School board to discuss future of East Spencer offices Monday

Published 12:00 am Sunday, May 10, 2015

By Jeanie Groh

jeanie.groh@salisburypost.com

The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education will discuss the fate of its current administrative offices in East Spencer at Monday’s meeting.

There has been previous discussion about the school system donating the property to the town of East Spencer, to be redeveloped and possibly used as a senior housing facility. The town requested a two-year term to decide whether or not it wanted to claim the property.

North Carolina law, however, states that a school district cannot transfer property without compensation unless it is to be used for public school educational purposes.

Rod Malone, an attorney with Tharrington Smith advises in a letter, “Local boards of education must receive fair market value for all property transferred that will not be used for public school purposes.”

The board will discuss the law and different options for the property.

• Dr. Stewart Hobbs, district-wide athletic director, will present proposed coaching supplements for Rowan-Salisbury’s middle and high schools, as well as compare the district’s supplements to neighboring counties.

• Grateful Hearts Community Services has expressed interest in the school system’s Kizer building, located at 2600 Cottage Street in Salisbury.

The building is in poor condition and is currently used for storage.

Grateful Hearts Community Services is a faith-based charitable organization, which provides transitional housing, food and clothing for families and individuals affected by poverty.

“The group has shown an interest in using the Kizer Building for some of their programs,” said Assistant Superintendent of Operations Anthony Vann. “I believe they would like to own it.”

• Vann will also present a notice to bidders for the district’s bleacher projects during Monday’s meeting. Bids for the project are due May 27 at 2 p.m.

• Chief Financial Officer Tara Trexler will present a budget recommendation for the 2015-16 fiscal year.

“The Board of Education needs to approve an amount to request for 2015-16 county appropriation funding.  Although many factors affecting the upcoming budget year are still unknown, the county requires the request to move forward with their budget planning,” the meeting agenda states.

• The board will conduct a first read of policies addressing employee dress and appearance, contracts with the board, conflicts of interest. These policy changers are at the recommendation of the North Carolina School Boards Association. The board contracts policy is a new policy, and the other two policies are updated versions of current ones.

• The board will also continue its discussion of the impact teacher assistants have in the classroom and expense reimbursement for school bus drivers.

The board will meet Monday at 4 p.m., at the district’s administrative offices, 110 S. Main Street, in East Spencer.