To the editor:

The many letters from parents and students of the Lawrence Alternative High School display how successful the LAHS program has been. Their letters responding to David Holroyd now prove that combining a vo-tech school with LAHS makes sense and would allow the obviously bright students to further broaden their horizons. Let’s get on with it. The LJW provided a great avenue by which the students could express themselves, thank you.

The North Lawrence Wal-Mart idea in the Oct. 27 letter is very sensible. North Lawrence has been in need of a grocery store for years and there is plenty of space. Bonner Springs has a new supercenter directly across the street from the existing store, which will likely close and remain empty. Columbia, Mo., now has an empty building. Wal-Mart has 333-400 empty buildings across the country. I contend that no matter where a supercenter is located shoppers will come and the demise of the south store will take place, which creates a property generating no revenue.

My most sincere thought is rather than add one more empty building to their list, perhaps Wal-Mart would consider donating the south store property, for a federal tax credit, to USD 497 for our Alternative High School/vo-tech as it has the auto tech space. The inside could easily be converted to classrooms with 8-foot ceilings. The Payless location could be acquired for the wood and welding shops both of which require much space.

Beth Anne Mansur,

Lawrence