The lettering on the building reminds visitors that Fir Grove used to be an elementary school.
Last week a reader wondered if I knew whether “Fir Grove school is planning to reopen?” I didn’t, but I do now, and the short answer is that while it’s already in use, it’s not going to reopen as an elementary or primary school.
Fir Grove, five miles north of Albany at the junction of Scenic and Spring Hill drives, was a familiar place to our family a generation ago. Our sons went there, and on election days we stood there to punch holes in paper ballots. (Remember that ancient past, when voting was an important public and civic ritual?)
In 2011 the Albany School board closed Fir Grove, which by then had been reduced to a primary school, and sent the children to Oak Grove Elementary instead.
Then, in 2015, the district spent some money and renovated Fir Grove to once again accommodate children in first grade and kindergarten. But in more recent years, the building was empty again.
I went by the school last Friday to see what I could see. The parking lot was half full. A school bus was waiting. The place was obviously in use.
Like at most school buildings these days, the doors were locked. But there was a sign inviting you to call a number and someone would come.
What I learned when someone came was that since the first of the year the building has been home to two teachers and about 35-40 students in what the district calls its Community Transition Program.
The school district’s website says the program “provides transitional and functional life skill instruction and supports to students in the 16-21 age range in both classroom and community settings.”
About the same time as I was visiting Fir Grove, I also heard from Michelle Steinhebel, the public information officer for Greater Albany Public Schools.
She confirmed what I had just found out about the current use, and added, “We are maintaining the building in case it is needed in the future, but there is no plan to open it as an elementary school again.”
That’s not good news if you are nostalgic for small rural schools. But it’s probably fine with kids who will get to attend the new and much bigger Oak Grove School for many generations to come. (hh)
A school bus waits in the Fir Grove parking lot on May 27.
Hering writes achingly, “ Remember that ancient past, when voting was an important public and civic ritual?”
Yes, those were the days when, if a candidate lost, she/he/they would concede gracefully and the transition of power would go largely unnoticed. Back in those days, losing candidates would disappear into the embarrassment of their failure, keeping their lies and disappointments to themselves. And, of course, back then, when a candidate lost the vote, they did not attempt a coup. Ah! The Good Old Days. What we wouldn’t give for them again.
Hasso, thank you for checking in at Fir Grove School. I have seen the ‘coming and going’ of busses and the parking full of cars – now I know. The Transition Team is doing a great job – glad they are in the neighborhood! Happy that the facilities are being maintained and utilized.
So does that mean the school will be unoccupied; or used for something other that teaching school?