EAST SPENCER — The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education voted 6-1 today to build a central office in downtown Salisbury on land donated by the city.
“Since the initiation of discussion that identified the need for an education center … almost two generations of students have come through our schools,” board member Kay Wright Norman said before making the motion. “The time has come for this elected Board of Education to make the decisions that only we can make for our system, our current and future employees, our community and those who will visit our community.”
Earlier today, the Rowan County Board of Commissioners approved a letter of commitment to borrow $6 million for a central office. The district plans to pay back that money through its portion of sales tax revenues it receives for capital projects each year.
School board member Mike Caskey cast the lone dissenting vote, requesting the board take 30 days to consider other options.
“I would prefer that we at least hear what’s out there,” he said.
Norman interjected, saying “this is not a discussion that just started last month, this is a discussion that has been going on for years.
“I think it is our duty not to prolong this anymore, we need to do it,” she said.
The special meeting was called to discuss central office options, but the motion to build downtown was made almost immediately and passed within 10 minutes of the start of the meeting.
Find out more in Tuesday’s Post.