The Akron school board has a problem. The school district wants to build the new Buchtel High School on the site of its practice and softball fields which allows students to stay in the current high school building until the new one is completed.
The problem is members of the community want the field saved.
School boards are beholdent to the voters. Face it – the voters gave the money for the massive rebuilding of the entire district.
This is a tough call. If the district goes ahead witth its plans, where do the kids work out and play softball?
Here’s my recommendation – both sides need to talk. They may not necessarily agree, but the district should listen and then tell those who disagree to come up with a workable plan. It is easy to criticize now that the plans have been made.
We hope both sides work it out because there is no evil intent by the district or the community. They are just good people who, at least for now, disagree.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I applaud APS board member Shiela Smith for being the lone no vote on the plan to rebuild Buchtel High School without the practice field. She is correct in the thought that the field is a community issue – as the community is a large part of the funding for the APS school renovation plan. Some are proposing that the field is putting athletics before academics, nothing is further from the truth – yes Buchtel needs a new building and yes Buchtel needs the practice field – they need not be mutually exclusive. Where would the kids work-out and play??? No one is answering that question. They would have to share fields with other schools (they would not be the priority) and in most cases would need transportation to get to and the other fields (since they are not in the neighborhood). Those problems do not begin to address the issue of the community not having access to the practice field. Shiela Smith is an advocate for her community and it can’t be easy as another board member said the board speaks with one voice??? whose voice ? I thought the board spoke for the community they were elected to serve. Buchtel needs the practice field and Buchtel needs the board to act in a way that would strengthen the school academically and contiue their legacy of athletic excellence. We appreciate the courage of Mrs. Smith and we are sadden that she will not be on the board to voice of those in her community.
If you oppose something then come up with a viable alternation. Do these parents feel having a “practice field” takes precedence over building a modern, hi-tech center of learning for our children? Arent there other fields that can be used for practices until the project is completed? Miller-South? Perkins Middle School? Erie Island? Or share with other high schools? And once the old building is demolished, wont there be room for a practice field?