Staff report
Rowan County commissioners and school board members will resume discussions Wednesday on providing a central office for the Rowan-Salisbury School System.
Last week, the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education agreed to ask commissioners to support buying the former Winn-Dixie building on Jake Alexander Boulevard, making improvements to it and adding additional space.
Arnold Chamberlain, chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, said discussions will continue Wednesday related to the costs and other facets of the project.
Chamberlain voiced support for a central office if the school board is willing to pay half the cost of the project.
Currently, school administrative staff members are split among four sites.
Chamberlain said a concern about the condition of school offices on Long Street in East Spencer is the major reason he is looking at the central office issue.
School officials have cited an engineering report that shows the Long Street building has structural problems.
As outlined, the county would borrow the money and buy the property, then handle the selection of an architect and construction company. Once the debt is paid off, the property would be deeded to the school system.
Chamberlain and Commissioner Jim Sides are representing the county at the discussions.
School board Chairman Jim Emerson and Karen Carpenter are representing the school board.
The committee session will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Cohen Administrative Offices Building, 130 W. Innes St. The meeting will be on the second floor in Room 203.