Knowing we will build our new high school at its current location—the spot at which the high school has served our community since the 1950s—we are now looking for imaginative ways to maximize the space we have with which to work.

In developing ideas for our new facility, we look to innovative schools across the country. Consider Corvallis High School in Corvallis, Oregon. Corvallis, too, built a new, world-class high school on the same spot as its previous facility. The school's compact design allows for greater interaction between students and teachers. (The compact design also made construction of the new facilities easier.) The school's innovative construction has also put Corvallis High School in contention for USGBC LEED Silver certification.

Consider, too, Todd Beamer High School in Federal Way, Washington. The school's designers sought to create an intimate, delightful environment by creating a highly adaptable facility with strong connections to its natural surroundings—a critical consideration given the natural beauty of our own surroundings here in Fayetteville.

We look also to Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts. This facility again employs creative use of small, intimate spaces that personalize and encourage relationships and increase face to face interaction between students and faculty.

A key consideration in designing Lawrence High School was that its presence and setting emphasize the school's commitment to education. The campus sits as a visual gateway along a major highway, much as Fayetteville High School sits prominently along Sixth Street. Our campus, too, serves as one of many gateways to the campus of the state's flagship university.

As we move forward in developing ideas for our new high school, we welcome the thoughts, suggestions, ideas, and critiques from everyone in the community. You can share your thoughts easily through our community blog.