The county says it can’t give Weldon City Schools $1.3 million to pay an architect to design a new high school so now both boards will head to mediation.
That was the result of a three hour joint meeting tonight between county commissioners and the board of education.
The school system, which has been fighting for a new high school since 1997, used a construction executive and architect to show the need for a new school and to show commissioners how one could be built using a lease arrangement where payments would not begin until the school is opened.
William Cram of M.B. Kahn Construction explained to commissioners how the school built in the 1950s to accommodate the baby boom after World War II exceeded its 23-year life expectancy.
The school not only lacks in modern education amenities, Cram said, but lacks in safety and energy efficiency. “It’s an antiquated building. It was more about shade and shelter than it was education.”
Robert Ferris, CEO of SFL+a Architects told commissioners an energy efficient, modern high school could be built in Weldon for $30.32 million but by using alternative delivery procurement — grants, green procurement strategies and tax credits — one could be built for $19.55 million.
The school, he said, would be designed to be a showplace for the community, adding a $12.64 million in value to the town by making the library public, having a public auditorium, a public recreation center and public atrium, dining and banquet hall.
Neil Yarborough, of The Yarborough Law Firm in Fayetteville, represented the county.
The attorney argued Halifax County is a poor county in the middle of other poor counties. “Halifax County is losing school aged children,” he said, telling the board of education the state projects the county will lose 300 students next year.
Weldon City Schools, Yarborough said, is the third smallest school system in the state with 963 students. Its average daily membership funding is twice the state average of $6,582. “Weldon has the third highest per pupil expenditure for the third smallest district supported by the second poorest county in the state.”
Yarborough said the county is working on selling $639,200 in school construction bonds to make roofing repairs, renovate science labs and dressing rooms. The money would also renovate wiring and add drop ceilings.
The attorney also suggested the school board might look at sending its students elsewhere, giving mileage information to Northwest, Roanoke Rapids and Southeast high schools. “You don’t see any high schools being built for less than 1,200 students.”
Said Yarborough: “Building a new high school in this economy, with a declining population is not the thing to do. We have to go with the resources available to Halifax County until better days arrive.”
School board Attorney Rod Malone said it appeared the county was pushing for consolidation. He reminded the county, however, “This school has to serve 288 kids. This board has the obligation to teach 288 kids to put them in the position to compete.”
Following both boards meeting in closed session and discussion of the order of school construction following debt retirement in Roanoke Rapids and Weldon — a new Manning Elementary School being ahead of Weldon — County Manager Tony Brown said, “We are not prepared to provide additional money for an architect for a new high school.”
Said Malone: “We are prepared to head to step two (the mediation).”
Pattie Cotton, chair of the school board, said in a letter to board of commissioners Chairman James Pierce, the issue centers on the county’s decision to fund the school system with $832,856.
According to the June 24 letter obtained by rrspin.com, $727,625 is for current expense and $105,231 is for capital expense.
Cotton notes in the hand delivered letter the school system requested $3,037,448.14 — $1.3 million for current expense and the remainder for capital outlay. “The funds appropriated by the board of commissioners did not include the requested funds to hire an architect to design a new high school for the students in Weldon.”
