OXFORD – The idea that the Oxford School District is even considering turning the historic Middle School building into a bus garage has some area residents up in arms.

In an effort to communicate that sentiment to the district’s administration and board of education, a group of concerned citizens have begun circulating a petition urging the district to reconsider.

David Emerson, an Oxford resident, helped draft the petition.

“We are all educational advocates,” said Emerson, of the informal group that has rallied together behind the cause. “We’re just people that are a little fired up over the direction things are going.

Some community members, Emerson among them, have been involved in the early stages of the capital project planning process as a part of the district’s facility advisory committee. For Emerson, the experience has been frustrating because he and his fellow committee members have been left out of the actual decision-making process. They have not been included in school board workshops to hear presentations by the consulting group retained by the district, the Bernier Carr Group. Their next meeting isn’t even scheduled until the third week of November.

While Emerson said he doesn’t fault the district for looking at options, he thinks they are off-base considering the current economic climate and the historical value of the school.

The petition has been carefully worded to cite economic conditions and the district’s declining enrollment, and encourages the continued use of the landmark building as an educational institution.

“I think we’re on pretty solid ground with our rationale,” reported Emerson.

According to him, about 30 residents have been involved in circulating the petition and hundreds of signatures have been gathered so far.

“People have literally ripped the pen and paper from my hand to sign it,” said one Oxford resident who has been helping to circulate the petition.

Several local businesses, including Hoppies and Canal Street Hardware, have placed copies of the petition at their front counters.

“There are many, many signatures,” said Ken Ryan, owner of Canal Street Hardware. At least three and a half pages have been filled in the short time he’s had it displayed, he said.

According to Ryan, many of the people who have added their name claimed they weren’t fully aware of the proposed capital project.