At Bonita Vista High (BVH), Principal Lee Romero and a small number of staff, parents and students were skeptical about what to do with renovation funds; a process marked by thoughtful discussion and careful consideration of options. The school’s community finally reached a consensus on the renovation plans funded by the bond they received in order to allow them to revitalize BVH’s infrastructures. On Oct. 25, Romero released the information of the set plans for renovation but has not announced the set date yet. These new renovations come at a cost as it will need to sacrifice the ‘BVH Tree’ that has been a part of BVH for numerous years.
“Last school year, we got a bond for 22 million dollars to redo parts of the school and during the issue of that bond, I brought in some small groups of parents, students and staff to talk about what we are going to do,” Romero said.
As discussions progressed, a final decision was made to invest in the construction of not only some n ew school buildings but also a revitalized quad area that would shape into a center for student interaction and gatherings for the community.
“The one that we could all agree upon, was to create a new dance room, auto shop, sports medicine and Bonita Vista Television (BVTV) building. So, where the 1200 is, they are going to tear that down and make this beautiful building that is going to house all those,” Romero said. “In addition […] we want to put some of that money into building a beautiful quad, to have learning stations, grass and all that kind of stuff.”
With the safety of the community in mind, the decision to remove the tree is a necessary step in the renovation process. Romero highlights the possibility that one day, under the strain of weather conditions, it could fall at any time, and potentially cause harm to anyone in its vicinity.
“Now to [renovate the quad], the tree is going to be in the way. The tree is [almost] the same tree that we had in the front last year. That tree was over there and fell, it could have killed people, it is that dangerous,” Romero said. “As a matter of fact, when the rainy season comes, there is so much concern about the tree, they are going to tape it off, because the tree is going to break someday.”
The dilemma of whether to save the tree by compromising its health or to remove it to ensure the stability of the renovation project presents a challenging decision. Although, it becomes evident that preserving the tree while constructing around it would likely lead to long-term harm. This decision was rooted in the priority of safety and ensuring the success of the renovation project.
“They were talking about how we can save the tree, one of the ways they could save the tree is [if] they were to cut the root and build around it. But to do that, it would compromise the health of the tree. The arborist that we brought in, looked at the tree and said the only way we can redo that whole quad is if we cut down that tree,” Romero said.
Romero considers the perspective that there could be a potential attachment to the tree particularly in terms of its environmental significance which adds a crucial dimension to the decision-making process. Furthermore, he recognizes that while physical elements like the tree and buildings hold significance, they do not define the true spirit of BVH. Instead, collective efforts and contributions of the staff and students is what truly shapes the identity and character of the school.
“There are a lot of students here that are environmentally conscious, they are going to not like that the tree is going to be cut down. But I think if they understand the ramifications of keeping that tree there, I think they will understand that for safety. To rebuild the whole quad area to make it look nice for students, they would agree that that tree, unfortunately, will have to go,” Romero said.
