HOUSTON – At a packed meeting Thursday night, parents and students expressed concerns over a controversial plan for a new Bellaire High School that would send students to other campuses during construction.
The architecture firm in charge of designing the new school laid out its two proposals. One would be completed in three-and-a-half years and keep students on site during construction, something Bellaire Principal Michael McDonough supports.
"What I've always maintained is trying to make the strongest argument that we stay here and that everything that kids come to Bellaire for will remain," McDonough told Local 2.
The other possibility would relocate students to as many as four different high schools and take between two and two-and-a-half years to finish.
"To send students to other schools up to nine miles away, it wouldn't be Bellaire anymore," said parent Christopher Spadone.
Most students said they didn't want to go to another school.
"Between Lee and Sharpstown, I didn't apply there for a reason," said freshman Jasmine Huang.
Some Bellaire homeowners at the meeting said they didn't like either proposal because both include a four-story parking garage they fear will create safety issues and make traffic problems worse.
Houston ISD will hold at least two more community meetings before a final decision is made. Construction is set to begin summer 2015.