Residents push for school improvements

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - It has been a concern for years and there have been improvements made to Springfield's Gerena School, but residents of the North End say more needs to be done.

"It's not only an educational facility but it's also a thruway between Main Street and Plainfield to unite the North End," said John Rivas.

Concerned residents say the Gerena School in Springfield's North End is not being used to its potential. The school has a tunnel that connects two areas of the neighborhood, it also has a large community space. However because of ongoing water issues, that space is largely unused. "When it rains it tends to leak inside because of the water leaking inside the school you end up with mold and mildew," Rivas said.

"I walked in for the first time and all I could smell is that putrid stink of musk. All you smell was water that had been stuck here in the ground all you could smell is the dirt that it leaves behind," said Delmarina Lopez of Chicopee.

Those concerns were brought out in a community meeting, held in Spanish, by the North End organizing network.

Springfield's Executive Director of Parks & Buildings Patrick Sullivan told 22News the city has invested about $2 million in the school in the past two and a half years, they fixed the pump system that takes the water out of the basement area, installed a new roof, new carpeting and tile in the classrooms. They've also done a lot of work to address the indoor air quality and there have been results. "We've reduced our asthma rate in one year by 4%," he said.

But the neighborhood is growing impatient and they say they'll continue to fight for more improvements until the problem no longer exists. "I want to fight for the rights of the children and I care about my community," said Giovaliz Morales.

Sullivan said he expects more work to be done on the school during the summer break to allow better access to that community space by the end of the year.