6-24-10

To all of the MAPS (and especially Graveraet) warriors I have been fortunate enough to have worked with.

How you have ALL blessed by life these 17 years. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We have shared concern for kids, hysterical moments (thanks, Tim Schultz and Ken Bullock, tears, frustration and love. The best of these being love. Many of us have moved into and out of many of the district buildings, our paths crossing along the way. No matter where I went, the buildings were positive and respectful and the love for children a priority. I have had the honor of working with/for some of the greats - Dr. William Ostwald, Bob Hewitt, Tami Bott, Sam Oslund, and on it continues. MAPS staff, thank you for your patience and kindness. It has been such a pleasure working with each of you. You are amazing educators and support personnel. From principals to secretaries, bus drivers to custodians, teachers to counselors, instructional aides to food service and all the rest - Thank you!!! You are the best!

To my dear old building, Graveraet - THANK YOU! I have worked in the most beautiful office in the entire city of Marquette! Stand strong dear friend, for you hold within your halls the memories and essence of generations of young people. Today I bring my personnel file to your basement vault and will set it beside the 7th and 8th grade record books holding my name from Graveaet Junior High School - and those records shall lay beside the books that hold my father's name and his grades from Graveraet High School 70+ years ago. Thank you Graveaet, hold close the generations that have passed through your doors and built the foundation of this community. You represent who we are, where we have come from and where we, as a community, shall continue.

This building must continue to be an integral part of our community. It is a representation of who we are.....

4-9-2010

Keep Graveraet Open

The city of Marquette has allowed too many historic buildings to disappear over the past century. I realize many were lost to fire but we should not sacrifice what little we have left. Sandy Knoll has no architectual sigficance, sell that property and use the funds for other capital projects within the school district, I am certain it would bring in $500,000 or more. Graveraet apprears to be an inspiring building to educate children in. I went to Bothwell for Middle School and I would sooner see Bothwell closed (it is darker than a penal institution in the winter) than lose the one beautiful school left in the community. By the way the Scots were undefeated in Basketball and Football against Graveraet when I was there.

4-8-10

The Best Configuration and Building Use

I attended Graveraet in 7th grade. It was then closed for renovation, and the entire 7th and 8th grade classes were sent to Bothwell Middle School during it's first year of operation. It was a complete disaster. Although a noble concept, the "open education" pods did not work and had to be walled off. This resulted in significant dysfunction in the HVAC systems, among other things. It is in a poor location for a school, but one which might be able to be sold for a reasonable amount of money.

Graveraet is a marvelous school which has the added bonus of a phenomenal auditorium. It is the crown jewel in the MAPS inventory of schools. It is, as has been mentioned, in a densely populated area and walkable for many, many students. The most intelligent option has already been presented here: close Bothwell, send 7th and 8th-graders to the High School Pod areas, and keep our neighborhood elementary schools. Neighborhood schools are critical to elementary success. The more we close, the more kids will fall through the cracks. Remedial efforts in later grades are more costly and less effective.

Intelligent reconfiguration is LONG overdue. Take action!

3-27-10

I've played 13 times there with 5 different groups. No, 6. Other than Graveraet being a great school, Kaufman is more important to me. Such a great, historic location might be shut down? Outrageous. I can't imagine a band concert anywhere but there. Outrageous. Shame on the MAPS part.

3-17-10

Did you know that the fountain is $60,000 over budget and Hartwig is scrambling for more money! He wants to cut cut cut the EMPLOYEES (custodians) to pay for something HE let go over budget! We should cut him!

2-6-10

Willard Mc Lean

My grandfather was instramental in the building of this school The Kaufmans and the Graveraets donated quite a sum of money for this project. If it was not for the Kaufman Auditorium the great entertainment that was presented there would not have been. I can remember when I was little I used to go to Graveraet with my grandfather and while he worked in the office I went to the gym. Spent many Sarurdays there with the two janitors, Fred and Sam. I used to run under the stands and hide. It would be worth the money to save it, if just a historic landmark. Each time my family goes to Marquette we visit all the historic landmarks.

1-29-10

Neighborhood Schools Must Be Supported

For all of those out there who support making Graveraet into a K-4 building, please consider this: Sandy Knoll would close, Bothwell would be over-crowded, and the high school is still half-empty and fully heated with all of the lights on.

So can we try and put the seventh and eighth graders at the high school, sectioned off in the 'pod'? Can we keep Graveraet as a fifth and sixth grade school with no renovations needed? Vandenboom- what a great place to nurture and house our Alternative Education program (maybe bring back Adult Ed there, too?) Elementary schools remaining...it may be crowded for awhile, but perhaps an very small addition to one of your buildings would help?

Bothwell, you are a school that has never been designed right, you are located in an aweful and unsafe location and provide almost no windows and have horrible ventilation. But what a wonderful piece of land to sell for another small subdivision development ideal for parents wanting to be close to an elementary school.

Of course, honoring Mr. Bothwell elsewhere in the public schools is necessary. I am sure that the 'pod' at the high school for seventh and eith graders would be wonderful (another 'round building' as a home for a dedicated and important family from this area!)

If my calculations are right, doing the following would add quite a bit of money to our general fund. It is the least amount of 'reconstruction' and disturbance. It only gets rid of one school building, but one that is the least liked in the community due to the above mentioned problems. It is a building that in the long-term will require far more problem-solving and headaches.....and money!

So what do you think? Can we trust that our seventh and eighth grade students will be okay at the high school seperated (and contained in the 'pod')from students there now? Look at all of the other districts doing this! Can we agree that we are wasting time and a lot of money dragging this out? Can we get a leader to start thinking about students/people first and money/buildings next? In the end, the above plan will suffice both! This wasn't that hard to figure out.

Administrators: Quit saying that certain buildings are 'off-limits' to help reconfigure the grades! And quit saying that there is no room at the high school. I went there when there were twice as many students! Are you kidding? Whose biased and exclusionary thining is this? What business that has to 'reorganize' leaves out some of its' assets for possibilities? And a great gym at Bothwell is no reason to keep a school. C'mon.

I am ready for a change and some common sense thinking like this....Are you? Indeed, Save Graveraet!....but keep the neighborhood schools AS SCHOOLS, too! Long-term, people. LONG-TERM!

1-26-10

Carol Contois

Concerned

i believe that my daughter had one of the best learning experiences in graveraet and this school should be kept up. the people should look into a new board, one that will work with us and not against us. the superintendant i feel just wants to start a rental business with our tax money. lets stick together and save this school. its sad that all the schools i went to as a kid are closed down (fisher and parkview).

1-24-10

I remember in the fifties all our basketball games in the late fifties were held at Graveraet gym. Lots of good memories. Husband graduated from Graveraet High in 1957 also. My mom also tutored at the Middle School after retiring as a Marquette Elementary Teacher (Whitman). I have attended many wonderful functions at the Kaufman Auditorium over the years as an adult now. Please keep Graveraet and its fountain and Kaufman Auditorium for generations to come. I have already donated to keep the fountain in operation in the past few years.

1-22-10

Attempts to save the facility should be done with equal concern regarding relationships with those that have the burden of keeping our school system afloat. Decisions to close buildings are difficult at best. When we scramble to save a facility that is outdated, let us all remember that this should be about the education of our students and not the "ego" or "childhood memories" that prompts the effort. If preserving the building is the best fiscal option for the future of our students that I am all for it.

12-29-09

The Stoic Building on the Hill

The first three grades of my school life were spent in a small town where a 20 minute bus-ride in each direction awaited me 5 days a week.

Once settled in Marquette to begin the 4th grade, my journey to school consisted of walking one house over to Parkview Elementary. I distinctly recall those days of living and being educated in the shadow of the great, stoic building on the hill.

In 6th grade, it was my time to enter its hallowed halls and explore the 3 stories. The first thing that became evident to me were the stairs, indented by the footsteps of previous students. In a typical 6th grade fashion, I lacked the perceptive abilities to appreciate this small observation.

It wasn't until recently when I spoke to my mother-in-law that the significance of the stairs took form. She had mentioned to me that her and her near 90 year old mother had attended the school. That's when the realization hit me.

Thousands of children from nearly every grade level had marched up and down those stairs. And each time a foot was placed, a minuscule indentation was made. Each individual step was so small it could not be noticed, but like water shaping the earth, with time and persistence, a noticeable difference can be made.

I never realized it at the time, but now I know that the same stairs I had ascended and descended for 3 years held more than the footsteps of thousands of students. Every student, trouncing up and down those stairs left their mark on this wonderful town. Those stairs, right now, contain not only the history of Marquette, but can serve as foothold of the future. It would be a great disservice to the past, present, and future of Marquette to sever ties with the great stoic building on the hill.

12-5-09

Our family has had many opportunities to enjoy functions at Graveraet in the beautiful Kaufman Auditorium. My husband and I have attended several high school performances in the auditorium, Pine Mountain events, and performances by others. We have been attendees of the Marquette Symphony Orchestra Concert from the very beginning. Our son performed in the Middle School band concerts and during the Middle School Talent Show. He was inducted into the Honor Society in the auditorium. In his senior year he performed as the Prince in the Nutcracker, directed by Shirley Smith. Like many other students he received a scholarship from the Kaufman Foundation in the auditorium at the end of his eighth grade.

Students of Whitman Elementary School and other schools performed some of their Christmas programs in the auditorium.

The gym is an events center. Our son played on a basketball team while at Graveraet. In addition to school functions, we have attended a wedding reception, and high school graduation open houses. Its use is provided to the Marquette public at very reasonable cost.

Graveraet is an Icon in our community and well used by many groups. We need to preserve this historical building from deteriorating-lack of use.

11-29-09

There's still a piece of pencil lead stuck in my leg from the Jr. High Kaufman Aud. days. Nothing malicious. Just stupid study hall stuff. A few decades later I heard Jorma Kaukonen play in there and, for the first time, heard what acoustics are about. Kaufman Aud., you are wondrous.

11-22-09

As a student of Marquette Area Public Schools, some of by favorite school memories happened while at Graveraet. I would be heart broken if it was closed. It is in a high density neighborhood where many kids live in. In fact, three differnt buses deliver just middle school students to this neighborhood. Graveraet is not only located in a more walkable location, but it also has sidewalks unlike the neighborhood surrounding Bothwell. Graveraet is a great school and it would be a shame to shut it down.

11-21-09

Graveraet is a walkable/bikeable school with sidewalks in a high density neighborhood. Ideal. It even has windows! I make this last point as Bothwell has no windows, no sidewalks for kids to walk or ride on and the neighborhood is not as dense nor as centrally located. My kids go to Bothwell and do not like the building. Close Bothwell over Graveraet! Graveraet offers so much more and will ultimately be better for M.A.P.S.

11-19-09

Graveraet has been educating Marquette students for many, many years! It's located in the middle of the town, is easily accessed, and is historically connected with many of our citizens. At one end is located the Kaufman Auditorium, that hosts many of Marquette's events. At the other end is the gymnasium, that needs to be available for sporting events, such as basketball. The Kaufman Auditiorium is named after a man whose family is still contributing money for education here in Marquette. Graveraet was Mrs. Kaufman's maiden name. Being centrally located, it would be a shame to close one of the oldest schools still in use. Considering that there are several schools in Marqutte that aren't as big and harder to access, possibly they would be more ideal to close, and find a new use for that facility.

11-19-09

A New Idea for Graveraet

I think Gravaeraet would make a fantastic Fine Arts Academy! We all know how many talented kids there are in Marquette. Let's create a venue for their fine arts education and performances! Classrooms for individual or group music instruction. Art studios for visual arts, pottery, jewelry-making, textile arts, etc. The front "yard" (fountain area) and large back playground area could be used as a sculpture garden. A fine wood floor in the gym for a dance studio: just think if all the d dance studios in Mqt. were combined under one roof! Plenty of off-street parking Kaufman Auditorium: need I say more? I don't have the faintest idea how to go about getting something like this started, but I'd sure like to see it happen!

11-18-09

What? My birth city would abandon the historical significance established by the Graveraet and Kaufman families and countless numbers of students and educators? My birth city would not recognize the value of an educational facility located squarely in the heart of the city in whose attendees can benefit from the history and take pride in the accomplishments of previous attendees? My birth city is bigger than that and instead would adopt an alternative solution which would continue to benefit both kids and adults. Perhaps the formation of a new Charter school funded by a combination of residents, previous residents, foundations, NMU, city, county, state and federal?

The city found a way to bring the library into the 21st century now it's time for Graveraet!

11-18-09

I just cannot imagine that anyone would consider closing such a great school like Graveraet. Who's idea was this in the first place? This building has so much to offer. Has anyone ever read the history of the Kaufman Auditorium? All the great people in its history that have graced their presence on that stage? It's unbelievable and unforgivable to close this great historical building. It's beauty from Front Street is remarkable and it has so much room for the students of Marquette. What an opportunity this city has in having a building such as Graveraet. I really hope that whom ever is in charge to keep this building open and operating for many years to come will really fight to keep it open. It is just common sense to keep it operating for many years to come.

11-17-09

To whom it may concern,
It's going to take a lot more than making retail space out of a school building to erase many fond memories that associations established among teachers, students, secretaries, custodial staff, et al., were spawned. That space, of course, merely provided the backdrop for that wonderful interactionand development. I personally should have received a diploma in activities and although I was involved in a wide variety (drama, music, sports, school newspaper, summer employment, etc.), the Kaufman Auditorium stage and director Walter Peck gave impetus to a career in music and theatre -- which ultimately led to producing, directing, and accompanying the very first Broadway musicals in this town, Belfast, Maine. Also, receiving a call ---some years ago---to play piano for "Miss America" in her only visit to Maine. Kindly preserve Graveraet for what it was intended---a school.

Sincerely, Frank L. Wareham Class of '57

11-09-09

Common Sense

One can say that Graveraet is just an old building. But what about its location? What about busing kids to those newer schools? What would it cost to build an auditorium like Kaufman? I find it funny that the school board has gotten to this point in the process of closing a school and they have kept the finances, as well as any energy efficiency reports and professional engineers opinions about all of the school buildings, out of reach. Common sense would tell anyone that the board of education and administrators do not have a firm knowledge about the financial costs of each building they operate. Otherwise, they would be using the financial costs ALONG WITH the grade reconfiguration ALONG WITH location and ALONG WITH something that is not easily measured until it is too late: our history, our heritage.

The interesting article included a few posts down from mine talks about how to save your community school. I would urge others to read this article, as there is not just one interest group who should be concerned about Graveraet closing. In fact, it involves all community members for several different reasons. We all have a stake in this school building closing, though some of those stakes are not measurable in dollars and cents and some of us no longer have children in the public schools.

For parents upset about all of the money being wasted by moving your children around and not having any clear long-term goals to save money, I don't blame you. I don't blame you one bit. You are much more patient than I would have been with my children should they still be in school. But I truly believe Graveraet is not the school to close. Not for your children, and not for the community.

11-09-09

If you ask me, why haven't people questioned this energy efficiency report floating around?  This is data that it important when making decisions to close schools. It seems to me that this was kept buried as the school board was making decisions. I would vote to increase a millage rate for the Graveraet School! As a Graveraet High School Alumni, I carry the pride of having gone to such a unique and impressive school with a beautiful auditorium.  I know others feel the same. I am forwarding this website to all my classmates and I will encourage them to do the same.  Before long, all of the GHS alumni will know about this and hopefully we can help.

11-08-09

Students First

I understand we are facing difficult budget times in the State of Michigan. At this point, I hope our elected school board members will make an educated decision on what is the best way to serve the students of the Marquette Public School system. If so many citizens and organizations are concerned with loosing Kaufman Auditorium, maybe it's time for those organizations to figure out a way to make the Auditorium work without the schools involvement. As a parent - I don't think it is the Marquette Area Public Schools responsibility to keep a performance venue open for the City of Marquette. I have a child going into 5th grade next year. No matter what school my child attends - I guarantee I will be involved in my child's education.

11-04-09

No one has mentioned the performing arts program that the students get to see at this school (I believe it is the Lyceum program?)  My kids LOVE this and as musically talented kids, we also went to the evening performance of the Tamburitzans this May.  It was reasonably priced, full of history and education of the areas the dances originated from, and amazing!  This is something my children don't get to see in Marquette a lot.  I am wondering if the Kaufman Endowment's support of this program will go away with closing this school.  I mean, the school board's decision on closing this school makes absolutely no sense!  We need to foster programs like this before they disappear.

11-04-09

Up Keep Cost

I am an alumni of Graveraet Middle School and truly love that old building and also have many great memories of the auditorium from before and after that time. That being said I cannot comprehend how and why in any shape or form, care and upkeep of that OLD, old building should be funded in a public manner when other more detrimental cuts to educational and extra curricular programs are being made. People need to get over their nostalgia and really look at the cost of upkeep for that building. If people want the building preserved they should come up with an alternative use for it and have it be privately funded so it is no longer a burden to taxpayers.

All of this is not to say I support the current school board and administration who I feel are just basically playing games.

11-03-09

Dennis Stachewicz

From a Land Use Planning Perspective

Schools were traditionally the anchor of established neighborhoods. Providing not only an education, but a history, and have contributed greatly to the fabric of the community.

Such schools were located within walking and biking distance for many children. This assisted with combating obesity and reduced the need for transportation.

Such schools assisted in maintaining distinct, attractive communities with a unique "sense of place," rather than "Anytown USA" with a single story, flat-roofed, symbol of suburbarn sprawl located on 10-15 acres of property that will ultimately spread the costs of transportation, municipal services, and environmental degredation upon the entire community ten-fold.

Such schools supported community use of the facility after-hours for events. Further strengthening the fabric of the community.

Does the above sound familar with regards to Graveraet?

I bet it does and it also applies to almost every other neighborhood school across the nation that has closed it's doors the past 15 years.

As a community planner, I encourage and commend your group for raising awareness of this issue.

With a recent push to become a more "sustainable" community and nation, it seems a reasonable request to re-consider keeping a centrally located community school intact and operational.

I must add that my statements do not reflect the views of the City of Marquette.

However, these statements reflect the views of community planners across the nation as the loss of a neighborhood school is more than the loss of a place to receive an education.

I sincerely wish that this process is a community decision that evaluates all facets of education, transportation, community services, finances, and land use planning.

11-03-09

A Roadmap for Saving Your School

Here is a link that may help you out: http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/historic-schools/additional-resources/school_study_roadmap.pdf

Good luck!

11-03-09

The Kaufman Endowment Fund gives approximately $80,000 a year in scholarships to Middle School and High School students.  They also support a performing arts program for students and give money to various school needs like books and playground equipment.  They helped fund the School Police Officer…until they were told the schools were no longer interested in having them help fund this position. The City of Marquette and the Endowment said they would now fund up to 80% of the position, but the Board of Education said NO!  Does this make sense to you?  We have an endowment and a family and a City that cares deeply about our children and schools and we are not letting them help us take care of them!  Why?

11-02-09

I am in support of keeping Graveraet operating as both a classroom as well as the Auditorium as a community asset.

11-02-09

A 2002 Energy Efficiency Study done by the State of Michigan for the Marquette Area Public Schools lists Graveraet as the third least efficient school per square foot….after Bothwell and the current high school….and this was BEFORE the new windows and new roof were put on!  Think about it….Why wouldn’t a three story school be more efficient than a one-story building?  Ask the Marquette Area Public Schools for this report to be made public and have them act accordingly!

10-30-09

Daniel J. Arnold, MD

The Graveraet Building is one of the finest architectural specimens in our community. It contains Kaufman Auditorium, which is a truly unique performance venue. If this historic building is permitted to close, there is no equivalent facility available for many of the programs which take place there. As a long-standing member of the Marquette Symphony Orchestra Board of Trustees I truly see no alternative for our organization, and am afraid that the loss of Kaufman would mandate a major change in the cultural experience we are able to offer the Marquette community and the central Upper Peninsula.

11-02-09

Don't close the Graveraet High School. It's a wonderful land mark. So much has changed since I lived there forty years ago. Northern has grown so much.The highway (extension of Washington street), wow what a change. Keep some heritage that we can show our children, grandchildren, great grand children. What a beautiful building, I still remember being in the area where the fountain area is after graduation. And all the great memories. It's good for people to feel that some things never change. Thanks for listing.

10-29-09

The true problem of the current Board of Education and Superintendent is that they are short-sightedly thinking about the Graveraet School. It began with not truly engaging the public and their input from the start. It then starts to build on the fact that the public has been given no facts about why they are targeting Graveraet. When you start to put almost 900 students in Bothwell Middle School, it becomes apparent that the students are not the first priority. Should any of these people complain or wonder why they are being targeted for doing their job, well, they are not doing their job. You are not listening. You are being exclusive, public-elected officials and you are failing us as a community for your internal decision-making.

It is very easy to forget that these are elected officials by the public and that the superintendent is appointed by the board. Though recalls are tragic for a community, I don't see any other way to communicate to them that they are failing our student and community needs. Yes, this is a hard and unstable economic time, but there is really no reason to keep parents and community members at bay and on the other side of the fence until those elected few have come up with their conclusion about our students and schools. Should any of them be reading this, you are not the elite. You are not the all-knowers. We feel you are making terrible mistakes and we want you to correct them WITH us.

I will stand by and watch this all unfold, but I will not stand by when you close this school and force students to learn in unacceptable conditions in order to get your agenda passed. Graveraet is a neighborhood school, students can walk there, it has an auditorium that is the true landmark of this school district and used quite often by students, and the Graveraet school provides plenty of light through it's windows and space so that teachers and students can learn in an environment that is healthy. What does Bothwell offer? I hope school board members and administrators are ready for our opposition. We, the community and parents, are not happy.

10-28-09

Let's hope that the school board has the ability to wisely look at the long long term goals instead of putting a bandaid on it. Sometimes it doesn't matter what is good, the board has the power to do what they want anyway - what can the public do to make them act with some common sense?

Graveraet is a great school for kids to grow up from elementary level and preparing them for middle school.

10-28-09

Marquette is fortunate to have enjoyed the Kaufman Auditorium and the incredible building, that has served as a school from it's original opening until now. Graveraet has a rich history, is truly a neighborhood school, centrally located and with an architectural presence that surpasses many buildings in the city. I'm truly confused as to how not fully utilizing this building as a school is going to save the district money. Most recently the 4th and 5th grades have thrived at Graveraet. The School Board should listen carefully to the parents who have entrusted their children's education to MAPS. Having attended Graveraet, I feel, closing it as a school would be a huge mistake.

10-28-09

Vandenboom Elementary School is being kept as a Non-Profit rental center for community groups with only a handful of kindergarteners there. Do you think these groups renting will pay the bills?  What is this doing to rental property owners in Marquette when the schools are low-balling rent?  Why are your tax dollars being used for renting buildings instead of Education?  Guess what….Graveraet is next on the list to be a rental facility for the Marquette Area Public Schools!  Students are already being moved out of the school!

10-26-09

WAKE-UP MARQUETTE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, THIS SCHOLL IS PART OF THE CITY OF MARQUETTE, & IT SHOULD REMAIM JUST THAT. I WENT FROM 1-6 GRADES, THEN 9-12 GRADES, & LOVED IT! KEEP GRAVERAET OPEN.

10-25-09

Finally!

Finally! Community members are speaking up about the Graveraet School closing! Everyone I know is worried about the school board making a grave mistake by closing this school. It doesn't make sense that we close another neighborhood school and bus our children to the public schools way out of town. It appears to me that the school board has not put pen to paper and is making decisions based on whatever they want- where is the data? This is so short-sighted it makes me sick. Didn't Parkview closing teach us all a lesson?
Speak up, Marquette! Speak up!

10-23-09

BOTH of my children have received Kaufman Awards (one high school and one at middle school) and I can't express my gratitude enough for this family's kindness.  My oldest son paid for HALF his tuition with this money for a year of school!  This is a very big deal for our family as we can not afford to help our children pay for their tuition and every little bit helps. I can't believe the decisions our school board and administers are making and what I am hearing about the decisions to close the Graveraet School and make it into a rental facility like Vandenboom?  What will happen to the student scholarships from the Kaufman Endowment?  Will they pull their funding away from our children because we are allowing the school board members and administrators make decisions about schools that they have no business making (as someone mentioned above, we are not in the rental business, we are a school system!)  I am very glad this website has come about because we have to organize and voice our opinions about closing a neighborhood school before it's too late. Thank you to whomever is behind this!