For months, school officials and members of the community have debated and discussed whether to renovate the existing building, which is in need of improvements, or constructing a new one.
Citing the need for a new Facilities Master Plan - which is in progress and will be used as the primary tool guiding all future facilities improvements, capital projects and bonds - Schools Superintendent Thomas Hagerman has taken Greenacres off the table so because the Board of Education “does not want it to be the focus of every meeting.”
“A number of factors are at play as we move forward,” he added. “For one thing, construction estimates related to other work in the district have come in over our budget, and we are taking a new look at our districtwide future, of which Greenacres is a major piece of the puzzle.
According to Hagerman, he and the Board of Education think both a renovation or reconstruction have their merits, but neither proposal has engendered enough support in the community to move forward in time for the original plan, which was to have a decision made by December in time for a bond vote in the spring.
“In addition, we have watched our Greenacres community become polarized over the issue of the future renovations or reconstruction of that particular school, and we have reached the conclusion that it is our responsibility to sort out this complex and important issue.”
Hagerman said that the school remains “safe and comfortable” for Greenacres students, “contrary to some of the facts stated in petitions and publicly by community members.”
“We have chosen to regroup, independently gather data, rebuild community good will around these issues and make an informed decision about the future of all our school buildings and facilities,” he added. “The school remains ‘safe and comfortable’ for our students, safe and comfortable to enable the district to continue studying this issue through the current school year and until we have reached an informed decision.”
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