Officials at Sweet Home High School, addressing the concerns of some parents, say they are not worried about the college student housing being erected directly across the street from the high school.
At a meeting Friday night with angry parents from the school, Principal John Willis said he doesn't understand why the parents, mostly the fathers of female Sweet Home students, are concerned about the new complex.
"Why would high school girls want to hang out with college guys?" Willis asked. "Just because they are in college and will be living in deluxe rooms with Jacuzzis and big-screen televisions, that doesn't necessarily mean our girls will want to go there."
Parents, worried that high-school girls may consider going to the new apartments "the new cool thing to do," have suggested security outside the school, ID scanners at the entrance to Sweet Home, or even a lecture to female students about the dangers of sex.
Willis dismissed the need for such measures, however.
"The bottom line is 1,000 college boys living across the street from our high school does not worry me. I don't see high school girls being drawn to that," Willis said. "They would really have to want to rebel against their parents to go over there, and I really don't think they are at that stage."
Steven Vena, who owns the development company in charge of the new housing, said he trusts his residents to exercise good judgment.
"There may be an attraction for girls to hang out over there, but it's nothing we encourage," Vena said. "Our residents will decide for themselves what's right and wrong. I'm sure they are aware of the consequences."
Josh Korman, a candidate for Sweet Home Student Council and also a third-year law student at UB, said he is concerned about the issue.
"Of course when you erect college student housing across from a high school, one can expect parents to be nervous," Korman said. "But I assure them, if elected to the Sweet Home Student Council, I will work aggressively to ensure such problems will not occur."
Joe Sardi, a junior signed up to live in the new complex next year, said the thought of a large high school across the street - and the potential problems - never occurred to him.
"No, no. I don't think any of us guys are thinking about all those high school girls across the street. Frankly, that's just not right," Sardi said. He then tented his fingers and added "heh heh heh."
Principal Willis will hold another meeting to address parental concerns next week.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
