Middle and Intermediate School Plans to Be Examined Again

Plans for a new intermediate school and renovations to Lee Burneson Middle School are undergoing one more round of review and adjustment after Monday night’s special meeting of the Planning Commission.

Over the next few years, construction crews will renovate much of Westlake High School, transform Lee Burneson Middle School into an intermediate school for grades 5-6 and build a new middle school for grades 7-8.

Plans to turn Lee Burneson Middle School and a new fifth and sixth grade school will also be re-examined, particularly traffic pattern for pickup and drop-off for both schools.

Under the plan presented, busses dropping students off at Lee Burneson Middle School or Dover Elementary School would come in on Dover Center Road and circle through the parking lot, exiting back onto Dover Center. Parents and teachers would use the Bassett Road entrance.

“I’m concerned about cars trying to turn left on Bassett,” Parry said. “I’m worried about cars backing up to Center Ridge.”

Keenan stressed that the schools would not have the same start and end times, which would help alleviate congestion.

Mike Bofall, a Berringer Run resident, said that he and other residents in the area are worried about kids wandering through their yards and the resulting vandalism or loitering.

Colby Ardire, a Bassett Road resident, said she is worried about people dropping their children off in her driveway. She told the commission that she already has kids walking to school through her yard.

“As I’m pulling into my driveway, I don’t want to have to worry about hitting a child,” she said.

Planning Commission Secretary Daniel Meehan said he was uneasy with the dropoff plans.

“I’m confused about the traffic,” he said. “I don’t get the sense that the traffic flow works. I don’t have a good feeling about how you get there and drop kids off,” he said.

Member Bonnie Smith and Vice-Chair John DesForges also expressed concern about the drop-off and backed up traffic on Dover Center Road trying to turn left into the school.

The plans will go before the Planning Commission at their next meeting June 6.