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Trine: 'Somebody's going to have to bite the bullet'By Rose Hooper |
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They like the idea, but they still don't like the particulars.
While they endorsed the concept of the needs assessment prepared by Padgett and Freeman Architects, the Jackson County Board of Education tabled any action on revised particulars until its May 24 meeting with county commissioners. The Asheville architects were commissioned to determine the best way to renovate 40-year-old Smoky Mountain High School. In April, an incomplete plan was presented jointly to both boards. At the school board's May 17 meeting, Chairman Martha Queen said the revised plan "impacted the most for the amount of money we have." However, board member Ray Trine said he was "dissatisfied" with the needs assessment, mainly because of unanswered questions from the architects. "Are we meeting all the federal requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act? That questions has gone unanswered," Trine said. "I don't think we should go forward until they answer that." Other unanswered questions Trine alluded to were the lack of adequate water pressure and electrical circuitry in Building D. If all suggested items in the master plan were to be completed, the project is estimated to cost more than $17 million. Funds currently available are $4.8 million. "If $4.8 million is all the money we're going to get from the commissioners, it changes completely what we're going to do with the school," said board member Ali Laird-Large. "There are certain things we can leave, but some things we cannot leave." Like the gym floor, interjected board member James Roper. "Nails are coming through that gym floor," Roper said. "Some kid could get seriously hurt by that. If we don't fix it soon, we could have a potential lawsuit on our hands. We could be sued for more than any of this renovation is going to cost." "Somebody's going to have to bite the bullet; we just can't paint over our problems," said Trine. "Building D is a disaster waiting to happen. If the general public came in and walked through, they would realize what the needs are." "If we spend the money on just renovating infrastructure, nobody will see it and the public will say we wasted the money... even though we know these buildings are falling apart," said Chairman Martha Queen. Superintendent Frank Burrell agreed to have available at the next meeting estimated on what it will cost to repair the gym floor. Trine said he would also like to have available information on the $4.8 million. "Exactly where is it and where is the interest going?" he sked. He also asked why some of the contractors weren't being paid on time. Burrell responded, "We had to use our state bond monies first and applying for them took some delay." The board was scheduled to meet again with the Jackson County Board of Commissioners Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Justice Center. Their next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, at the county Central Office. |
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