I used to be proud to say I was a product of Grand Forks public schools, having attended K through 12, including at Grand Forks Red River High School.
I don't know if I can still say that-not with the leadership and legal counsel the district has now.
The basic problem with Central High School's downtown parking issue is that the Grand Forks School Board, three times in a row, acted as if the district was above getting property permits and zoning changes before purchasing nearby properties.
The board bought the Executive Corners building, 300 North Fifth Street, early in 2013. The board bought 312 and 314 North Fifth Street early in 2014. City officials did not know about either of these purchases or about the plans for a parking lot until early 2014, when I told them.
These were the fourth properties and third parking-lot projects that the School Board was trying to sneak under the radar. And the board members wonder why the city did not give them the proper zoning?
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The city finally had had enough of the board bullying its way through. Any private entity would have had to get the proper permits and zoning. Why does the School Board think it is above that?
The School Board displaced five renters out of their homes. By federal and state laws, the district should have helped with relocation assistance and rent. The district claims it was not legally bound because there was no federal or state money involved.
But sometimes you do the ethical and moral thing, simply because it is the right thing to do.
So, Bill Palmiscno, if "selling the lots would help the district recoup the cost incurred when it purchased them"-as a Herald story last week paraphrased the School Board member as saying-so be it (" Demolition begins for two homes, one building in downtown Grand Forks ," Page B1, May 17).
Maybe those funds should have been spent on curriculum, teachers and students' education. Maybe next time, going through proper channels before the district buys property will be done.
Janet Burke
Grand Forks
Burke had rented at 314 North Fifth Street for 10 years before facing eviction by the Grand Forks School District after the district's purchase of the property.
