Voters to decide on new high school in Alexandria, Minn.
July 19, 2011 at 7:00 pm in Alexandria Echo Press
The fate of Jefferson High School (JHS) in Alexandria will once again be in the hands of School District 206 residents. Continue Reading
Voters to decide on new high school in Alexandria, Minn.
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Its simple Randy. Technologies,materials,codes etc. etc. The planners who built it did what they could with what they had back in that era. Why are they morons for that? What building do you know of that is that old not need upgrading? Id like to see it.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I find it to be so reprehensibly amoral of the community to NOT vote yes to a new high school. There are those that will argue that they don’t have children, won’t have children, or their children have already graduated. Unfortunately, that is not an excuse, as a community, we are all socially responsible to provide the access to public education for everyone. Building a new high school has been a necessity for at least the past decade, and it is so vital that we provide the students of Alexandria an excellent opportunity to study in an advanced setting, not a deteriorating old building. Yes, everyone will argue that taxes will go up and blah blah blah, but face it, taxes are a fact of life, and so is education. And sorry, but education trumps taxes, at least in my book.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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It is one thing to build a school for learning, one does not have to build a campus that costs $70.5 million. From what I seen there won’t be much more room for learning in the new school. Some want it for the common areas, the ball fields and the parking. Classrooms I’m all for not all the other stuff.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Are you aware of how expensive it is to build a school? What about the fabulous new elementary school that was just built? I bet that school is pretty high tech and its for little kids!? An expanded facility is going to create an area of learning that is more comfortable for all students, allow better access to students who have special needs, upgrade technology such as electrical equipment for better labs in science class, better spaces and areas for arts for students to be creative and create an atmosphere where students want to learn. That high school was crap when I graduated from there in 2002 and a new one is sorely needed. You’re right, maybe 70 million is a bit steep, but there are numerous upgrades that need to be made to bring that school up to date with high schools around the country. Also, building a school is going to create revenue and jobs.
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Yeah, right.
Higher property taxes, and who knows how much good this will do? If they can’t teach in the building they have, who’s to say they can teach in a new one?
Maybe this should be kicked down the road? Everything else has been.
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Janessa, you may be right with the increase of revenue and jobs. However, when and if they build this, look at the contractor trailers and tell me how much money is really going to stay in Alexandria. All you have to do is look around at the other projects. Most of the money is heading to the metro. From designers to the guys with the shovels and hammers. If this passes, get ready for the tear down/renovation of Lincoln.
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Well, if they feel we need a school that bad, then keep the work local. Wasn’t that the pitch to get the new police station and jail? It would make revenue for our community. Yeah right, I didn’t see any local construction guys out there building them. Our taxes will be raised for the new school so why not keep these taxes in our community. We have plenty of good, hard working construction and concrete crews right here in our own town. What is the need to farm this work out to people from the metro area? With the economy the way it is, one would think that our community needed the jobs, So I do agree with Rook on this. So, to the school board, if you need the school that bad then let our money stay in our community, not where it doesn’t benefit us who have to pay for this school. I would rather pay our guys then some big coorporation from the cities!
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The B-B-E high school in Belgrade was built in 1971, only 14 years after Jefferson was built. If they have to tear down the BBE high school 14 years from now and build a new building – you might as well wipe out the town of Belgrade because that will not happen.
Education doesn’t gain much sympathy from the taxpaying public when they have to make moves like this, a $70 million school building. Uuf Da!
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Kari, I completely agree with what you’re saying, BUT …
We’ll have to change some laws first. Since this is a public building being funded with public dollars, the BIDS need to be opened up to all qualified contractors. And the LOWEST BID WINS.
If the school board would arbitrarily throw out one qualified bid for the sole purpose of keeping the work local, they would be in for some hefty lawsuits.
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Amos,
You’re correct, lowest bid wins. So I’d have to say, are the Alex Companies not bidding correctly? Or are the Cities outfits low-ballin to just get the bid. You can only low-ball bids so many times, and your company will go broke. Hum, things to ponder…
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My guess is that the Cities companies are larger and/or more diverse so they can afford to low-ball some bids to keep their crews working, but make enough money on other projects closer to their bases to cover themselves with minimal red-ink. (Not much profit. But not really losing their shirts either.)
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