The Alleghany County
Board of Commissioners and
the Alleghany

Board of Education met in special session
on Wednesday, March 14, 2007,
at 5:30pm in the Commissioners
Meeting Room of the County
Administration Building,
348 South Main Street,
Sparta, North Carolina.  The purpose of this meeting is to discuss
school facilities.

Present:  County—Chair Ken Richardson,
Commissioner Randy Miller, Commissioner Doug Murphy, County Manager Don Adams, and Clerk to the Board Karen Evans.
Commissioner Milly Richardson and Vice-Chair
Warren Taylor were present but arrived late.  Board of Education—Chair Clarence
Crouse, Vice-Chair Betsy Dillon, Faron Atwood, Mitch Franklin, Joel Souther and
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Cox.

Chair
Ken Richardson called the Commissioners’ meeting to order.

Clarence
Crouse called the Board of Education meeting to order.

Chair
Ken Richardson led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Clarence Crouse asked for a moment of
silence.

County Manager Don Adams and Dr.
Cox explained ideas on how to proceed with these meetings.

Chair
Ken Richardson encouraged questions from the Commissioners and Board of
Education.

Clarence Crouse talked about the Board of
Education’s devotion to the project.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson joined the meeting at 5:40pm.

Mitch
Franklin stated this appreciation for the opportunity to meet with the Board of
Commissioners and how they are willing to work with the Commissioners.

Betsy
Dillon talked about the need for a middle school and how children can benefit
from a middle school.

Faron
Atwood talked about the opportunities available to the students if the three
schools are combined; for example, vocational programs.  He further talked about the amount of
work that the Board of Education has put into this concept.

Joel
Souther reiterated the vocational needs in the county.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy asked if the Board of Education has had discussions regarding the middle
school being 7th-8th grades versus 6th-8th
grades.  He asked for the pros and
cons of both.  He talked about the
need in every county to have programs where the students can do hands-on
activities.  He asked has programs been
prepared for this type of education.

Clarence Crouse stated that several
discussions have occurred regarding the 7th-8th grades versus
6th-8th grades.
He explained that they are in the opinion that the 6th-8th
grades would be better than 7th-8th grades.  He talked about reasons for deciding for
the 6th-8th grades and against the 7th-8th
grades.

Dr.
Cox talked about the transition periods for the 7th-8th grades
versus 6th -8th grades.  He gave an example of Ashe County.  He talked about issues with teacher
licensures if going towards the 7th-8th grades.  He stated that the teaching costs would
go up with the 7th-8th grades even though the building
costs would go down.

John
Farrelly stated that is accurate unless the programs are changed for the 7th-8th
grades, which isn’t their preference.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy talked about offering
vocational programs at one location.

John
Farrelly talked about instructional time as well as travel time being an issue.

Dr.
Cox gave examples of having a vocational room set up at each school.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson talked about occupational education in the 8th
grade when she went to school.  She
asked about looking at those classes again.

Clarence Crouse explained how the
occupational education programs worked and the lack of space now.  He talked about how it will be worked
into the middle school program.  He
further talked about different levels of classes.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy and John Farrelly talked
about testing for science in the middle school grades.

John
Farrelly talked about having to cut back on enrichment classes due to making
sure the necessary education is provided.
He talked about classes that can’t be provided due to space and
lack of teachers.  He explained how
they have researched the programming for the middle school.  He stated that the costs will be $700,000
to $900,000.  He talked about the
facility costs.

Commissioner
Randy Miller and John Farrelly talked about the middle school would have 24
classrooms.

Mitch
Franklin stated that it would only save four to five classrooms if the county
goes with 7th-8th grades for the middle school.

Commissioner
Randy Miller talked about his son who is a senior in college, scored high on
the SAT, and then called to say he was very behind when he started college.  He further talked about his experience
in the 8th grade and being in an advanced class.  He asked if the Board of Education is
going to offer something like this.
He stated that the kids need
vocational and technology classes.

Dr.
Cox gave examples of vocational needs and the skill level needed in
today’s world.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy and Faron Atwood talked
about the kids need opportunities to challenge them at every level.

John
Farrelly talked about raising the level of instruction.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy asked if the old 7th-8th
grade-building is being used and are all the buildings being used.

Dr.
Cox stated yes.

Mitch
Franklin talked about challenging every student regardless of education
level.  He further talked about he
thinks it is cheaper to offer all of the middle school opportunities at one
location instead of three.  He
stated that they need to provide equal opportunity for every student as
compared to other counties.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy stated that the Commissioners were elected to be good stewards of
the County’s money.

Commissioner
Randy Miller asked about being a small county regarding student population.

Dr.
Cox stated that the school population is approximately 1,500 total and a middle
school would be around 300.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy stated that his
experience is that big classes make a difference for the kids trying to learn.

Mitch
Franklin talked about looking for direction from the Commissioners in order to
know where the Board of Education needs to go.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson talked about Monday’s night debt service conversations,
and the amount the County could borrow before getting called on by the Local
Government Commission.

County Manager Don Adams stated
that is about $8,000,000.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson compared that to people maxing out their personal credit line,
which isn’t financially responsible.
She talked about the conversations from Monday night and not being
comfortable going further in debt.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy asked about the status
of the State’s school bonds.  He
stated that the Board wants to do the best thing for education.

Dr.
Cox stated that the Governor’s proposed budget doesn’t include
school construction monies.  He
talked about the need to appeal to citizens to let the General Assembly and the
Governor’s office know the county’s situation.  He stated that whatever Alleghany County gets won’t cover the
facilities needs.

County Manager Don Adams talked about the way the subcommittees are
figuring the formulas for this state bond versus the last bond, and the new
formula drastically reduces what Alleghany
County would receive.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson stated that 29% of county taxes go towards education, and the prior
boards were not slack in dealing with education.

County Manager Don Adams talked
about the debt load.  He gave an
example of taking everything that the County has borrowed in the last 10 years
and double it is what we are talking about.

Clarence Crouse mentioned that if we wait
5 more years, how much more expensive it will be.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson stated that she understands that but at this point, the County
can’t take on that much debt.

Mitch
Franklin stated the need to look at all avenues for funding.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson talked about looking at ways to get kids all of the
opportunities that can be available without spending a lot of money.

Mitch
Franklin stated that all anyone needs to do is go visit a middle school to see.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor arrived at 6:23pm.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy talked about being stewards
of the money that has been entrusted to the County.  He further talked about the need to look
at it as a goal not a problem.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson talked about the impact of revaluation on property owners, and
they can’t pay anymore taxes.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy talked about the need to work together.

Clarence Crouse asked if the
Commissioners support the concept of a middle school and the programming.  He stated that if that is a goal of both
boards, then the challenge is to find ways to accomplish the goal.  He asked how quickly we can move towards
a 6th-8th grades middle school.  He used Glade Creek
Elementary School as an
example because they need more space and would use all of the classrooms that
would be vacated from moving the middle school-aged children.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson asked about the high school being close to over crowded, and how
does the Board of Education plan to deal with that.

Clarence Crouse stated they can add more
students per class and combine classes.

Dr.
Cox stated that facility wise, the high school is in the best shape.  He stated that he appreciates the
Commissioners’ comments on the funding but asked will we really ever get
to the point of building the middle school.

Faron
Atwood talked about expenses that we will have if we stay the way we are.  He further talked about how hard it is
to shoot in the dark for the number.
He asked the Commissioners to tell them a number that the County can
handle.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson stated that it is a fair assumption that the County will not
be able to build a middle school this year but can’t say when.  She talked about everyone should look at
meeting the immediate needs at the schools and see how to offer the vocational
programs.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy stated that the Commissioners haven’t even got the budget done.  He stated that he intents to talk to the
people in Raleigh.  He further stated that there is a difference
between want and need.

Joel
Souther stated that if the middle school doesn’t happen this year, then Piney Creek Elementary School needs a new gym and Glade Creek
Elementary School needs water/sewer
and these types of needs will be brought to you.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson talked about meeting the immediate needs and the goal
shouldn’t be forgotten.

Mitch
Franklin talked about the need to look at both scenarios.  He stated that he doesn’t want the
middle school concept to go away.
He talked about the kids are getting left behind.  He urged the Commissioners to do
everything possible to find the money for the middle school.  He stated the need to get the middle
school as soon as possible.  He
further stated that economics are part of this, but it may save money over the
years.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson stated that the County can’t spend $10,000,000 this
year, but it shouldn’t be put off for years.  She further stated that these are valid
points that have been brought up.  She
said that it appears that the situation we’re in is to get the schools
what they need, and everyone is dedicated to the middle school concept.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor stated that the Commissioners were prepared to go with a bond
referendum at the last general election, and it didn’t occur.  He further stated that the election was held,
and the voters spoke no more taxes.
He explained that at Monday’s budget meeting, the Board directed
the County Manager to pursue a revenue-neutral tax
rate.  He stated that a statewide
bond will be the best scenario.  He
further stated that if the Commissioners adhere to a revenue-neutral tax rate
and with the current debt service, the County is looking at five years before that
amount of money could be borrowed.  He
talked about if the land-transfer tax could be passed then the middle school
concept can be realized.  He said he
respects the Board of Education’s opinion about what programming is best
for the students.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson stated that she has asked herself what John Woodruff would do.  She talked about the Education
Foundation, and Alleghany
County has a lot of
people with vast resources.  She
further talked about setting up a foundation to collect private donations to
build the middle school.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy talked about Stokes County
and how they raised a lot of money for their schools.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson talked about how people could help with this project.   She stated that she thinks the place
to start is to go to John Woodruff.
She further stated the need to raise money quickly.

Betsy
Dillon stated the County should be behind this project 100% and should put a
lot of the money in it.

Dr.
Cox talked about the voters did speak but the Commissioners ran on a pro-education
and anti-tax platform.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson talked about setting up our own foundation.  She reiterated that she doesn’t think
it would be problem to raise a lot of money.

John
Farrelly asked if $5,000,000 is better than $9,000,000.

County
Manager Don Adams talked about the
question is does the County support spending $10,000,000 to $11,000,000 and $600,000
annually.  He stated that is the
question that needs to be answered, and if the County is in support then look
at how it impacts the County financially.

Faron
Atwood stated that if everyone waits five years then the costs will be $20,000,000.

John
Farrelly stated that the building costs are $9,000,000 and $700,000 for the annual
operating costs.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson
talked about it comes back to ways to get the money without putting the load on
the taxpayers.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy stated that everyone needs to address this not as a problem but as a
goal.

John
Farrelly stated that if there is no middle school then we will have to build
onto all three schools.

Dr.
Cox asked are we really going to go there by starting to put the money
together, having a plan and follow it for a middle school.  He talked about having a facilities plan
without direction.  He stated that
the Commissioners need to look at funding the recurring costs of $600,000 to $700,000
annually over and above current funding.
He further stated that the Board of Education needs that answer.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson stated that due to the fact of the rapid development, we
probably could handle that but need the money for the building first.  She further stated the need to concentrate
on raising this money.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy stated that the County will have to finance a portion of the
project.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson talked about providing the monies for the recurring costs.  She stated that this is a great idea but
the County doesn’t have the money right now.

Clarence Crouse stated that the Board of
Education will discuss this and request that the Commissioners discuss it
further also.  He talked about how do
they plan for the upcoming budget.

Chair
Ken Richardson stated that the Board of Education has done their job in
recommending what they need.  He talked
about the County’s responsibility is for paying for capital.  He further talked about the need to
raise 90% of the money in the county.
He stated that he understands and appreciates the work that has gone
into this project.  He explained
that he isn’t willing to put another penny on the taxpayers without the
issue going before the voters, and if they approve the project, fine.  He stated that he wants to continue this
discussion, but the Commissioners don’t have a number for the Board of
Education.   He talked about putting the issue before
the voters and see if they agree.  He
reminded everyone that the majority of the Commissioners have to agree to
accomplish anything that has been asked.
He stated that this issue may take another meeting.

Clarence Crouse stated that they appreciate
the opportunity to schedule another meeting after each board has had further
conversations.

Chair
Ken Richardson asked for further comments.

John
Farrelly briefly mentioned a handout that shows the end-of-grade test results
for middle school grades in Alleghany
County and surrounding
areas.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy stated that it is obvious that a middle school will remedy the low
test scores according to this handout.

The
Board of Education agreed.

Dr.
Cox asked where we are going in the next meeting.  He further asked how much are the
Commissioners willing to invest without a referendum and how much are the
Commissioners willing to put on a referendum or whether a referendum is even an
option.  Also, he asked how to plan
for now.

Mitch
Franklin thanked the Commissioners for their time.

Being no further business, Mitch
Franklin made a motion to adjourn at 7:17pm.  Joel Souther seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

Being no further business,
Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to adjourn at 7:18pm.  Commissioner Doug
Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Respectfully
submitted,

Karen Evans

Clerk to the Board

Attest:

Ken Richardson

Chairman