News Roundup — $105K for school plan/Folk duo to play local barn/

Published 7:00 am Saturday, April 2, 2005

$105K for school plan

The Bainbridge Island school board voted Thursday to hire the Seattle firm of Mahlum Architects to create a “master plan” of the district, at a cost of $105,000.

Reimbursement funds for the master planning process will ultimately come out of developer fees for new construction, or from the facilities bond set to go before the voters in November, Bainbridge school district officials said.

“This really gives us more solid numbers with which to proceed” with bond planning, said school board president Susan Sivitz. “We’re getting the work done at the front end, instead of mid-way thorugh. This will help us see what we really need to achieve our goals.”

The master plan will provide a comprehensive assessment of all the district’s program needs.

Due out in July, the document will guide the board in deciding which of the district’s aging facilities are most in need of renovation, prior to going to the voters requesting bond passage for financing.

The bond is expected to total at least $40 million. So far, district facilities considered most in need of expansion and renovation include the high school theater, music, lunchroom and office facilities, as well as playing fields. There are hopes that the high school could include a performing arts center of some kind.

The school board was well into the process of deciding which facilities in the district were most in need of renovation or construction – focusing on the overcrowded high school – when a taxpayer watchdog group began questioning the board’s planning methodology.

The Bainbridge Resource Group, led by retired physician Bob Fortner, advocated for a master plan. They argued that the board members – and taxpayers – needed a 10-year, comprehensive plan that outlined the proposed facilities needs in the district, and what they would cost taxpayers over time.

The school board agreed. But the discussions at times were contentious, because the board, various citizens committees and district staff had worked on bond planning for more than a year when BRG members began questioning their progress.

Now the BRG, district staff and several board members say they are working cooperatively on the project.

In the end, the master plan could end up saving the district money, Bainbridge schools Superintendant Crawford said.

“We want to take a comprehensive look at all the school district facilities and make sure the decisions we make are the right decisions,” he said. “Since we are talking about millions of dollars, this is extremely prudent.”

– Rhonda Parks Manville

Folk duo to play local barn

They provided the soundtrack for island resident Katie Sloan’s college memories and the song for the first dance at her wedding.

Now the Montana folk-duo Storyhill is set to play live in Sloan’s converted barn home tomorrow, and everyone’s invited.

“I’ve always liked this kind of music, the kind that is meaningful and memorable,” she said. “It’s a lot like Simon & Garfunkel, easy to listen to and fun to sing along with.”

Storyhill, comprised of Chris Cunningham and John Hermanson, has become one of the most successful independent folk groups in the country.

Through a steady schedule of tours at colleges and coffeehouses and 11 albums in 11 years, the duo has built a devoted following of “hillheads” and a mailing list of more than 10,000 subscribers.

Sloan’s comparison to one of the 1960s’ most popular folk partnerships is shared by many fans and critics. Billboard Magazine went further, connecting Storyhill’s roots to more modern acoustic musicians.

“Their sound recalls the harmonious interplay of Simon & Garfunkel; the pained, plaintive sound of Cat Stevens; and the acoustic juice of the Indigo Girls,” the magazine stated.

Cunningham and Hermanson released their first record fresh out of Bozeman High in 1989.

Harking back to their early days, Storyhill’s most recent record is a collection of the ’70s singer-songwriter hits that buzzed through their AM radio as kids.

While much of their live shows feature original material, the duo is likely to intersperse their show Saturday with songs from the Carpenters, Steely Dan and Seals and Crofts.

“I’m excited to have their wonderful music in my home and to share it,” Sloan said. “Their music’s a part of so many of my memories, so it’s going to be wonderful to be up close here on the island.”

Storyhill performs 3 p.m. Saturday at 9429 Windsong Loop. Part of the $20 suggested donation will help support the scholarship program at Madrona School.

Call 842-5953 for more information.

– Tristan Baurick