By Rebecca Rider
rebecca.rider@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — School system officials plan to release a phase I study and subsurface report for the new western elementary school at Monday’s Board of Education meeting.

Assistant Superintendent Anthony Vann said the report will be released to the public Monday. The report covers soil and environmental suitability for three parcels of land the board purchased in Cleveland, which abut the current site of Cleveland Elementary School. The board voted unanimously to enter into a purchase agreement for the land on Sept. 12. After entering into the agreement, Vann said, the board had 90 days to complete its due-diligence, which included the Phase I study.

One parcel is a 19.5-acre tract that borders Mimosa Street while a second parcel borders U.S. 70, and is approximately 7.9 acres. The third tract is a 2.2-acre plot along Paris Street.

The study, conducted by Pilot Environmental, Inc., notes that the approximately 41-acre site once contained underground storage tanks. According to the report, a single, 10,000-gallon diesel storage tank, used to fuel the school’s diesel boiler system, was removed from the site of the current Cleveland Elementary school in 1997. The school has since moved to a natural gas heating system. The report notes that there were no odors or visible soil contamination at the time of removal, but a soil assessment was also not conducted at the time. According to the report, the former tank is considered a recognized environmental condition, but based on observations Pilot writes that no further action is required.

An underground storage tank was also located at a structure on the Paris Street plot. The tank stores oil used to heat the structure.

The report also notes the presence of several properties with underground storage tanks or other conditions near the school but states that their should not pose a problem to the school. The current Cleveland Elementary school building is flagged as having possible asbestos.

In other business the board will:

• Look at a plan to address low-performing schools. According to the most recent state data, 13 Rowan-Salisbury Schools were labeled low performing based on school performance grades and growth measures.
• Consider bonus pay for principals and assistant principals who are current employees and began on or before Aug. 18 of the current school year. According to documents attached to the board’s online agenda, the principals would receive a $1,500 bonus and assistant principals would receive a $1,000 bonus to be paid by the end of June 2017.
• Continue discussion of parking fees.
• Look at school improvement plan goals for each district school.

The board will meet at 5 p.m. in the Wallace Educational Forum board room, 500 N. Main St. Public comment will be held at 6 p.m.

Contact reporter Rebecca Rider at 704-797-4264.