The Traveler

Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Larry Ash Fayetteville School District Superintendent Bobby New explains plans for a tour of Fayetteville High School properties while Jim Lindsey, Chairman of the UA Board of Trustees watches and trustee John Tyson studies the information packet prepared by the District. UA officials are pondering an offer to purchase the multi-acre property to provide growing room for future UA expansion.

A group of UA representatives were taken on a tour this Saturday, which included a ride on a yellow school bus around the Fayetteville High School property. After a Fayetteville Board of Education meeting two weeks ago, discussions between the UA and FHS re-emerged over the possible acquisition of the FHS property.

The property of approximately 21 acres of property lie on the north side of Stone Street, while another 19 are on its south side.

Although these are the "early days" of making a decision, Chancellor John A. White said the FHS property has a lot of opportunities for possible UA expansion.

He cited cramped intramural space, a small broadcast journalism department and the need for more special collections library space.

Also in attendance were many UA deans, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Jim Lindsey and John Tyson. White said the deans were asked to come to see how the space could potentially be used.

Former FHS principal Randy Wilson led parts of the tour, and Superintendent Bobby New also accompanied.

The main high school building has a capacity of 2,500 students, according to an information packet handed to those on the tour. It first opened in 1952 but has undergone several renovations since. The former Bates Elementary School was annexed in 2001 to add instructional classroom space.

In place of the original Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club is the fitness center, an indoor baseball facility that is used for workouts for other sports and an administrative annex.

The former youth center now houses an Astroplay football field. And the baseball facility is considered the best in the state, said FHS Assistant Superintendent Dick Johnson.

Continued...

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