A task force studying school buildings has narrowed the potential site for a new middle school to two locations -- both on Pearl Road.
But the group deadlocked on whether the better location is a 17-acre school-owned parcel next to or the current site.
"We couldn't come up with a consensus," said Mark Donnelly, the school district's manager of business services.
The solution? Call in an expert.
"We decided, why not wait until we have professional on board to help us?" Donnelly said.
The School Board is poised to bring on an architect to guide the design of the proposed middle school, and Donnelly said he learned during the interviews that the top firm has experience in site selection.
As a result, the recommendation on a site has been delayed until an architect can join the discussion.
Donnelly said the Facilities Task Force rejected two other potential sites -- the current school site and the former Allen School property.
Albion, he said, is not as centrally located and is accessed by two-lane roads.
"We know the public wants to know (the site). We know there's interest," Donnelly said. "But we don't want to rush it and make the wrong decision."
He said the architectural firm the district hopes to hire has a huge checklist of factors to consider in selecting a site that are beyond the expertise of the task force -- things like water pressure, sewer capacity and electricity needs.
Voters will see on the November ballot that would pay to build a new middle school and make vast renovations to , plus some safety-related repairs to elementary schools.
Donnelly said the goal is to choose a site for the new middle school before absentee voting starts in early October.
The Facilities Task Force is made up of school officials and residents. It came up with to replace the existing two middle schools, and to make a number of renovations to the high school and elementary schools.
No way will we want a school zone by Jardines. No way will we want the additional school traffic in that location. And, the water and sewer needs do bring up some fears of the potential of more strain on the present system. We don't need additional problems with regards to the water and sewer after the school is built. If they are already thinking it might be a problem, and then later decide it will probably be okay - I still won't feel reassured that a some future date there won't be problems. Take this new school to the old Center location. Any levy better have a location designated on the ballot. I will not trust that the board will not change their determination of the location once the funds are voted for.
NO WAY will the total costs be the same at 2 different locations. They would just have to be asking for lots of money and hoping it'll cover the costs of whatever is built.
How can we trust that the decision they make will not be changed? Based on past history and incompetence, I have little faith or trust in them. I prefer to see the location on the ballot, to be voted on - in writing.