Where can you build a much needed middle school in fast-growing Lexington?

We would like to think there is enough open land in the district that you would not have to build it on one of the busiest commuter roads in the area.

But that apparently is not what Lexington 1 administrators and board members intend.

They are optioning 61.9 acres on Old Cherokee Road where 2 lanes struggle to handle about 10,000 cars a day.

A new Lexington Middle School for 1,000 students is to open there August 2021.

A DOT spokesman told us he knows of no plans to widen the road but the district’s Mary Beth Hill said a traffic engineer will be hired for recommendations.

This will be the 2nd school on that road. New Providence Elementary already slows traffic.

Lone board member Jada Garris voted ‘no’ to the proposal due to a pond on the property, lack of adequate road frontage, traffic congestion and lack of collaboration with other elected bodies. The most critical reason she gave was not being able to read the option agreements before voting to approve them.

That does not sound like the way to run a multi-million dollar district. And it raises a question about the judgment of other board members who voted blindly for this location.

We appreciate the classroom space need. More than an estimated 1,000 people are moving into our county each month.

Hill said the current middle school does not meet requirements since Dreher Street will be closed and access will be from a redirected Harmon Street and US 378 and SC 6.

Our other concern is Mrs. Garris concern about a lack of collaboration with town and county officials in finding a site.

County Councilman Darrell Hudson said he has met with administrators on his concerns.

“We agreed to disagree,” he said. “They basically told me they would take care of the schools. It was the county’s job to take care of the roads.”

This should concern all of us. It is not the place for a school.

– Jerry Bellune