Commissioners urged to fund a primary school
By Frank Bradley Staff writer

FRANK BRADLEY/Sentinel photo Clay County Commissioners listen to proposals on funding a new primary school and providing a down payment for a loan to purchase the Peacock playhouse (L-R) Harry Jarrett, Board Chairman Herbert Cheeks, stephen (Doc) Sellers and County Manager Paul Leek.

Superintendent Scott Penland and the Clay County School Board made its case last Thursday to the county board of commissioners on the need to secure $10 million to build a new primary school. The school would be built on 17 acres recently donated and purchased from the Cabe family for school construction.

Citing safety, an overcrowded cafeteria and insufficient classrooms as well as continued growth in the student body, Penland said the addition of a new primary school would remove 400 students from the present campus making it usable for grades 3 through 12 for many years to come.

"We bought two mobile units last year, and we are going to have to get some more mobile units (for next school year)," Penland said. "I've looked all over the campus, and I don't know where we are going to put them. You've been there. You know our need."

Penland said the solution would most likely require raising taxes.

"I know it's not popular," he said. "But there are not a lot of options. I don't think the state is going to do anything this year. We're getting $95,000 this year from the lottery money. Even if a statewide (educational facilities) bond of $2 billion is voted on and passed, our share would only be $1 1/2 million."

Penland said that while he felt sales tax was a fairer tax, taxing the tourists coming through who were spending money, but that there was not enough of it to do the job. He said the board of education would certainly let the lottery money, what little there was of it, go to building the primary school.

Commissioner Herbert Cheeks said he understands the need for the school, but "the question is how do we get there?"

Commissioner Harry Jarrett said he was not inclined to raise taxes this year. He agreed that something needed to be done. "Looking at the stats last week, Clay County schools is projected to grow by 36 percent by 2018," he said. "I suggest that the commissioners and the board of education sit down and look at some options."

Penland said, "We're trying to look down the road, way down the road. The primary school would take about a third of our students off campus. This would open up the present campus for growth."

Commissioner Stephen Sellers said, "I understand the concern with he mobile units, but we need some finance folks involved in the process. It's something we need to work for."

School board chairman Charles Lee Penland said, "We've got a really good school system. We're at a cross roads. Either we continue on the road of excellence, or we can veer off into mediocracy. We're willing to sit down with the commissioners anytime."

School board member Kerry Staton added, "Growth is the largest thing, but our schools are what draw people here."

Member Darryl McClure said, "Our children, our school system are most important. What people in the county wouldn't donate $50 or $100 a year for our schools? If we don't do something, I'm afraid of what the consequence is going to be."

In a handout provided by Superintend Penland, the cost of a new school was estimated at between $9 and $10 million. It stated that the land transfer tax had not gone well in other counties, that the additional 1/4 cent sales tax available would only bring in approximately $200,000, and the lottery another $95,000. With a 30 year mortgage for $10 million, it would cost the county about $600,000 a year.

"We'll work anyway we can to come up with a solution," Commissioner Cheeks said. "At this point in time with the economy being down, we have to be cautions. I think we can come out with a solution of what to do. It may take putting four or five things together to raise the money to do it."

The commissioners and school board agreed to get together in the near future and discuss possible options.

In other matters, the board approved a transportation grant, which is federally funded. It also approved a dog ordinance. A request was made tax appraisers office for a sub-division of eight lots, which had recorded plats, to release one of the plats and allow that lot to be reclassified as pasture farm land. Nancy Kimsey told the board that the General Statutes do not address this situation. County Manager Paul Leek told the board that since taxes do not come out until September, that there was time to get a reading from the state on this issue.

With regard to the publication of Delinquent Taxes, the board voted to advertise notices in both newspapers on March 17.

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