Renovations announced for sidewalks at Heber Springs High School receive backlash from alumni
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark.- The Heber Springs school board announced the renovations to come for their high school.
District officials said the plan is to create a more secure entrance for students and teachers while upgrading the inside of the facility as well. Officials said the sidewalks outside of the school will be covered because “the slabs are in disrepair and cannot be moved.”
Heber Springs High School alumni responded to the post saying how upset they were with the decision. They say the thought of the sidewalks being buried to make way for a new entrance is hard to imagine. June Verser graduated back in the 50s and said she still comes back to see her name.
“I don’t think it’s good. This is our history,” Verser said. “I know them all, I talked to some of them this morning.”
She said the school board blindsided her and hundreds of others when it made the announcement on social media.
“We just need to know what’s going on before decisions are made,” she said.
Renovations underway at North Little Rock’s Old Mill by family member of original sculptor
The district also stated that recreating the sidewalks would cost as much as $200,000. Verser and other alumni said they have all agreed to call the school to voice their concerns.
Matt Wise is another outraged. He graduated in 2007 and said this is about keeping something sacred.
“My dad taught here for 32 years, and he actually wrote a lot of these names from the early 80’s until the 2000s,” Wise said.
He said this is something he and others intend to fight and are hopeful the district has a change of heart.
“If we don’t know where we came from were lost and right here standing on these names that’s a lot of history,” Wise said.
Sue Cowan Williams Library reopening after undergoing renovations
The district superintendent declined an interview but the district said in a post, “We do very much intend to honor the past graduates by capturing the names and having them displayed on campus. We are in the process of exploring ways to do this.”
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
