Land purchase for new school should be reconsidered

Posted Friday, September 25, 2009, at 9:24 PM

From Margaret Alfrey
Marshall

I am the first to admire the citizens who are willing to provide our grade school children with better schools. I certainly believe it is really needed!

However, I don't agree with purchasing another property when they already own vacant lots east and west and behind the career center. Possibly even a two-story building. This is definitely large enough not only for a grade school but parking lot, also.

I admit that I have not attended your meetings and unfortunately it is not always possible!

Please, do not waste money on a project so important when there is another option for the good of everyone.

This option will result in less busing for the children, less expense for the buses and more convenience for the families. Think of everyone, including the citizens of the county.

I hope other concerned citizens will write to the editor also.

Editor's note: This letter was published in The Marshall Democrat-News Monday, Sept. 14, 2009.

Comments
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I actually went out to the career center and looked. There is no way that piece of land is big enough for more than 24 classrooms, a gym/cafeteria, business offices, a playground and parking lot. Yes, we could have a two, or three, or four story building, but we have students and parents who have wheelchairs and this would, of course, be prohibitive to them. It is my understanding that they are trying to get the SCHS moved to the high school campus eventually. We have no idea what programming is in the future for high school expansion. It is my opinion that the land at the high school should be used ONLY for high school needs in the future.

-- Posted by oneofmany on Sat, Sep 26, 2009, at 11:34 PM

At the community meetings, it was stated that the basic rule of thumb for schools is that you need 10 acres plus 1 acre per 100 children so the minimum for this school is 16 acres.

The land by the high school is not big enough.

-- Posted by hat full of sky on Sun, Sep 27, 2009, at 9:06 AM

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As the April 6 election approaches, voters in the Marshall Public School District will have much to say about the bond issue on the ballot and the proposed new elementary school the district will build if the issue is approved. Anyone who is interested in the issue can contribute an entry to this blog. However, only signed commentary will be posted as blog entries, but any MDN website user can post comments on the entries, just like on any other blog. We recommend community members use the Letter to the Editor form to submit their views on the issue. Commentary posted in this blog will also be published in the newspaper. We hope to see a wide range of views, with reasons given for positions taken, questions asked and concerns respectfully expressed. Anyone wishing to read articles about the bond issue and facility problems it is intended to address may wish to visit www.marshallnews.com/topic/mpsdbond09.

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