WHS 2010: A+ Apple Tree Observation Station

Sunday, May 4, 2008

A+ Apple Tree Observation Station

I am often asked: "Where is the best place to observe the construction site?"

As the building begins to rise from the ground this summer it will be a fascinating project for the citizens of Watauga County to watch. Steel should begin to arrive any day now and over the summer we will begin to see rapid vertical progress.

There are only two locations for observation of the construction of our new high school.

The best site is this BLOGSITE! :-)

The Second location is from HILLTOP DRIVE beneath this Heritage Apple Tree. It is located on the south side of Hilltop Drive and is the perfect location for stopping by to watch the construction project.

On a side note, I have wondered how old this tree is and who planted it and what it must have looked like when the farm and the homes were located around it many years ago. This is one of the ones we chose not to remove. The row of pines beyond have been saved too. I plan to do a series of photos of trees on the site that are heritage trees. If anyone knows any stories associated with the site trees please send them to me!

To answer your questions of "How do we get to the new school site?" I offer this direction. Head east on King Street and soon after the intersection of 194 and 421 (known as the Newmarket Hardees) take a right just before the Wilco/Hess station on the right. Travel east on Old 421 and you will soon spot the construction site on your right (through our main entrance).

But this is not accessible to the public and please do not block that entry. It is a good point of view to understand how we will enter our new campus.

Continue east on Old 421 about 1/2 mile until you see the intersection of Cecil Miller road on your right. It is directly across from Mountlawn Memorial Gardens entrance. Turn right onto Cecil Miller and follow that to the top where it intersects with Hilltop Drive.

Turn right onto Hilltop drive and you will find an excellent observation location along the side of the street.

Traffic is limited there and it is quite easy to pull over to the side and observe the process of construction.

At that point you are just above the softball and baseball fields. The main building will be just to the right of your viewing range. Soon you will see a building arising. Enjoy the pride.

The Construction Management Headquarters building is the double wide white manufactured building shown in this photo. This is command central for all that goes on within their construction site. They are some of the nicest people, but please understand this is an active construction site and safety is an absolute on the entire 94 acres under their supervision.

Enjoy!

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Board Chairman Lowell Younce reflections

Good morning!

On behalf of the Watauga Board of Education, we would like to express our appreciation to all who have assisted us in our studies, planning, and financing the dream and now the reality of a new Watauga High School.

We have said for years that we need to invest wisely in the future of our children. This new facility is a good example of a wise investment.

Watauga County Schools have top performing and achieving students and very competent and effective employees. With this new, updated and modern educational facility, we know that we can and will improve our student performances; as well to better prepare them to enter into the global world of today and in the future.

The construction of a new Watauga High School was not the work of any one individual, board member, or community; nor did the planning, design, financing, and construction of the facility take place overnight.

For several years after the construction of the WHS in 1965, many discussions and considerations were made regarding the facility providing the necessary resources students need to successfully and adequately complete their secondary education requirements.

From 2001 to 2003 the board of education discussed the options and possibilities of a second high school in numerous work sessions and meetings. Local funding did not allow us to pursue this option. In 2003 the BOE developed a “Five Point Plan” that would have addressed the following: construction of a second high school, construction of two new high schools, extensive expansion and renovation of the current facility, removal of the ninth grade to a separate facility or development of an off-campus program serving a significant number students.

On April 4, 2003 the “Five Point Plan” was greatly discussed at the Watauga Education Summit sponsored by Watauga County Schools and Boone Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of the forum was to bring together educators, public officials, business leaders, parents, staff, students and taxpayers to have dialogue on critical issues and trends facing our school system in the 21^st century. Dr. Richard Jones, who was then our school superintendent and many others, shared their vision and concerns toward all aspects of education. The Summit’s theme was “It’s Time to Choose”- a reference to the ongoing debate relative to one high school, two schools, or some other school organizational plan. In my opinion, this meeting was important, if not the most important, to involve the entire county in the theme “It’s Time to Choose”.

In July of 2003 we welcomed Dr. Bobbi Short as our new school superintendent. Dr. Short was in total agreement that some solution to our facility needs should be addressed. Dr. Short soon recommended that we do a professional feasibility study. The study results conducted at each of our school districts clearly showed a need for a new high school at a new site. The Board of Education agreed and in 2004 we began the site selections and plans for a new high school.

In 2005, a sub-committee was formed by the Watauga County Board of Education and the Watauga County Board of Commissioners. Membership of this committee was two board members from each board, school superintendent, and the county manager. Our purpose was to share our concerns and issues with better communication and understanding of the county school system by both boards. Planning, design, and financing of the new WHS have been the top priority of this committee from 2005 to present.

In 2006 after years of discussion and feasibility studies, the Watauga Board of Education and the Watauga Board of Commissioners concluded that the best option for our students, employees, and the taxpayers of Watauga County was to build a new high school at a new site. The decision was based on the cost of renovations projected by professional consultants to be $35,000,000.00 and the sale of the current WHS to help reduce the cost of a new state of the art high school was the most logical option.

The dedicated assistance by so many, including those I have mentioned earlier, as well as the key communicators, WHS planning committee members, WHS core committee members, our current school superintendent Dr. Marty Hemric, project manager Don Critcher, and so many others too numerous to name in this article have brought us to where we are today.

In conclusion, the Watauga Board of Education would like to say an enormous thank you to all that have assisted us in this project, especially the taxpayers of Watauga County. The children of our county will certainly reap the rewards of educational success by the wise investment ALL have made.

WHS 2010

Sunday, May 4, 2008

A+ Apple Tree Observation Station

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