Currently, a construction company is working on the demolition of a home, located at 4110 Wren Road, where the TISD has plans for the bus loop, which would lead to the back of the school.

“We were never given notification,” said neighbor Gary Criswell, who lives off Eagle Road, which sits directly in front of the proposed site. “I was never told that there was a public meeting taking place, or had a chance at giving any input.”

Criswell said he’s concerned that the property value of his house is going to drop.

“I don’t understand it. They want us to pay taxes, but then give us no voice in what’s happening,” said Criswell, who’s father built his home in 1968.

“What bothers me the most is the issues with noise and traffic are going to increase,” he said. “From looking at the property, it doesn’t look like there’s even enough clearance to even build a drive there. It’s too close to the homes which sit next to it.”

In addition, there are several elderly people in this neighborhood, he said.

“It doesn’t make sense to have buses coming through here any more than they already are,” he said.

Criswell said he and several other neighbors have tried to contact the TISD about the issue.

“I’ve had two calls about the issue,” said TISD executive director of planning and operations Max Cleaver. “As far as I know, there was an open meeting with the PTO (Cater Parent Teacher Association) and administrators before any plans were made as to what we were going to do.”

While Cleaver admitted he couldn’t say for sure what happened when it came to communicating with neighbors, he thought the school district did a good job spreading the word that there was going to be work done.

“To me, it seemed like there was plenty of information out there about it,” he said.

Jody Arnold, who’s aunt Doris Hazelwood, 87, lives next door to the property in question, said his aunt never received any notification and that he is concerned about buses driving past her home.

“I’m concerned because of her age,” Arnold said. “She likes to stay active and go outside, so I find it a little bit nerving that there are going to be busses going right past her house.”

Cleaver said that busses already travel through the area, going down Eagle Road, then making a right on Wren, and a left on Redwing Drive, before getting to the school.

“I don’t understand that complaint because busses go down those roads already,” Cleaver said.

Cleaver said the house, which the district bought for $109,000 in the spring, should be demolished in the next two weeks. After that, a portable building would be placed on the land leading to the back of the school, which will house additional students, he said.

“We’ve made sure that we’ve done everything up to standard,” Cleaver said. “I have visited the site, and talked to one of the neighbors who actually seemed to have no opinion on the project.”

There is a problem there with the flow of traffic, he said.

“Under ideal circumstances, we would like to have separate traffic flows for busses, for employees and for parents who are commuting. But because of the area (where Cater sits) we don’t have that right now,” Cleaver said.

One of the original plans up for debate for the property was to renovate the house at a cost of $10,000 and connect it to the school with a 500-foot long covered walkway running from the school costing $32,500.

“After going over that possibility, we didn’t feel like it would be in our best interest to do that,” Cleaver said. “There were safety concerns, and technology and classroom costs that made it a less attractive option.”

Jessie Jeffcoat, and his wife Jean, who live at the corner of Redwing Drive, also said they were never notified about the project.

“I am concerned about the property value of my home,” Jessie Jeffcoat said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to it because of this. I don’t like the way they (the TISD) did this without contacting me, or without my consent.”

On Monday, the Jeffcoats were searching through there housing paperwork and found language within their title that stated any “use of property” for business was prohibited.

“I don’t know what they consider a school, but it’s almost like they’re doing this for ‘business purposes,’” Jean Jeffcoat said. “We’re retired people. We care about the children in the community, but to do this without asking anyone is a shame.”