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When you think for a minute that this school board is open minded and truly listening to these parents you are absolutely wrong. They are working behind closed doors and negotiating with Skip Alston on how to get this past the County Commissioners. These are the Liberal Parasites similar to what is running the Federal Government, how dare anyone question thier authority. Remember in November.......

Here's what I got out of the meeting. Alan Duncan and the board used whatever lame excuse that comes to mind to discount any potential site other than Stewart Mill. They all proceeded to let the SE area folks say whatever they wanted while not saying a word and acting disinterested. In the end the board said the community could not be a part of the decision and basically said if you keep complaining we will not build a school anywhere in the area in your lifetime. I think that was what the thinly veiled treat was at the end.

Other decisions on Dudley, Northern, and Ragsdale were not settled purely on cost. Even they admit that cost is only one criteria used for selection. We all know that cost is a factor but not the only factor considered for site selection. Why can the decision matrix and weights be laid out clearly so that all sites can be weighted fairly?

The school board is done with their analysis and last night was just an opportunity for them to check the box in front of Skip Alston to say they had a meeting with the community and we all decided to go with Stewart Mill.

The SE Community demonstrated how Terrapin Ridge is a BAD site: 14 of 55 acres is in a flood plain, for practical purposes there is only one way in to the property, it is a location where there are very few children which means busing. From a financial standpoint, there is a GIANT hidden cost; the increased population from the proposed school coupled with the new American Express site will over burden the waste treatment system which will require an additional $3 million to upgrade the waste treatment plant. Although waste treatment is not part of the budget for the school, it is a REAL cost that must be borne by the us, the citizens.

The final point is, we (southeast citizens) were told the school was to relieve crowding at Alamance. Locating the school at the very far edge of our district is not a long term solution.

I think it is time for a general overhaul of the school board...they have forgotten who they represent.

I know there is property on Woody Mill Rd and SE School Rd that is for sale. I haven't seen anything specifically mentioned about these 2 areas. Can anyone tell me where exactly they are and why they don't seem appropriate for the new school?

The Board has a very open mind as to where this school should go. Price of land is only one issue here and not the first and foremost, but high on the list. Ever wonder why government is schizophrenic? Look at the taxpayers, save money, don’t worry about money, consider all things, don’t consider all things… (FYI – Sewer by statute cannot be paid by Bond funds, this and the land suitability for a septic system to support 800 people are huge impairments as well as soil conditions for rather heavy large structures)

My son’s learn chess early so they can learn that many things influence the outcome and that what looks like a simple strategy can be far more than it appears. Were the public so educated, they might see many variables in play and sadly the least complicated is the land choice. No agenda, no quid pro quo, just plain old best we can do with what we have.

Only by fate and coincidence can this property choice be viewed. But viewing this from afar, in the big picture, it would appear to be a good compromise. No, my marker is not written in stone and I despise the “big Brother” role and mentality, but few have looked at this in the long view not tainted by personal desire and agenda. Yes, the Board is a liberal oriented institution, but by happenstance far more centrist than you might expect at the moment. It is this very thing that all involved should consider in the debate.

If I win this election it will be my last, public service is too costly for my family. If I loose the term “liberal” get’s bent even farther and those fighting for a different location will find that a Board and it’s promises are only as good as the next 2 years. Southeast Guilford has little influence on my election and frankly those that have elected me know that I fight for the whole county equally, not just my district. Local politics have hurt High Point Schools to the point of disaster and yet they still play the old game.

High Point politicians and special interest got what they wanted, and now pin the blame on everyone but themselves. Please, please, consider all things and look at the big long term picture. I am not “Big Brother” just a dumb schmuck doing the best I can with what little God gave me. I have asked the public to provide me with sites that staff has looked over and called unsuitable, (Trust but Verify) so I can be assured we have not left a “stone unturned”. I can tell the Public from my view I see a very open minded and willing Board. I would ask those directly involved to step back a bit, look at the big picture, then consider that the redistricting for a new school cannot be controlled by the local community, learn from High Point, history can repeat itself.

Most likely those sites made too much sense by being too close to the true need area. Mr. Duncan needs to go back and review his basic geometry today. During the meeting he showed this hot dog shaped object and said that this was the board's target area for locating the school. The hot dog was north and shifted east from the star on the original map. I have been to almost every meeting on this subject and have never seen the magic hot dog. The funny part is he kept calling it a circle implying that this was a bullseye target. If they truely made the search a target around the population that the school it was to serve then they wouldn't be so confused about where the southeast area is and why it needs to be a true Southeast Area Elementary School.

The goal is to find a suitable site which best fits the needs of the children and the school district in that area of Guilford County. Since this controversy began, opportunity has been given to bring forward any alternative sites for consideration. Apparently, no other alternative site meets the requirements of the school system better than the Stewart Mill property. From what I read, the Stewart Mill site is without question the best alternative financially for the school board. I see a lot of comments above complaining about the Stewart Mill property, but where are the suggestions for alternatives? Let’s move on and get a school built.