attend the KCPS School Board meeting Wednesday, March 26, at the district office, 1211 McGee St., Suite 1009.

Manny Abarca, one of the organizers of the grassroots group, said ideally, the group would like to walk out of the school board meeting with more time allotted. He added the month-by-month block the school board has given the group so far has not been enough time.

“We need six months minimum to a year,” Abarca said.

On March 17, the group was able to walk through the former elementary school with architect Bruce Best. Best said his inspection of the building saw water damage and the fire damaged portion caused to the 1914 addition. But this isn’t the kind of damage that would prohibit the building from being repurposed.

“The original building is in fine shape,” Best said, adding while on the tour, he also saw paint peeling and floors popping up because of moisture, but those are all replaceable and “non-issues.”

Best, though, said he understands the school board’s position because the district owns a property that “has been a problem for them because its been damaged and broken into.” And the easiest way to get rid of the problem is to get rid of the building all together.

“It’s an unfortunate move because it causes the most harm to the community,” Best said. “They’re looking at this problem from just their side and not from the side of the community.”

Best said he’s had discussions with a low cost health care clinic to occupy the first floor and has plans for an assisted senior living center, as well. What the grassroots group needs to do, Best said, is spend money to put up a security fence around Thacher Elementary and close off all the windows, then begin to work with the school district on a proper rehabilitation plan.

“This building is historic and whenever you take a building like this down, they [the school district] are telling the neighborhood their opinion isn’t worth anything,” Best said. “They may not mean it, but that’s what they’re doing. It’s not a great message to send.”