The group that has raised issues about the plan for the new Commerce High School plans "to think about it for awhile" before deciding what, if any, further action to take.
Several members of PEACE (People Excited About Commerce Education) were visibly angry after the Wednesday night presentation by the school board because the board refused to take questions.
"There is a sentiment for recall," said member Dr. Carlton Allen.
At one point, when PEACE member Joe Leffew attempted to ask a question of one of the architects, the architect told him he would take questions later, at which time board chairman Dr. Paul Sergent stood up and announced that there would be no questions.
Bill Sims, who chairs the CHS Advisory Council and has found himself spokesperson for PEACE, made it clear that the group was not at all satisfied by last Wednesday's presentation.
"I thought a lot of what went on was uncalled for," said Sims. He specifically referred to statements by Superintendent Mac McCoy in response to a member Charlotte Massey's criticisms quoted in The Commerce News, former school board chairman Steve Perry's comments in regard to why Wayne Wilbanks is no longer the construction manager for the project and Perry's comments regarding athletic director Steve Savage's alleged contribution to the increased size of the gym.
"They should never have been brought up," he said.
As for the design of the school, Sims said the presentation did not change his mind.
"I don't feel better about it," he said of the design. He listed three items - a preference for a two-story facility, the loss of a third or more of the practice field and the loss of the old gym - as his personal concerns.
At the same time, Sims gave some grudging respect to the presentation.
"If they'd done that same presentation on March 24, they would have avoided a lot of this that we've gone through since then," he stated.
Sims argues that the practice field "is a community field, not only used by the school, but also by the recreation department teams," and pointed out that just last week, the primary school used it for a field day.
"That space is gone (under the construction plan)," he said.
He has similar feelings about the current gym, slated for demolition as soon as a "practice gym" is built that would serve the school until the project is completed.
"I hate to see the loss of the old gym. You just don't tear down an existing building that is that solid and that sound," he said. "I think they should create a way to work around it."
Sims also predicted that the school board will never get around to building the track.
"We'll never have a track," he said. "Never. I know it's in the plans, but I don't think we'll ever have it."
Sims declined to say what options PEACE is considering. While it has not retained an attorney, former attorney general Michael Bowers, who Sims calls "a close friend," has attended its public meeting, as well as the two school board meetings dedicated to discussing the high school.
