County Looks at Funding for School Needs

BY KATHERINE EVANS: NEWSROOM INTERN

County commissioners have started considering ways to fund the first phase of the Moore County school system's facilities plan -- although the cost might turn out to be more than currently estimated.

While school ad-ministrators have projected a $39 million price tag for that phase -- which includes a new middle school and a new elementary school -- they are expecting to adjust the figure for inflation and present-day construction costs once the commissioners decide how to fund the work.

"These were based on the current-day dollars," said Superintendent Dr. Susan Purser. "We knew that by the time we actually started working with the projects, costs would go up."

The commissioners met with school officials Wednesday during the county's two-day planning retreat to discuss the school construction plan.

The 12-year plan, divided into three phases, carries a $144 million price tag. It calls for building new schools, as well as renovations and expansions to existing campuses, to meet countywide growth.

Also during the meeting, Sandhills Community College President Dr. John Dempsey presented a capital needs package approved by college trustees at their December meeting.

The $15.5 million proposal calls for repair and renovation work as well as five new construction projects. The costliest of the projects will be the $6.3 million replacement of Blue Hall with a general-purpose classroom building.

Dempsey said that next fall would be an ideal time to present a bond proposal to the public.

"If it does turn out to be a bond issue," Dempsey said, "we're ready to go to work."

Public school administrators developed the construction plan last year, and they expect that the projected costs of phases two and three of the master plan will change as well.

"We feel strongly that we're going to be impacted by heavy growth," Purser said, adding that that growth, along with curriculum changes and a possible statewide bond referendum, could impact cost projections outlined in the master plan.

School officials also have been conducting a study of athletic needs, which may reveal adjustments that need to be made to the first phase of the facilities plan. That study, officials said, should be finished soon.

"We are looking to see if are there some implications coming out of that," Purser said, "that we would like to add to phase one that we did not consider before."

The county commissioners thanked Purser and her staff for their candidness, and some stressed the need to appreciate the urgency of meeting the school system's needs.

"I think we need to move as soon as possible," said Commissioner Jimmy Melton, "because this growth that we're speaking of is not going to wait for us."

School administrators said they would like to have the funding by this fall, but they want to give the commissioners time to examine and inform the public about funding options. Purser and Interim County Manager Cary McSwain plan to have both groups meet again this month to explore possible avenues of funding. Options include a bond referendum and public/private partnerships.

"We are on a fast track," Purser said, "but a fast track needs a partnership to approach. We are ready to move forward as commissioners would like to move forward."

Some commissioners already had in mind what means of funding they'd like to see.

"When you're looking at these kinds of numbers, the people, the taxpayers ought to have a voice in it," said Commissioner Tim Lee. "I personally feel like a referendum would be the best way to go."

Katherine Evans can be reached at 693-2480 or by e-mail at kevans@thepilot.com.