Citizens disagree with leasing

At the City of Harrisonburg School Board meeting Tuesday night, some Harrisonburg residents expressed disapproval with the possibility of JMU leasing Harrisonburg High School.

The lease would let the university use the high school building for $7.5 million for a span of five years. Students of the high school would move into the newly constructed high school building, and the old building would be declared as surplus property.

If the lease is enacted, superintendent Donald Ford said that once the lease expires, it could be extended, sold or left to the city. JMU spokesman Andy Perrine said, "We’re just waiting for the school board and city council to make a decision." Perrine said JMU got involved with the high school at the city’s request about four or five years ago.

Some Harrisonburg residents seem to disagree with the idea of the current high school being surplus property, since Harrisonburg has its own issues of overcrowding. Donna Lewis, a Harrisonburg resident present at the board meeting, said, "JMU can control its overcrowding through admissions, but we cannot." Another city resident, Don Allen, expressed a similar opinion. "The old high school building is dedicated to teaching the children of this city."

Other suggestions were vice president of administrative affairs, said finance reform, which includes FEB reform, was one of the biggest successes of the year because they found a way to utilize the money left over from FEB clubs, instead of just letting it sit in bank accounts.

Golden said SGA should continue building relations with delegates in Richmond. He said SGA sent 20 members for a visit in Richmond that allowed students to voice their opinions about JMU. He said SGA should continue lobbying in Richmond for money and to stay involved with Virginia21. It also is important to keep students involved with politics and to make sure they are informed of the candidates, he said.

Golden also mentioned how SGA stood up for the weapons policy. He said it doesn’t necessarily matter which side a student is on; it is important to take a stand in allowing a university to set its own policies.

"In the end, JMU knows what is best for JMU," Golden said.

Golden said despite the number of successful programs SGA has done this school year, there "is still a lot of little stuff going on behind-the-scenes."

Franceschi said SGA should continue all its work next year and try to bring in even more ideas to campus.

"I think SGA as an organization should never become complacent in our success," Franceschi said, "but always strive to better serve the student body."