There’s more opposition to the proposed site of the new Carroll High School.
The school, approved by voters as part of the Corpus Christi Independent School District’s 2018 Bond proposal, came up quite a bit at Monday’s CCISD Board of Trustees meeting.
District Superintendent Dr. Roland Hernandez talked about the procedure for drawing new school attendance boundaries, including for the new Carroll.
But during public comment, several people spoke out against the new school’s proposed location, including former Corpus Christi city councilman David Loeb.
Loeb is against the proposed site because the United States Navy is against it. That’s because part of the school property would be inside the navy’s flight path at nearby Cabaniss Field. Loeb says building there puts more than lives at risk.
“Choosing to put the school there has real consequences for both the safety of people at the school, but also the economic well-being of the entire community,” said Loeb.
The U.S. Navy’s presence in Corpus Christi accounts for about a quarter of the city’s economy, or about $2 billion per year. Loeb believes putting a school near Cabaniss Field against the Navy’s wishes would likely lead to the Department of Defense closing Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
“Without it, Corpus Christi would immediately go into a recession,” said Loeb.
A real estate developer, Loeb says he understand the site’s draw, but is confident CCISD will change course.
“This won’t be the first time that somebody’s spent money looking at this site and then chosen to go someplace else because they figure out what the issues are and realize it’s for the good of the community for them to go someplace else,” said Loeb.
There was an item on the closed agenda listed as only “Real Estate”. That item was reportedly a discussion on completing the land purchase for Carroll High School. The board decided not to act Monday.
CCISD responded to the public comments in a statement to KRIS 6 News, it reads:
“CCISD appreciates voters’ support for Bond 2018. The property was purchased in accordance with city zoning, adjusted in cooperation with the Navy in Spring 2018, and publicized extensively. CCISD prioritizes safety and community partnerships. We look forward to joining the other schools, churches, and businesses on the thriving south side.”
