Since October, our citizens advisory committee has met weekly to study the need for improved and safer facilities at Murray High School.
We were asked by the Murray City Board of Education to evaluate the current condition of the school, both structurally and functionally, and then to make a recommendation of what we think ought to be done.We conducted on-sight inspections of the school, reviewed the evaluations of professional architects and building engineers, invited specialists to our meetings to discuss everything from "traffic flow" to "seismic codes" and visited other high schools that have recently been upgraded to meet new standards. We looked at costs of remodeling and upgrading the current building and found that it would be almost as expensive as building an entirely new facility.
Therefore, it was our decision to recommend that a new building be constructed that will incorporate the existing gymnasium and football stadium. We recommended that the construction be done quickly and efficiently, with as little disruption as possible.
After studying various financing alternatives, we recommended that the construction of the new building be financed through the issue of $29.5 million in general obligation bonds.
The Murray Board of Education agreed with our recommendations and voted to hold the bond election on Tuesday, May 2. If the bond measure passes, design of the new school building will begin immediately, and the approximately three-year construction period will commence in early 2001.
Students will be able to attend classes and participate in all current activities throughout the construction period. As a committee, we are very excited about the prospect of having a new, attractive, functional, cost-effective, community-oriented high school in Murray.
We look forward to the creation of a building and campus that will endure for the next 50 years or more, one that will be a landmark of pride and distinction for our community.
We urge all Murray citizens to vote for the bond initiative on May 2. For more information, attend a public meeting on April 25 at Riverview Junior High School, or contact the Murray Board of Education for a voter information pamphlet.
Vicki Mackay, Craig Burton, Laurel Brown and eight others
Murray High School Citizens Building Advisory Committee
Murray