Cranes vs. brains
Sunday, April 29th, 2007
By Chris Fitzsimon
School board strives to balance growth with academics
By Justin Vick jvick@independenttribune.com Sunday, April 29, 2007Andrea Palo campaigned last fall for a seat on the Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education, hoping to improve vocational opportunities for students and reduce the district’s dropout rate.
But the newly elected school board member is worried the academic-related issues that prompted her candidacy are taking a backseat to construction.
Much of the school board’s discussions during the 2006-07 school year have centered on issues pertaining to the unprecedented opening of four new schools in August, from the redistricting of attendance zones to increases in nearly every aspect of next year’s operating budget.
“We have become a school system focused on construction versus education,” said Holly Blackwelder, the school board’s vice chairwoman.
That focus will not shift even with the August opening of Carl A. Furr Elementary, Charles E. Boger Elementary, Hickory Ridge High and a replacement school for W.R. Odell Elementary.
Planning for the next round of school construction has begun, as architects continue to meet with administrators to design a new high school on Cox Mill Road in Concord and lawyers finalize a contract to buy land for a proposed middle school on Hickory Ridge Road in Harrisburg.
Administrators have also planned for more than 40 construction projects over the next 15 years, most of which consist of new schools or additions to existing ones. Within the next five years, Cabarrus County Schools is expecting an estimated $420 million in school construction needs.
“The need for that many schools should send a loud message about how fast this county is growing,” Palo said. “We have no choice but to build schools because of all the houses going up in Cabarrus County.”
While construction has always been a priority in the eight years Liz Poole has served on the school board, county growth has prompted much more concern among school officials lately. (more…)
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