Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education
Meeting
October 3, 2012
Minutes
The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education met on October 3, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. at the Ellis
Street Administrative Office with the following members present: Dr. Jim Emerson, Mrs.
W. Jean Kennedy, Mr. Mike Caskey, Dr. Richard Miller, Mr. Bryce Beard and Mrs. Kay
Wright Norman. Mrs. Freeze had indicated she would be later. Also present were Dr.
Judy Grissom, Mr. Gene Miller, Mr. Nathan Currie, Mrs. Delores Morris and Ms Rita Foil,
Public Information Officer.
Call to Order / Roll Call
Dr. Emerson called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Mrs. Kennedy officiated the Pledge
of Allegiance and the meditation.
Adopt Agenda
Dr. Grissom requested to add an item that required Board approval for the district to
submit a technology award project through the NCSBA.
Dr. Emerson requested to add a closed session personnel item to the agenda.
**Mrs. Norman moved to adopt the agenda with the additional items. Mrs. Kennedy
seconded. Unanimously approved.
(6:0)
Discussion Items
Award Submission
Dr. Grissom explained to board members about a new NCSBA “Excellence in Education”
program award requires school board approval in order to submit the application. The
North Rowan High School 1:1 technology program was chosen since it meets all the
criteria for the award.
Dr. Miller moved to approve the request and Mrs. Norman seconded.
Unanimously approved
(6:0)
Mrs. Freeze entered the meeting at 4:08 p.m.
Review and Discussion of Educational Center Bids
Mr. Gene Miller, Assistant Superintendent of Operations, reviewed the bid opening
process that took place at the Rowan Public Library on September 27, 2012 for the new
Educational Center. All eight (8) bids received were over budget with a low bid of $7.4
million at a cost of $152.03 per square foot. The target cost per square foot was
$125.00.
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Architect Bill Burgin, from Ramsey Burgin and Smith Architects, Inc., informed the Board
that he was optimistic that he could make adjustments to the design to be within the
budget range of $6.2 million and could do so quickly.
Mr. Burgin gave board members a handout that included an executive summary listing
statistics such as a description, size, target, actual totals and remarks on the Base Bid
and Alternates 1, 2, and 3 options as well as a sheet with the bid results.
In order to reach the $6.2 million budget, Mr. Burgin explained that the project would
need to be re-bid at the Base Bid only; meaning that future additions to the facility could
cost five times the amount since the needed infrastructure would not be included. Mr.
Burgin described the other items that would need to be changed including smaller
windows and less expensive hardware for the doors. Mr. Burgin told the Board that this is
what is so painfully difficult for an architect in realizing the escalated future costs by not
going with the Base Bid plus Alternate 1 option now.
Board members discussed the dilemma voicing strong concerns of having to revert to the
Base Bid option over the best value of the Base Bid plus Alternate 1 option. The Base Bid
would provide the minimum 48,818 square feet needed versus the 62,805 square feet in
the Base Bid plus Alternate 1 option that includes the infrastructure for future expansion.
Board members also stressed that it was important to note that funding for the
educational center is paid through sales tax specified for school construction and it is not
paid through property tax.
Mr. Miller reminded the Board that four years ago the cost for the new building was $11
million and the Board of Commissioners were willing to help pay for par of the cost. The
numbers show that this is a good time to build.
Mr. Burgin informed the Board that it would take approximately four (4) weeks to re-bid
the project with a projected bid opening date on the morning of November 8, 2012. The
Board could then meet on the evening of November 8th to consider the bid approval.
Mr. Miller explained the process that would follow in providing the information to the
county commissioners for approval at their November 19, 2012 meeting.
Review and Consideration of the 2012-2014 District Improvement Plan
Alesia Burnette informed the Board that per their request an email was sent to all RSS
staff asking for input into the proposed new District Improvement Plan. A total of 17
responses were received with comments such as “Looks good,” Thank you,” a few
questions, one or two changes due to typos, and adding a community agency to goal
number one.
A ‘revised” draft plan was presented to the Board for approval.
**Dr. Miller made a motion to approve the revised District Improvement Plan and Mrs.
Norman seconded. Unanimously Approved.
(7:0)
Dr. Miller thanked Mrs. Burnette in appreciation for her effort.
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Closed Session
**Mrs. Kennedy made a motion to recess into Closed Session at 4:55 p.m. to consider
personnel action that involves an [officer] or [employee], or [prospective public officer or
employee] of this board. [NC Gen. Stat. #143-318.11(a)(6)], to prevent disclosure of
information that is privileged or confidential pursuant to state or federal law [NC Gen.
Stat. 143-318.11(a)(1), and [NC Gen. Stat. 143-318.11(a)(3)] Mrs. Freeze seconded.
Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Adjournment
**Dr. Miller moved to adjourn at 5:10 p.m. Mrs. Kennedy seconded. Unanimously
approved. (7:0)
Dr. James W. Emerson, Chairman
Dr. Judy S. Grissom, Secretary
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