The chairman of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education said today school officials will comply with county requests for public hearings, prioritizing school facilities and redistricting.
“Whatever it takes,” said Clyde Miller. “Our needs are so great if the county commissioners say prioritize, we’ll do it.”
Miller also said he believes the school staff and board can comply with requests from the commissioners for redistricting plans by June 1.
Steve Blount, chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, sent Miller and school officials a letter late last week detailing questions and issues surrounding a proposed $103 million bond package. Under the formula, Rowan-Salisbury would get $97.8 million and the Kannapolis schools would receive around $5 million.
The four-page letter spells out questions and concerns raised by commissioners following the school facilities needs presentation earlier this month.
Included with the letter is a two-page attachment with recommendations for ranking the needs, giving priority to eliminating mobile classrooms and removing safety and fire code violations. New concept facilities such as the proposed Millennium Center come in at the bottom of the seven-step ranking proposed by the county.
Blount reiterated the county’s commitment to build new elementary schools next year, regardless of a bond.
Blount also called on the school board to hold a series of public forums to discuss all projects, costs and potential benefits.
The board is asked to respond by June 1 on seven issues:
- Will the three new elementary schools result in additional need for local dollars for staff and operating costs?
- Will the proposed redistricting change the school board and citizen’s support for various projects?
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n What will be the impact on current expense funding for all of the projects, especially the Millennium Center and the Renaissance schools?
- What additional schools, beyond the bond package, might be needed to accommodate growth by 2010?
- Based on expected growth, what additional school space might be needed during the 20-year life of the bond debt?
- Will the proposed bond package enhance educational opportunities for the academically gifted students?
- What is the estimated impact on all of the above questions of the new gateways and revised dropout rate?
“We can get it done by June 1,” vowed Miller today.
Although he is optimistic that the community will support the $97.8 million bond package, Miller said that school officials will do what is necessary.
“If the whole bond doesn’t go, it’s better to get part of your needs met, than none,” said Miller.
While confident of community support, Miller expressed surprise at the reaction of Salisbury parents and at the estimated tax hike needed to repay the bond.
“With the power plants and revaluation, I don’t believe it would be 11 cents,” said Miller.
County officials estimated that it would take an 11-cent hike in property taxes to pay the bond. They also suggested it could take another three-cents to pay for the extra staff and operating costs.
Miller said that top school administrators had met with high school principals and discussed the proposed bond package. Miller said he was not at the meeting but that Dr. Wiley Doby, superintendent, had said all the principals were supportive.
“We were surprised. We had no idea that was coming,” said Miller, referring to an outpouring of opposition to the bond package and the treatment of Salisbury High School at a public hearing.
Contact Jessie Burchette at jburchette@salisburypost.com or 704-797-4254.
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