"Upscale School for Upscale Community"

In her article, "Upscale School for Upscale Community," Erika Hobbs, Staff writer for the Orlando Sentinel, states that Orlando officials are pressing the county school district for upgrades at the proposed Baldwin Park of Orlando, Florida. Hobbs remarks that the "district wants to use its standard urban-school blueprints to put a campus on 13 acres it claims to control," and states that furthermore, they are "not in the business of building upscale schools for affluent communities."

Hobbs speculates that the dispute could jeopardize plans for any school in the near-downtown neighborhood, where homes often sell fro more than $1 million. While city officials are pushing for a $500,000 wish list of mreo than 20 design changes, from wrought-iron-like fences to trellises and other details of "architectural interest" so that the school will blend in with the Baldwin Park's traditional village center.

The district argues, however, that to alter prototype designs would set a bad precedent, further adding that "we don't have a special design for affluent neighborhoods." Standard plans cover all student educational and safety needs, but are much simpler and cheaper to build. According to Pat Harron, chief facilities officer for the school district, the amenities the city wants would "run counter to our objective to equity for all."