By Holly Fesperman Lee

Salisbury Post

The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education will hire a staff member to handle future construction projects internally rather than contracting with an outside agency.

Board members voted 3 to 2 with two abstentions to hire a full-time construction manager at Monday’s meeting.

Assistant Superintendent Jim Christy recommended hiring a construction manager, telling board member’s that Bill Hill’s contract with the system will end Jan. 31.

“We will have to have someone,” Christy said.

Hill worked for Construction Control Corp. and handled all recent school construction projects.

The system’s contract with Construction Control Corp. expired and the board voted to contract directly with Hill in September to finish current projects.

Christy told board members that money in the maintenance budget will cover salary costs for a construction manager this year but the position would have to be budgeted next year.

The salary range is roughly $3,000 to $5,000 per month depending on experience.

The system currently pays Hill a monthly salary of $5,000 plus a $500 travel allowance.

The system paid Construction Control Corp. about $2.2 million to oversee several bond construction projects.

Board member Dr. Jim Emerson asked Christy if construction companies had their own construction managers.

Christy said they did, but a construction manager or company like Construction Control Corp. represents the system’s interests.

The person is knowledgeable enough to read plans and monitor work to ensure it is done correctly. Many questions come up from contractors and architects, as well, Christy said.

“Decisions have to be made … I’m an educator,” Christy said.

“What is our alternative if we don’t hire a construction person?” asked board Chairman Bryce Beard.

“We’ll do what we can,” Christy said.

Board member Kay Wright Norman said she thought the situation called for board members to look to qualifications for Christy’s position, assistant superintendent for operations. She said it wasn’t a put-down to Christy, “But because we don’t have that, we’ll have to hire someone else.”

Beard, board members Patty Williams and Vice Chairman Karen South Carpenter voted to approve hiring a construction manager.

Board members Dr. Jim Emerson and Linda Freeze voted against, and board members Norman and Jean Kennedy did not vote.

Contact Holly Lee at 704-797-7683 or hlee@salisburypost.com.