Letters to the editor
Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Editorial/64911/
The minority opinion
In keeping with the primary charge of the Future of Fayetteville High School Select Committee 2, the following is a list of arguments in support of building a new high school at the Deane Solomon site:
• The school system currently owns the Deane Solomon property. As such, the highest and best use of the site is for a school. If the district did not purchase the property with this use in mind, why was it purchased ? It is highly unlikely the school board approved the purchase of the property with intentions of holding it in portfolio as an investment. If sold, trying to recoup that investment could take years and most likely will result in a loss.
• The majority of the new residential development is happening on the west side of town, indicating a future population shift to this area. To support this “ west-side” growth, the Fayetteville School District has built two elementary schools and one middle school in recent years.
• Locating the high school at this site lends itself to the creation of a “ learning hub” through the educational partnerships that would be created with other learning-focused entities, such as the Audubon Nature Center. The synergies that would be created open the door for recruiting other like-minded organizations (e. g., a science museum. )
• This site supports the spirit of the City 2025 Plan in many ways. Two of the more obvious are:
• Infill development — The new high school will fill in the gaps left by residential developments and new school construction further to the west, locating a municipal golf course to the south and the new Sam’s Club to the east.
• Land use — The Deane Solomon site, which is specifically noted on the land use map, is designated for use as a “ civic institution” surrounded by residential / city neighborhood areas.
• The site will bolster economic growth in north and west Fayetteville, which would yield a significant increase in non-residential tax revenue. By locating the school adjacent to commercial property, new business recruitment (taxpaying businesses ) and employee retention would be enhanced.
• Used as an economic development tool for recruiting new businesses and employees, having a 21 st century school at this site will create a “ wow ” factor for those seeing the area for the first time.
• The site has easy access to / from I-540.
• In further support of the growth north and west, multiple municipalities have various infrastructure improvement projects underway. The revamping of the intersection of I-540 and Porter Road (Mount Comfort ) will directly enhance the flow of traffic to and around the Deane Solomon site. Further, engineer’s renderings were provided to the committee that suggest even more improvements are planned that lead directly to the site.
Kim Peters Member,
Future of FHS Select Committee 2
Fayetteville
Non-stop campaigning hurts the party
As we all know it is time for a change in our government, locally and nationally. My hope is the war going on between Hillary and Barack will soon be over ! I do not know about the rest of you, but I am getting a little sick of it all. I believe that if it continues, like it is now, it will surely split the ticket. I think there will be so much conviction between the rivals’ followers that we will guarantee the Republican Party the win. I am not sure that this country can stand another four years of a George W. Bush look-alike. If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it must be a duck. But that is just my opinion. That and a $ 1. 50 will get you a cup of coffee.
Mark Gage / Springdale