Time to move past ‘paralysis’ on school central office
Under the guise of needing more study, the Rowan County Commission has delayed permission to borrow funds to build a new school system central office. In business we call this decision-making process “paralysis by analysis.” It’s the inability to proceed on a project for fear that a better idea may materialize that might be slightly better. Eventually, what manifests is all the time, money and resources spent looking for the “best” solution negates all possible future cost savings. It is the equivalent of spending a quarter to save a dime.
I say “under the guise” because obstruction, not study, is the objective. This has nothing to do with the best interests of the schools, city or county. Several commissioners have made it clear they do not want the office located downtown. Commissioners are confident they can continue to spin the school system’s wheels indefinitely. There will always be one more proposal, building, location or property owner that wants to unload a white elephant on the school system for cheap. Enough is enough. The mall property is just another distraction, with no hope of generating any real cost savings.
After 20 years, the school system has a location, plan and funding mechanism. Its location reflects the prominence that those who value education think it deserves. The building will be stately and save both construction and operating costs. The funding mechanism is sound. At $129/square foot, if the building is deemed too small by some county commissioners, it’s only too small because Jim Sides and the past county commissioners ensured it would be by underfunding it.
Tell county commissioners to stop wasting taxpayer time, energy and money under the guise of study. After 20 years, a location, plan and funding mechanism are in place, ready to move forward. It’s time to build a central office downtown.
— Michael S. Young
Salisbury
Rare date rolls around
As we approach the end of the year 2012, it recently crossed my mind that 12-12-2012 will be the last time for several decades when the month, day and year will all be the same number. The next time this will occur will be 1-1-2101. Wow, that’s 88 years and 19 days away. It would be nice to see it happen again, but I don’t think I will live to be 132 years old.
— Thomas McCora
Salisbury