Otis Elementary Farewell Tour

When my younger kid was about to start in kindergarten, I went into his classroom-to-be to meet his new teacher and some of the parents of his future classmates. I mentioned aloud that my older kid had also attended kindergarten in that same classroom some years before but I hadn't actually had a chance to come visit inside. That had been the first time back in-person after the advent of the novel coronavirus, and only students and teachers were allowed indoors that year. Now with my younger kid starting at Otis Elementary, I was pleased to finally have a chance to walk around inside. In response, another parent mentioned they were familiar with the building because they had themselves been a student at Otis. Of the parents in our small group meeting with the kindergarten teacher, at least 3 were themselves graduates of Alameda public schools.

With all the deep connection around here, alums and parents-of-alums and combination-alum/parent-of-alums and neighbors and taxpayers are all invited for a farewell tour through Otis Elementary before it's crushed to smithereens:

No, you can't bring sledgehammers to help begin the demolition this Saturday — instead bring your eyes, your ears, and hearts. The school year isn't over yet!

Yes, there will likely be some noise once construction commences. And my understanding from AUSD staff is there will be some pile driving, although substantially fewer piles than were needed for the foundation for the almost-completed Wood Middle School.

In terms of what's replacing Otis's complex originally built in 1951, here were the first two ideas suggested earlier this year by students:

While I genuinely don't believe in trying to categorize positions or people as "Old Alameda" vs. newcomers, it's still amusing to see such strongly divergent views about the built environment even from kids: water slide!! vs. keep the old school.

Once construction is completed (after a projected two school years, during which time Otis Elementary students will travel across town to the temporary campus near Grand St and Otis Dr) the renovated campus will look like this:

Sorry, no water slide.

Thanks to all the generations of teachers and staff who've worked in the classrooms at Otis Elementary — and to the taxpayers funding the new replacement! Stop by this Saturday if you'd like a final public tour of the campus.