RFP Staff
♦ Monday, a majority of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education voted to abandon a previous site for the proposed merger of the Cleveland and Woodleaf elementary schools on Godbey Road and NC 801 and move forward to a new site on Foster Road.
RFP readers will recall an effort lead by “Rowan Rural Save our Schools” several months back that brought BoE member’s attention to a recent fire next door to the first site at the Southern Power natural gas plant. Local residents also brought the board’s attention to how dangerous the intersection was at that location. It appears their efforts were successful, at least for now.
Chairman Josh Wagner and Dean Hunter dissented, disagreeing strongly with the majority. Perhaps RFP readers recall Josh Wagner angrily snatching the microphone away from startled BoE member Chuck Hughes at a West Rowan public meeting where the same topic was discussed a few months back. The audience hooted and laughed loudly at the “communications breakdown” between Wagner and Hughes. At Monday’s meeting, Wagner limited himself to commenting, “I don’t understand how anyone in their right mind can look at the sheet and see the numbers and be in support of Foster Road.” Many sitting in the audience wondered whether the stress of his inability to move forward Salisbury’s controlling real estate and banker syndicate’s: nightmare agenda of closing rural schools and busing children into Salisbury has loosened the Chair’s bolts a bit.
Will Anthony Van and sFl+a find reasons to move the proposed Western Elementary back to Godbey Road. Yes, sfl+ a are still the BoE’s architects in spite of the recent letter issued by Janet Cowell to legislators asking them to oppose Senate Bill 554 in Robeson County, which could have resulted in a huge windfall for the firm.
Why is the Board of Education Moving Forward with the Architectural Firm SfL+A?
Fingers crossed, It appears that West Rowan’s elementary school children may be on their way to a safer and more centrally located location. For that, a standing ovation to RRSOS and local West Rowan residents who made their voices heard in the proudest traditions of American democracy.
State Treasurer Janet Cowell’s Letter and Attachment Concerning Senate Bill 554:
https://app.box.com/s/huf84qpyzebwf6zlvpy3onse7edpqcs6
