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Public hearing yields support for WHS financing
By Scott Nicholson
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners received unanimous public
support for a school financing plan,
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Shelton Wilder, an art teacher at
Watauga High School, has an Internet blog tracking the
new school’s progress at whs2010.blogspot.com. Photo
by Scott Nicholson
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at least among those who filled the commissioners’ boardroom
Tuesday night who applauded the plan.
The commissioners held a public hearing allowing input on a plan
to borrow up to $70 million to finance a new high school currently
under construction in eastern Boone. The commissioners adopted
a resolution supporting the funding plan on Feb. 4, and the plan
still needs approval of the Local Government Commission.
School board member Steve Combs said there were many reasons why
the county needed to pursue financing for a new school, saying
the current facility didn’t meet the needs of students, faculty
or staff.
High school vocational teacher Larry Jones said the new high school
was not just a building, it was an educational facility. He said
the county had an obligation to train students to be leaders and
provide opportunities for all students. “I believe this will
pay great dividends many years after we’re all gone,”
he said.
Ivan Roten, a member of the high school building committee, said
the students would finally have a facility that matched the dedication
and quality of its teachers and said he’d been working as
a volunteer on the project for four years and was pleased to see
it continue.
School board chairman Lowell Younce said the new high school was
a “wise investment for the county.” He said the system
had great-performing students and qualified staff and a new building
would help improve student performance.
Dan Meyer, president of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, said
education was critical in business development and economic development
and recognized that students were being trained for a “whole
new world” where they would learn the skills to participate
in the future economy.
Shelton Wilder, an art teacher at Watauga High School and a member
of the school building committee, thanked those teachers, staff
members and parents who had invested time and effort in planning
the building and said a $47 million estimate for the facility
was a pleasant surprise after original estimates of $56 million
over a year ago. He said the school would also provide community
resources for the arts and athletics and said the commissioners
were setting an example for counties across the state.
School board member Deborah Miller said she’d been on all
the school planning committees and that she’d been amazed
at the level of cooperation between the different parties. She
said the financing plan was the best option available.
Shannon O’Brien said she came as an “outsider”
and taxpayer and that she’d received her certification as
a principal. She said in schools she’d visited, the staff
and teachers cared deeply about students and when they had the
buildings and resources, they could spend more time focusing on
student needs
Rebecca Saunders said, “This is a good project and good investment
and I want you to do everything you can to keep the ball rolling.”
School board member Lee Warren said in his 10 years on the board,
he’d never wavered in his belief that a new school was needed.
“I thank you for what you’ve done and what you will
do,” he said.
Commissioner Billy Ralph Winkler said it was gratifying to see
such support, but he wasn’t surprised because the community
had “very clearly and very loudly” supported the school.
“I also feel very strongly that this vote we’re about
to take is the most important of our tenure as commissioners,”
Winkler said.
Commissioner Winston Kinsey said he was grateful for the cooperation
of many people and said the new high school would bring pride
to all areas of the county.
Commissioner Jim Deal said he appreciated the county’s commitment
to education and encouraged people to view the development of
the site. “I’m so thrilled to live in a county where
people are not afraid to stand up and say, ‘I support education,’”
he said.
The funding will be done through installment financing contracts,
with the resolution saying the installments are preferable to
a bond because “(1) the cost of a special election necessary
to approve a general obligation bond financing, as required by
the laws of the state, would result in the expenditure of significant
funds; and (2) the time required for a general obligation bond
election would cause an unnecessary delay which would thereby
decrease the financial benefits of the project; and...the county
has determined and hereby determines that the estimated cost of
the project pursuant to the contract reasonably compares with
an estimate of similar costs under a bond financing for the same
undertaking.”
The county plans to sell the current high school property, which
earlier had received bids of more than $30 million before the
commissioners decided to wait on the sale until the new school
was complete. The commissioners also expect no future tax increases
to pay for the school.
County manager Rocky Nelson said financing companies were preparing
their financing offers and would be submitted to the commissioners
in March and reported the site preparation is ahead of schedule.
The commissioners approved a symbolic motion to continue with
the proposed financing plan, and the vote was met with audience
applause. The school is expected to open for the 2010-2011 school
year.
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