As a proud employee of Cumberland County Schools and a lifelong member of this community, I believe strongly that a unified front should always be conveyed in public venues when possible. At the same time, there are moments when the future of our schools and neighborhoods requires us to speak thoughtfully and clearly about what is at stake.
The discussion surrounding the future of E.E. Smith High School is one of those moments.
For several years, the conversation about rebuilding Smith has been accompanied by shifting narratives. At one time, the argument was that the current site did not have enough space. That concern was addressed when state-appointed engineers reviewed the property and approved a vertical design approach — allowing the new school to be built upward rather than outward.
Enrollment myths ignore growth along the Murchison Road corridor
More recently, another claim has surfaced suggesting that E.E. Smith sits in a low-attendance area. Anyone familiar with the current development along the Murchison Road corridor knows that characterization does not reflect reality. Hundreds of homes are being built in and around the area, and Fayetteville State University continues to expand and serve as a major driver of growth. With transportation already built into our school system, students will continue to come from across the district…