November 18, 2021 at 1:45 p.m.
Overgrown plot at JWMS to be converted into memorial garden
Overgrown plot at JWMS to be converted into memorial garden
JWMS principal Richard Gretzinger first brought the idea to the operations and strategic planning committee on Nov. 8. It was approved and forwarded to the full school board where it received unanimous approval Monday evening.
"Richard and some of the staff, after a child had passed this year, had wanted to do something in the area where they have a garden," said SDR superintendent Eric Burke.
The area where staff would like to construct the garden is the present site of an "overgrown perennial flower garden," according to a memo from Gretzinger to the committee.
Located on the southwest side of the building, the area features a couple of picnic tables and benches, along with a few birdhouses and a bat house on wooden 4x4s. At one time, signs in the student-designed JWMS Interpretative Nature Trail identified the plants along the edge of the wooded area, but they have faded. The flowers along the old trail, and in the central garden bed, have been overrun with weeds.
"And it's been that way for a few years," Gretzinger told the committee.
He said the recent death of a former JWMS student prompted the idea for the garden, which would feature plants designed to attract pollinators along with a way to display little engraved plaques with a person's name on it.
"Not just for this student, but for multiple students or staff along the way," Gretzinger said. "And making that into a native species garden and then putting some benches out there."
He said two of the benches that would be placed in the garden are the large concrete benches presently located by the main door to the school.
"We want to refurbish those and move those back to the garden," Gretzinger said.
He noted that students can choose to work on the garden during their enrichment and intervention period.
"We've had six enrichment periods already, and we've had between 25 and 30 students that have committed to helping out with that along the way," he said.
Right now the project is to the point where the ground needs to be roto-tilled and then covered with plastic sheeting over the winter. New perennial flowers - those which come back every year - will be planted in the spring.
Many of the plants will be donated by JWMS special education teacher Neil Rumney and his family, who have been involved in the preliminary planning of the garden, but others will have to be purchased.
"They are asking permission to along the way fundraise for this," Gretzinger said. "Otherwise it is going to be maintained by our students and staff members."
Committee chairman Mike Roberts said adding the names of long-serving staff in the future would be a nice way to recognize and memorialize their service.
"That is something we really never thought about, but to recognize a teacher or something, that is a very good point," Gretzinger admitted. "But we did want it to be broad, not about a specific person."
It was then suggested that the final decision be left up to the JWMS principal, "since that is where the garden is going to be in the domain of." Gretzinger said a five-teacher committee that has formed around the garden idea could come up with a nomination process.
Jamie Taylor may be reached via email at [email protected].
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