OAKLAND CITY AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO EXECUTE FINAL AGREEMENT OF TRANSFER ON MONTGOMERY WARDS BUILDING; CHILDREN & PARENTS GATHER TO WATCH NEW SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BEGIN

Oakland, CA (February 24, 2000) – Oakland City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente hosted a press conference earlier today at the old Montgomery Wards Building in Oakland’s San Antonio/Fruitvale District. School District Officials, including new School Superintendent Dennis Chaconas, Boardmember Noel Gallo and Board Member Jean Quan joined City of Oakland officials Council President De La Fuente, City Manager Robert Bobb and Vice Mayor Henry Chang in executing the final transfer of the Wards property to the School District.

A large group of children, parents, community activists and teachers – led by Oakland Community Organizations "OCO" – marched from Hawthorn School to the Montgomery Wards site to join the event, just following their own press conference announcing OCO’s support for Measure A. "We have fought long and hard to get this school for our children," said OCO Co-Chair Ken Chambers. "We need a new school because our school is so crowded we keep on bumping into each other," added Albert Montes, a fifth-grader at nearby Garfield Elementary School.

Following the ceremonial signing of the transfer document, De La Fuente helped little Albert raise the flag to signal construction crews to begin work on the long-awaited elementary school -- the first new Oakland Public School to be constructed in 40 years.

As the flag dropped, crews from Specialty Crushing revved up their bulldozers, turned on their crushers and dug into the giant pile of rubble that used to be the building’s parking structure. "We are anxious to start addressing what has been such a terrible blight on this neighborhood," said Bobb.

"There is nothing I have worked harder for than the construction of this school, " said De La Fuente. "Studies show that the Fruitvale/San Antonio Community has a need for schools to serve 2,000 more children – this is an important start on insuring that our children get the education they need and deserve." De La Fuente’s sentiments were echoed by superintendent Chacones and Board Members Gallo and Quan.

"We are not letting anything delay this project, said De La Fuente. "We are moving ahead full-speed on the construction and we are confident that, by the time we’re ready to demolish this building, we will have settled any disputes around this project." De La Fuente was referring to the currently pending law suit filed by historic preservationists that seeks to prevent demolition of the historic building. The City is currently working with the plaintiffs to arrange for an early hearing date during the first week of June. The parties are in the process of completing the administrative record and have agreed that site preparation, in the form of lead paint, asbestos and ground contamination abatement, can go forward immediately.

The rubble that began being processed on the site today will be sold as recycled material for other construction projects, as will the concrete from the rest of the building, once demolition occurs. In the OUSD’s Development Agreement with the City, the OUSD has committed to build a sustainable school, beginning with recycling the concrete from the building. They have also committed to work with the CIty’s sustainable development coordinator and to follow sustainable development planning processes.

The proposed new Fruitvale/San Antonio Elementary School will cover approximately 63,000 square-feet and accommodate approximately 600 students. It will contain approximately 27 classrooms, a media center/library, an auditorium/multi-purpose room, a kitchen, ancillary staff and administrative offices, and approximately 4.7 acres of dedicated outdoor recreation space, including playing fields, play structures, and playing courts available for community use.

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