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Watauga County buys property for new school |
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Thursday, 07 September 2006 |
by JW RANDOLPH
News Reporter
After 20 years of passing on the issue, Watauga County is building a new high school. The new Watauga High School will be built on 59 acres of the Edmisten property, located in Eastern Boone between the State Farm Fields and Daniel Boone Road.
The property was bought from Appalachian State University.
Jim Deal, chairman of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners, said overcrowding is an issue.
“I’ve had three kids attend and graduate from [Watauga High School] in the last 10 years,” Deal said.
“The
overcrowding makes it difficult to get from class to class on time,
take an adequate bathroom break, or enjoy a complete lunch period.”
Deal also
said there is a lack of wiring necessary to provide opportunities to
experience all of the technology that has evolved in the last decade
first-hand.
“These children deserve a new school, and a modern school,” he said.
Due to an
absence of modern technological capability, not enough space, and large
monthly heating and electrical bills, the sub-par status of the current
building led many Watauga County citizens to call for a new high school.
“This is
the most exciting time ever for children in the Watauga County school
system,” Alan C. Utter, candidate for Watauga County School Board,
said.
Utter stressed the importance of completing the project in a timely fashion.
“We can’t take 10 years to build a new facility,” he said.
A group
of citizens who have opposed the project from the beginning are hoping
the school’s relative proximity to a nearby sewage treatment plant will
be grounds to stop construction.
Al
Wheeler, candidate for Watauga County School Board, said there are no
problems with the current location and is looking forward to the new
high school.
“The plant is located down the hill from the high school property,” Wheeler said.
“That means it poses no danger.”
“If there was a problem, then it would mostly come back to ASU,” Deal said.
“The State Farm Fields are located downwind from there, not where the new high school will be.”
Pam
Williamson, a county resident, contends that the people who complain
are the same people who have opposed the building of a new school all
along.
“They’re anti-everything,” Williamson said. “The property is absolutely gorgeous and completely safe.”
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