Joint panel eager to talk funding – Burlington Times News

Jessica Williams jessicawtn

The Alamance-Burlington School Systems Joint Facilities Task Force held what was ultimately an informational meeting Friday morning to introduce new members and get them up to speed on the current state of school facilities.

Assistant Superintendent for Operations Todd Thorpe presented the five-year facilities plan, which contains schedules for painting, repaving, repairing covered walkways, installing new lighting and roofs, HVAC and window replacement, carpet removal, electrical upgrades for nearly all schools, and a new gym floor for Broadview and South Graham.

County Planning Director Libby Hodges also presented an update on projected growth in Alamance County that uses a formula to predict how many students will be added to each school by all currently approved housing developments.

A chart showed that growth is concentrated mostly in the Mebane area, which could mean trouble for the already-over-capacity Eastern Alamance High School, and demonstrates the need the Board of Education hopes for a new high school to be built between Eastern and Southern.

Board of Education member Patsy Simpson expressed some frustration with the lack of discussion about funding the new high school considering that county commissioners Tim Sutton and Bill Lashley are on the task force.

Im hoping at some point this committee and where were heading to is how to financially address where we need to be in the future, Simpson said. I recall when we met with the county commissioners, saying, God, I hope we can get Tim and Bill on this facilities committee because I want you guys to be with us, meaning with the board. What I would like to see on the agenda is honest feedback from you two as far as what you want to discuss in order for us to be friends and for us to really talk about how we can work with you two guys to get where we need to get.

The Board of County Commissioners is responsible for funding capital improvements in the school system, and will decide how the $150 million redistricting plan that includes two new schools and renovations for current facilities is funded.

Sutton and Lashley, the most fiscally conservative members of the board, have spoken out against building new schools and using public-private partnerships to help fund construction in the past, but their first two meetings on the Facilities Task Force havent delved into those details.

Sutton told Simpson that hes also eager to start that discussion, and that coming up with a plan they can sell to taxpayers would be essential to funding new facilities and renovations.

It works two ways. Youve got to show us what you want to do, and weve got some good ideas as far as what we think you ought to do, Sutton said. But more than anything, PR-wise, weve got to convince the public, if this is a bond referendum, or even us, as far as how money can be put out there as a result of things we do, not just bonds. It has to be a PR deal thats a good package for everybody.

Between now and next months meeting, members of the Task Force plan to visit Southern Alamance High School, which is one the districts most overcrowded high schools with the greatest need for renovations, to see first-hand whats needed to meet the school systems goal of having world class facilities.

Reporter Jessica Williams can be reached at jessica.williams@thetimesnews.com or at 336-506-3046. Follow her on Twitter at @jessicawtn

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Joint panel eager to talk funding - Burlington Times News