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Show This text message is used to keep the image from rotating in ocr process. Be sure to crop the top .25" off after the ocr process. I(Oldest Woodward building) favored for preservation By MARTA MURVOSH The Spectrum FEB 061998 UTAH PRESS ASSOCIATION Clipping Service (801) 328-8678 SPECTRUM ( SCHOOL • Continued from At t'3 to preserve the oldest of the three buildings, called the Woodward building. It has the bell tower and is at 15 S. 100 West, St. George. Many also said they wanted to see parts of the 8-acre campus remain open space and a place for the community to gather. Committee members were asked by Scott Hirschi, committee chairman, to talk about their personal or professional visions for the school. St. George is one of the few Mormon cities that has kept the town square Mormon pioneer towns were designed with, said Doug Alder, who represents the Washington County Historical Society on the committee. "Any town in the West would love to have our downtown," Alder said. The oldest Woodward building has historically been used for teaching, and future uses need to reflect that history, some said. . "(It) represents to me the center of education in this valley," Randy Wilkinson said. Sheldon Johnson, school board member, suggested the building could be used for Millcreek High School, which has outgrown its Washington location. Johnson also said he would consider all ideas. Hirschi, who is also Washington County Economic Development Council director, was the only one who suggested the campus future would involve commercial ventures. Hirschi said he envisioned all school buildings except the oldest would be removed. Buildings in an architectural style similar to Woodward would be built around an oval- ]JS' ST. GEORGE - The fate of a school most Washington County residents remember attending is in the hands of people who said they want to preserve the 96-year-old building. A IS-member committee met Thursday to lay the foundation for the process of deciding how the three Woodward Sixth-Grade Center buildings could be used. "Life is made of memories," said St. George Mayor Dan McArthur, c:ho is a committee member. "The .------------, ) The committee will recommend to the Washington County School Board a use for the three Woodward Sixth-Grade Center buildings, district office building and the a-acre campus. Scheduled meetings • 4 p.m., Feb. 23,.site visit II 7 p.m., March 12, public scoping meeting • Noon, April 2, subcommittee reports and discussion of. recommendations • Noon, May 7, subcommittee reports and drafting recommendation p.m., June 11, public hearing of recommendation draft • Noon, July 2, revisions of recommendation draft .7 shaped grassy area. Then the new structures could be leased to businesses or government agencies, he said. Several committee members said they want the property appraised ,and others, such as Bob Nicholson, director of Community Development, said they think the committee's $2,000 budget could be better spent on an indepth structural appraisal of the three buildings. School board members may discuss funding either suggestion Tuesday at their monthly meeting. The two-hour meetings are open to the public and will generally be noon on the first Thursday of the month in the school board room, 189 W. Tabernacle, St. George. Two public hearings will be held at 7 p.m. March 12 and June 11 in the Woodward gym building. The next meeting will be a site visit . 4 p.m. Feb. 23. Call Hirschi at 6527550 or the district office at 673-3553 for information. decision we make here will make memories for others." Washington County School board members decided in December to move students from the buildings, which are aging and need major renovation. A decision may be made Tuesday on where to build a replacement school. Committee members agreed to shed biases for the six months they are discussing the school's fate. In sharing their ideas, they all said they wanted • See LSCHOOL on A3 |
