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37 °F 5 Day Forecast Monday, December 8, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend November 17, 2003 Eagle Point still hasn’t made school decision By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune EAGLE POINT — With $5 million sitting in the bank drawing interest, the school district still hasn’t decided what to do with an insurance settlement to replace the middle school that burned down in August 2002. Plenty of ideas were generated at a community meeting held this week. "We’re trying to determine what it is that we really need," said school board member Yvonne Fletes. Another school board member, Fred Thomas, said the board has decided to build another campus, but the question is, where? Advertisement A new road will be constructed next year close to the current site of the school, but Thomas said, "Do you want to build a new middle school next to a main thoroughfare through Eagle Point?" Another possibility would be to demolish Glenn D. Hale Elementary School and build on that site. Before any decisions are made, the board has ordered a demographic study to determine how Eagle Point will grow in the coming years. Some community members favor rebuilding the school, while others think the money should go toward renovating Little Butte and Glenn D. Hale elementary schools, both of which are in need of repair. "One of the suggestions I kind of favor is building a school that has versatility," said Fletes. "One that you could use for an elementary or middle school." Thomas, who said fixing the existing elementary schools doesn’t make financial sense, said that the $5 million received from the insurance company is like a down payment. Actual costs to replace the middle school would be $10 million to $11 million, he said. The fire that destroyed the original 1940s-era school was caused by an electrical short. A new middle school, funded with a voter-approved bond measure, was already under construction when the fire took place. The old middle school would have been torn down after the new building opened. Construction delays have pushed the opening date for the new middle school until December. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times