MHS plan gets mixed reviews
For nearly four years, city officials and architects involved in the Maryville High School expansion project have worked on developing a multiphase plan that will meet the school’s future needs and minimize the impact on the community.
Almost everyone who is likely to be affected by this plan — officials, residents, and students — is conflicted about this extremely tough decision. On one hand, almost everybody agrees Maryville High School needs to do something to relieve overcrowding; and, on the other hand, everybody does not want to see anyone hurt by the decision.
The high school’s expansion plan allows the school to grow within the boundaries of the current block created by Cunningham Street, Lawrence Avenue, West Broadway Avenue and South Cedar Street. The approved plan has identified 11 homes and four apartment buildings as potential long-term acquisitions.
The planned school would be 400,000 square feet and have a 2,200 student capacity. Based on current growth projections, the school would accommodate students until 2021. The long-term plan includes a new commons area, new administration offices, gym, library, locker rooms, auditorium, and music and drama departments.
A lot of the long-range plan is still up in the air. The city does not have the funds to purchase many of the properties, and there is no set timeline for the project, Maryville Director of Schools Stephanie Thompson said. The plan’s top priorities will be the acquisition of the three apartment buildings north of Lawrence Avenue between Cunningham and Curtis streets, and the dogleg off Cunningham Street, she said.
Residents living in areas which have been designated as a ‘potential long-term acquisition’ in the board-approved multiphase plan have mixed feelings.
Many residents understand the school’s overcrowding problems and are not opposed to the plan. “I’m fine with it,” Hilda Nichols said. “If they come tomorrow and say they want (our home), we’ll sell it; but if they want to wait 10 years that’s fine too,” her sister, Sue Brake said. The sisters are nearing retirement age, and Brake said “part of (her) wishes (the city) would’ve bought it a year-and-a-half ago.”
Another resident, Cheryl McKee, said she is living on a fixed income and it will be hard for her to move to a new residence. McKee has already started looking for a new apartment, but most available apartments are in areas she either cannot afford or does not want to move to, she said.
Maryville is growing and she understands the school needs more room, McKee said. “When I was in high school they needed more room and that was 20-to-30 years ago,” she said. McKee is not upset about the plan, and just wants to be given enough notice to find a new apartment, she said.
Tags: ford, ups