By Holly Fesperman LeeSalisbury Post
A consolidated school central office and city conference center could cost $16.8 million, a Rowan-Salisbury School System official said Monday night.
At a called meeting, school board members discussed a presentation being prepared for the Rowan County Board of Commissioners on the proposed joint endeavor.
Gene Miller, assistant superintendent, detailed the need for a new central office and discussed multiple structural problems with the school system’s current central office buildings.
After the presentation, board Chairman Dr. Jim Emerson told Miller he was convinced of the need, but asked “is that going to be the issue? Or are some of the county commissioners going to say O.K. just suck it up and keep on keeping on?”
Miller said he wasn’t sure how to answer that question.
“Well I’m convinced of the need, but we want those that are going to be partners in this deal to be convinced, and the general public,” Emerson said.
Miller said he understood that county commissioners indicated they wanted a presentation on the current building situation. But board member Karen Carpenter said she’s not sure that’s what commissioners want to know.
“I have a feeling that some of them will say, ‘We know you need a central office, but what do you need from us? What will it look like and what are you talking dollars and cents?’ ” Carpenter said.
“My conversation with a county commissioner was, ‘We want nuts and bolts. We want specifics, not how many offices there are going to be, but how much is this going to cost?’ ” Carpenter continued.
“I think they know the need. This presentation is good to show the need. I just wonder if they’re not going to be expecting more than just, ‘We need a central office and we’re wanting you all to be part of it,’ ” she said.
Board member Linda Freeze said she agreed with Carpenter that Miller needed to be more specific.
Miller told board members that Salisbury City Council member and architect Bill Burgin provided the $16.8 million cost estimate, which does not include furnishings.
Board members talked about what the split might be if three entities ó the school system, the county and Salisbury ó came together to finance the building.
Miller said he no agreement from anyone about funding the project, but he posed hypothetical scenario in which each body could pay one-third of the cost, or $5.6 million apiece.
“Now, we’re going to have a problem coming up with $5.6 million,” Miller said. “We’re going to need the county’s assistance.”
Board member Kay Wright Norman asked if the school system might have to seek private funding to pay its share.
“That would be part two,” Miller said.
He told Norman that once the three entities decide what each contribution would be, the school board can decide how it will come up with it’s share.
“Until that’s on the table I don’t really want to lay that out,” he said.
“If the county says, ‘We’re going to give you $4 million. You come up with $7 million,’ we’ve got a problem,” Miller said.
On the other hand, if the county contributed $6 million and told the school board to come up with $4 million, that would be more doable, he said.
“We have to have a target before we can figure out what we can do,” Beard said.
Board members directed Miller to take his presentation to county commissioners.
Also during Monday’s meeting:
– Board members discussed the need for an attorney at monthly school board meetings.
At the December meeting, board members formed a committee to investigate the issue. Carpenter told board members the committee outlined several expectations for a board attorney and the committee now wanted to hear what the full board’s expectations are.
Some of the committee’s expectations for a board attorney included attending closed sessions, attending board meetings, reviewing board material prior to the meetings, attending bond forfeiture hearings and being on call to attend other hearings.
She handed out several documents form the National School Boards Association meant to help school boards select an attorney and negotiate a contract.
Carpenter asked board members to study the documents and be ready to discuss them at the Jan. 28 regular board meeting.
Board members voted to have Don Sayers, the current board attorney, attend the closed session portion of the Jan. 28 meeting.
Board members also agreed to move closed session to the first agenda item to save money on Sayers’ fees. Closed session is usually last on the agenda.
The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education will hold its regular meeting on Jan. 28 at 5 p.m. at the system administrative office on Long Street in East Spencer.
Contact Holly Lee at 704-797-7683 or hlee@salisburypost.com.