The “alternative” to the Alternative School

Monday, October 18, 2010

The biggest item on the agenda Monday evening was an "alternative" proposal for the Alternative School.

This was a carryover item from the previous commission, as the previous commission had considered purchase of 10.41 acres in Springfield's North Industrial Park and constructing a freestanding building for the Alternative School.

Yet, what the County Commission actually ended up voted on was property near Bransford Elementary, the Water Bonnet Building, a 70,000' building that has multi-use potential and offers the opportunity for more out of the alternative school, and the versatility to do much more for Robertson County Schools later down the road.

Details "aside," I think that this effort was the best with what which we have to deal:

• Is it a good time to spend money on an Alternative School?
  
• Does anyone want to spend money an Alternative School?
  

The answer to both of those questions is "No." In this economic environment, the definition of "need" is narrowed that much more, and building an alternative school is like building a jail, no one sees the need. Yet, we must.

That being said, that is where the Robertson County Schools and Robertson County are in the "here and now."

Things came together over the past several weeks in that a federal grant will assist in paying for the entire project, and the building's availability opened in the last couple of weeks. This, after waiting to consider the project long before the current commission took office.

I think we have much to work with and I will look forward to the Education Committee's work with the School Board as this project continues to unfold.