By Jessica Stevens
Staff Writer
PARKERS CHAPEL — Following the removal of some of the school’s senior sidewalks last week, the community of Parkers Chapel has begun to scrutinize the renovation that have been drawn up over the past 18 months.
The Parkers Chapel School Board’s decision to alter the original plans and reduce parking in order to save the remaining sidewalks and memorials were a relief to many at the town hall meeting held Monday night in the school’s cafeteria.
Lack of communication with the public was one of the primary arguments heard from the crowd during the forum.
School Board Vice President Howard Skinner attempted to reassure the crowd that attempts were made to give the public every opportunity to be involved in the planning process.
“We’ve had school board meetings and its been on the agenda every month,” said Skinner. “The architects and engineers are always there. We’ve also had public meetings for everyone to look at the plans.”
Skinner said that the planning did not happen overnight. The 18-month-long process involved an extensive amount of engineering in order to make everything fit properly and serve the future needs of the school.
Skinner assured that the engineering on the renovation plans are solid and that the primary reasons for it is to ensure the growing school can meet the needs of their students while also ensuring their security while on campus.
“When I graduated there were 300 kids in this school and there is no more parking today then when I graduated,” said Skinner. “And now we have 800 kids. It’s a safety issue. One of the largest issues that we’re addressing is Parkers Chapel security. Kids are everywhere and that’s unacceptable. It’s unacceptable for any of our kids to not be secure. It’s our number one priority.”
To solve the problem, an enclosed main hallway that will run from the high school to the cafeteria has been designed.
The hallway will have three entrances, one for each division of the school.
Those entering the doors will have to be buzzed in to enter the hallway. This will reduce the amount of time that children are outside walking around campus with no security.
“We can give them a secure place to learn,” Skinner said.
Other issues that have been addressed in the design plans are the addition of much-needed classrooms, an air-conditioned auditorium that will be able to fit the entire elementary, middle or high school in it at one time, a FEMA storm shelter to be utilized in the event of an emergency situation, and a solution to the drainage problems suffered around the school.
“The engineering has to be all in one package,” said Skinner. “You can’t piecemeal it — it costs a lot more money like that.”
He said that throughout the design and engineering phase, they’ve also addressed parking issues, the ability for parents to safely drop of kids, as well as irrigation.
Parkers Chapel resident Kristi Lowery voiced her concern over the destruction of the two back tennis courts that were recently resurfaced in order to build a new road into the school.
“In the past year, those tennis courts were resurfaced — tens of thousands of dollars were put on those tennis courts — now we find out that 18 months ago we knew they were going to be destroyed,” she said. “I don’t feel that as a citizen, a tax payer, and as someone who voted for the millage increase, that was being very good stewards of our tax dollars. Destroying those tennis courts that are back there will destroy their entire season.”
Skinner said that the school board and the plans are both open books and these plans have been accessible to the public throughout the entire 18-month process.
“What we’ve got to do is what’s best for the school,” said Skinner. “For our school to be here in the next 100 years and to secure our kids and give them a place to learn — this has to happen. Change is hard sometimes.”
Jessica Stevens may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at [email protected].