Officials work to iron out new school questions
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The questions came at a meeting of the two groups last week to discuss progress of the project.
The school board reported it had met all the criteria set out in the resolution passed by the county commission on Aug. 16. But when asked by Education Committee chairman Bill Zechman if actual plans were in the works, Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale told the committee that, though the board had chosen an architect, Upland Design, Inc., no contracts had been signed as yet.
“We were going to ask this committee for some direction,” Hale said. “Our attorney was hesitant about drafting a contract because quite a bit of architectural costs are up front.”
Upland Design architect Derrick Clemow, who was present at the meeting, outlined the concerns about funding.
“Where we stand right now,” Clemow said, “we’ve been through all the discussions about what’s in the project, but I keep getting a hesitancy, and it comes from all different sources, that we don’t really know how firm the funding is, and how much they should commit to it.”
Dr. Hale explained one of the reasons for the hesitancy.
“You know how the rumor mill operates in this county,” Hale said. “We just started to get a little bit of cold feet based on some things we were hearing.”
Commissioner Donnie Caldwell said he had heard some rumors as well.
“What I’m hearing is if this is going to take a property tax increase, it’s not going to pass,” Caldwell said. “And I think that’s where they’re getting cold feet, because they’re hearing the same thing.”
Clemow pointed out the substantial expenses the next phase of the project will entail.
Education Committee member David Hill said the commission had already stated its position when it passed the resolution in August with a vote of 20-4.
“It was stated when we did this, correct me if I’m wrong,” Hill said, “that the school board would acquire property and acquire an architect and get some drawings done and by August 2005 we would try to get the funding then because we’ve got to wait for this fiscal year to get over. Now you’re saying, ‘We don’t want to commit the money. We don’t want to do this until we know exactly about the funding.'”
Dr. Hale pointed out if the board met its requirements, the county commission would be compelled to follow through on its promise.
Zechman stated his support as well.
“I feel, as one member of the commission, that we have made the commitment,” Zechman said. “We got a majority vote on that, and I consider each member who voted for it to be committed as long as the school system carried out these agenda items, which I think you have.”
Dr. Hale said the meeting did much to alleviate his concerns.