It was a decision that many felt was long overdue.
"I'm just glad (the decision) is behind us and we can move on to other things," said CUSD President Dwight Wilson.
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The Cunha site became the clear choice after a committee made of school construction professionals determined it was by far the most cost effective and expedient of the four alternatives.
"It's been a step by step process arriving at this point," said John Moseley, CUSD board member. "We arrived here through a natural series of events. It didn't happen overnight."
"When you look at where we were, there were very few options really," said CUSD Superintendent John Bayless.
The school board's decision to build at Cunha was the end of an agonizing decision.
"I feel relieved," said Moseley. "We're all behind it. We're all moving forward. We all have to get back to school business."
That likely will be a large task.
Although the middle school location is finally secured, many more questions have yet to be answered.
One of the biggest questions is how the district is going to compensate for a more than $5.5 million gap in projected construction costs.
Initial projections estimated the construction project to take about three years and cost more than $32 million.
In 1996, CUSD voters approved a $35 million bond, of which about $26.5 million remains for middle school construction. Some of the bond money was spent for improvements at other district schools.
To address the funding gap, Bayless gave a presentation delineating new projected cost estimates. He proposed not gutting the school but rather renovating some existing components of the school grounds. He said that would be one method to cut costs.
Another question has been pressed by board member Roy Salume regarding the possible acquisition of four parcels of land adjacent to the middle school site.
Although it wasn't guaranteed, language was added to the middle school resolution stating that the school board may direct the superintendent to acquire the land.
Some school board members say, however, that entering into negotiations will likely be a long ways off.
"If there's money, if it makes sense, we may enter into negotiations with various property owners," Wilson said. "We, at this point, don't have the money."
For the next few months the middle school construction project will be directed from the superintendent's office and largely out of school board members' hands.
Bayless will be working with the contracted architect to come up with a middle school design.
School officials say ideally they hope to begin construction in a year.
Now some of the biggest challenges facing the school board are to find ways to compensate for reduced state funding for public schools.
Other challenges might be less tangible, like rebuilding community support, especially among those who supported alternate sites.
"I think it's a community issue," said Wilson. "Everyone has to look at themselves and not demonize the debate."
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