Check out the pictures from the link above. They are of the Firehouse that MVRCS owns and leases to the City of Malden. Not only are the conditions deplorable for the firemen that spend their working days there BUT even more alarming is that the children of MVRCS spend time in those facilities! Pictures of mold, rodent droppings, unclean filters and outdated HVAC equipment. One grade has their reading and math lessons held in that building 5 days a week for at least 2 1/2 hours. While OSHA would have a field day and probably shut this building down, the oversight would fall upon the City of Malden Health Department. Either they are not doing their job by approving this building or are turning a blind eye at the request of certain individuals. We wrote previously about the battle between then Fire Commissioner Neil Kinnon/Mayor Howard and the Malden Firefighters (http://unofficialmvrcs.blogspot.com/2010/10/kinnons-efforts-to-control-us.html) so we know the relationship is nothing short of adversarial. It is this type of lack of action and deplorable attitude that brings negative attitudes towards the MVRCS community and specifically, Neil Kinnon. It is even more disturbing that Neil Kinnon and the Board of Trustees knowingly chose to keep the children within these deplorable, unhealthy conditions and instead focus funds and efforts towards the building of a new athletic facility. MVRCS and Neil Kinnon owe both the firefighters and students of MVRCS better conditions that this! So much for staying true to their Charter and Mission. They should be ashamed of themselves.
From the Firefighters page:
"One of the bathrooms is so bad with Mold that it has been sealed shut. Officials tested the air quality in 2006 and said that it has to be dramatically improved but their was no funding for that at the time. It has been over 5 yrs and the Mold has spread. Still no-one comes to clean or test and we are forced to work here while we have a brand new fire station that the city closed. The other scary thing here is that the Mystic Valley Charter School knows about this yet holds class in this same building!!!!
"MVRCS storage area is a violation in itself due to the massive Fire load from paper and boxes stored from floor to ceiling surrounded by gasoline filled snowblowers . This room is attched to the school behind boarded up windows. Garage door does not seal."
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Did you notice in one of the photos that the school's football helmets are in a box in this building? Would you allow your child to put one of these helmets on their head. SHAME ON YOU KINNON! SHAME ON MVRCS'S BOARD, AND SHAME ON THE CITY OF MALDEN!
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that if those pictures are real, it is deplorable, I would ask why pictures from October are just being posted now?
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous @ April 1, 10:58
ReplyDeletePossibly either the date isn't set correctly on the camera and they are current, they may have waited until the City of Malden and the Police had settled their issues before making an issue or maybe they sent them to MVRCS to try to get them to do something about it and have been waiting or in discussions with them. If you have any doubts as to the validity of them, stop by the firehouse, we're sure the firemen would be happy to give you a tour!
Why are there Iron Mountain boxes scattered around - is Neil Kinnon using the space to store his own personal stuff?
ReplyDeleteThe news media needs to be alerted to this right away!
ReplyDeleteWhat does the condition of the firehouse have to do with the school?
ReplyDeleteAndrew -
ReplyDeleteThe firehouse is owned by MVRCS and a portion of it has been turned into a library for the kids. Also, the 3rd graders spend 2.5 hours in that building every day for math and reading (because they don't have space in the regular building). It is unsafe for them and the firefighters.
Great example of why schools should not be landlords but focus their energies on educating students.
According to an article in the Malden Observer (http://www.wickedlocal.com/malden/newsnow/x479634089/Maldens-mayor-declines-Laurel-St-station-offer#axzz1IO3J9WwV)
ReplyDelete"
The city of Malden has decided to decline an offer by the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School to sell its portion of the Laurel Street Fire Station back to the city."
"Mayor Howard said that the city isn’t interested at this time in buying the building back from the school, or leasing it for the long term; however, he said they are still in negotiations to possibly extend the lease by several years."
"Howard said at this time, the city doesn’t want to invest in the Laurel Street Fire Station because it is one of the oldest stations in the city and would cost millions to renovate. The city is currently operating with three main fire stations, the Central Fire Station on Salem Street, the Westside station on Pleasant Street and the 1 bay facility at Laurel Street."
Read more: Malden's mayor declines Laurel St. station offer - Malden, Massachusetts - Malden Observer http://www.wickedlocal.com/malden/archive/x479634089/Maldens-mayor-declines-Laurel-St-station-offer#ixzz1IO4OQdMF
I hope you are aware that a commercial lease works completely different than leasing an apartment. The school renovating that building for the fire department with a short term lease would be foolish to say the very least. It's not like there are a bunch of other fire departments to lease the space to if the city walks away in a year or two.
ReplyDeleteI will say, at this point, it looks like deal the school could have done without in the first place.
Andrew -
ReplyDeleteCommercial lease or not, the school should not be slumlords AND, more importantly, it isn't just the firefighters that use that building - the students of MVRCS do too!
Foolish would be to buy a building, lease it for practically nothing, take the schools focus away from education, and then educate students in a less than appropriate learning environment.
AND, one has to wonder what the conditions of the other properties that the school has acquired are in.....
ReplyDeleteThey should have built a middle school-grades 5-8 where the new pool/gym is being built. It would just make sense as the annex and StJoes is totally over crowded. Then they wouldn't need multiple offices and the Kathy Kinnon house . It just makes sense and I can't believe they don't see that. The firehouse was bought when they were considering a massive rebuild on the property when Dr.B was running the place. Recall the plans that were hanging in the office? Oh well-just my opinion, it never ever matters what the parents want at this school but we stay for the academics for now.
ReplyDeleteThis topic about these photos became so hot in the Discussions section at Boston.com, that someone had the commments removed tonight. Wonder what they are so afraid of?
ReplyDeleteYes, a nerve must have been hit a nerve. Too bad Boston.com chooses to get involved by removing the posts. Wonder who they are answering to....?
ReplyDeleteOK, lets try this again. If I owned a space that the tenant decided, WITH THEIR OWN MONEY, to build it into a diner, and that diner turned into a rat infested roach motel, that is somehow the fault of the landlord and other surrounding tenants? Please tell me you understand how the world works better than this! A COMMERCIAL LANDLORD CAN'T BE A SLUMLORD BECAUSE THEIR NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUSINESS THAT OCCUPIES THE SPACE!
ReplyDeleteAndrew,
ReplyDeleteThe landlord would be responsible for structural issues such as a bad roof, broken HVAC equipment, bad roofs, etc. What is happening here are structural issues. Also, of more importance is the fact that the students are also in that building on a daily basis. Again, a group of 3rd graders have their math and reading in that building for 2.5 hours per day, 5 days per week.
Bottom line is that MVRCS should have stayed focus on their mission and charter of educating stdudents.
Also, lets not forget that the school has Greg Kinnon as a facility manager and that storage room is a fire hazard.
This just proves that the school could care less about the health of our children and firefighters. Shame on the board of MVRCS.
ReplyDeleteActually, that is not correct also. Most commercial leases have the Tenant responsible for even HVAC, roof issues, etc. Commercial is a whole different animal. The MFD has responsibility for upkeep, changing filters, etc. It appears that things haven't been done that should have been done.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I agree with Andrew that the fire station purchase was a bad one that should be undone, its being rented at about 50% of cap value.
Andrew do they call you Neil at your day job?
ReplyDeleteNo...I insist on being called KING!
ReplyDeleteThe fact that the kids are in the building on a regular basis brings the responsiblity back to MV. They are responsible for the health and wellbeing of their students.
ReplyDeleteI know it seems like I'm always giving you a hard time but I have to point out that there is no evidence the space the children use(if they actually use it)has the same issues as the fire dept. Why is it you always want to blacken the eye of the school on any and all issues?
ReplyDeleteAndrew25: Are you suggesting we should keep our mouths shut and be complicit with the wrongdoings going on with the school? Are not our children more deserving of better conditions? Are we supposed to just be quiet and allow these people to bring the school down and use our children to bring in money to make money for themselves? Kinda like what the Germans did when they started taking the Jews away? Shame on you and your friends!
ReplyDeleteOf all the posts I've made on here, this is the one that gets me compared to Hitler? Really?
ReplyDeleteI would like to thank you for the clearing this matter up. I actually thought you were trying to insult me but feel much better about it now.
ReplyDeleteOn a totally different subject, I thought you received super secret training at "greatest job in the world"? I was dismayed when you took my ID last night and didn't so much as bat an eyelash. It's ok, it's not like you expect anyone else to be perfect in their jobs right?
Why don't you tag your posts anymore?
Andy, Sorry to disappoint you but that must be another of your "fans". Really? I waited on you and didn't know? Perhaps that is because I don't have a clue who you are! I am hoping I treated you with respect and that you enjoyed the service and your experience at the Garden. You should have introduced yourself as now you know exactly who I am and yet I still don't know who you are. Hopefully you could see for yourself how much I enjoy my job and serving the fans of the Celtics and Bruins, no matter who they are.
ReplyDeleteHow about telling the rest of us who Annie and Andy are?
ReplyDeleteAnd how about Andrew25
I think we all knew who Hitler was................
Andrew25 is the smart one, Andy is the handsome one and Annie is the crazy one. Hope this helps you follow along.
ReplyDeleteNeil, Are you so that much in love with yourself that you now believe that you are handsome? You make me sick to my stomach!
ReplyDelete