Fayetteville School Board passes on 10.5-acre property adjacent to site of future Ramay Junior High

The Fayetteville School Board voted Thursday to reject a proposal to buy 10.5 acres adjacent to the future Ramay Junior High School site, ending discussions on relocating the athletic field. The board spent 30 minutes debating the $2.781 million offer, with no member proposing approval. Superintendent John Mulford had earlier negotiated the purchase after learning the landowner was willing to sell in March, but a cost analysis by Connect Advisors revealed relocating the field could add $686,050 to $3.2 million due to drainage and infrastructure changes. Construction on Ramay Junior High is set to begin this summer following the City Council’s May 19 vote to deny a resident appeal led by Council member Teresa Turk. The school’s guaranteed maximum price is $108 million, with bidding opening in June and a final price vote in July. The current athletic field location will remain on the south side of the school, north of Ash Street, doubling as a construction equipment storage area. Mulford had argued the land could serve future expansion or be sold later, but board members agreed relocating the field was impractical. The district would also need to purchase a house on the property for $700,000, adding to costs. While some saw value in holding the land, the board ultimately decided against the purchase, prioritizing the existing construction plan. The School Board had initially paused consideration until after the City Council’s appeal decision. Mulford noted the design team preferred the current field location, and moving it could complicate construction logistics. Without a firm recommendation, the board opted to defer the purchase, leaving the land’s future uncertain.