COMMENTS TO THE POCATELLO/CHUBBUCK SCHOOL BOARD

Steven Robert McCurdy
801.560.3564
creativelight@mac.com

Chairman Cranor and fellow members of the Pocatello/Chubbuck School Board, thank you for your time and for your willingness to listen to the concerns of Save Pocatello High School. We are here to address the path that has been chosen for the building of an addition and remodeling of Pocatello High School.

My name is Steven McCurdy. I am a Cultural Documentary Film maker and a Board member of the Beaux-Arts Academy in Provo, Utah, a private academy that teaches Classical Art and teaches Architecture as an art. I was a member of the Pocatello High School class of 1978. I am the son of Dean and Melba McCurdy a resident of Pocatello Idaho. I also have two brothers who are current residents of Pocatello. I grew up in Pocatello on Fifth Avenue. My father was a member of the Pocatello High Class of 1939 and my 89 year old mother, was a school treasurer and graduate of the class of 1947. In 1976, for my sophomore year, my mother painted my bedroom --Poky Red and Blue-and just a few years ago, at the age of 87, she found herself on a cold winter night on the lawn of Pocatello High School, at the lighting of the refurbished neon Indian sigh, giddy as a teenager --singing "We're Loyal to You Poky High.

It is because of that loyalty to Pocatello High School that I am here tonight.

I am here to fight for the preservation of Pocatello High School; its historic and traditional architecture and its remaining and enduring beauty.

Over the years Pocatello High School has been maligned and mistreated. In the 1970's the windows of Pocatello High School were boarded up in a most ugly and disparaging way. It was a mistake mitigated by the School Board when more recently they chose to restore some of those windows. Today, fans and cables, air conditioners and vents dangle from the remaining boarded up windows like so much rotting flesh. Electrical boxes and facilities pipes and other alien forms now clutter the common areas.

Some have recently suggested that Pocatello High School be closed or even torn down --that it is old and no longer needed that we need to look to the future. As in New York where they are regretting that that tore down the great Penn Station in 1960, they are now fighting to have that structure rebuilt from the original plans. Many are discovering that the past is the future. That just as boarding up the windows was shorted sighted, and tearing-down the Bannock Hotel was short sighted, that closing Pocatello High School would be short sighted. But to many of us here today so are the planned additions. It would be like ripping the heart out of Pocatello. To paraphrase the screen writer Laura Hillenbrand, "you don't throw a man away (or a building) just because it's banged up a little," but neither should we allow it to continue to be abused.

That is why we have started "Save Pocatello High School."

I think we can all agree that Pocatello High School is in need of some repairs and we all recognize that it needs better ADA accessibility. We are also being told that there is a need for additional class rooms. I believe you. I am certain that as a School Board that you have good intentions even if  sometimes you are unclear how to proceed. We also desire what is best for Pocatello High School.

I am here today representing over 1700 petitioners not only because of my Poky Pride, not only because we disagree with your decision but because I think we can be of assistance.

The real issue before the school board today is, "how does one add new architecture to an old existing historic building?" As the architect and teacher at the University of Notre Dame school of architecture, Steven Semes has said, "with tactfulness and grace not rudeness and disrespect." That being said, I am certain very few truly understand what that means, even at many modern architectural firms and schools.

The conceptual plan that has been approved by the school board is all about utility and function. It does not address the deeper needs of Pocatello High School of tact and grace-- of its history, its tradition and beauty. We need to return Pocatello High School to it's former glory. To the day when Pocatello High School was considered the "Crown Jewel" of Pocatello.

I know these are lofty ideals. I also know that they are complimentary to your desires and wishes for Pocatello High School. Utility, function and beauty can all be accomplished. The can all co-exist.

So what is the right road?

The Save Pocatello High School Petition is asking that we work together to explore better options and better solutions. Together we can help rectify the many abuses committed to Pocatello High School over the years. We believe that working together, we can avoid the mistakes that are before us. Mistakes that will ultimately make the process more costly, or worse so destroy the beauty of Pocatello High School that in the near future it is simply a building no one will want to save or even care about

We are asking that:

1. The school board reopen the request for proposals.

2. That what additions are built are architecturally complimentary and compatible with the existing structure. That it not be a modernist structure. That what ever is designed that it adds beauty to Pocatello High School and Old Town.

3. That conceptual drawings be submitted to the Historic Preservation Commission and The Pocatello Planning for approval before the awarding of a contract. That they are shown to the public as a civic matter of transparency and openness. Let me state that if a building can not ultimately be built or will not look like conceptual drawings, why present them to the public? Is that not just an unnecessary waste of money? And what have you gained by asking the public for comment?

4. That an outside expert or authority such as Steven Semes, Richard Cameron, or any number of other individuals or prominent classicists be hired to consult on how best to add new architecture to an old building.

5. That you develop a plan to keep the public better informed and that is open and transparent way.

I know this will be hard task. Going back will take courage.

We have a loyal following of Pocatello High School Alumni and a vast community of citizens of Pocatello who care greatly about Pocatello High School. If you turn back now they will be supportive , they will have heart felt gratitude and they will be behind you.

Pocatello High School has always had heart. But the current plans saddens us. For many, it is not unlike when the Chief Theater burned to the ground. Tears flowed that day and a trail of tears will flow again if we let this opportunity pass us by. Let us not get to the future and look back and ask "what might have been?"

In the words of our School Song.

Bring out that dear old flag of the Red and the Blue. Bring out your sons and daughters fighting for you. Like men of old and giants, placing reliance, Shouting defiance, Oske Ow Ow!

Amid the sage brush hills that cover our land For honest labor and for learning we stand. And unto thee we pledge our hearts and hands. Dear alma mater, Poky High!

Pocatello High School we are here fighting for you. To the 1700 people that signed the petition we are fighting for you. Members of the school board we are here fighting for you also . Together we can Save Pocatello High School. Please work with us. Thank you so much for this opportunity to come before you and express our thoughts, and concerns. We look forward to receiving a response to our petition and we look forward to working with you in the future.

I would like to leave a copy of the current petition signatories with you and that you add these comments and the signatures in to the public record.

Note: A copy of the Steve Semes book The Future of the Past : A Conservation Ethic for Architecture, Urbanism, and Historic Preservation was given to the School Board. I asked that at some point in the future that it be donated to the Pocatello High School Library