news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Property the school board is considering buying for a new southeast area elementary school could cost $2 million more than originally believed.

County Commissioner Billy Yow confirmed the school board learned Oct. 22 that the property on Mount Hope Church Road north of Interstate 85 may not be able to support a septic system large enough for a school.

School board member Paul Daniels, who represents the southeast area, said the information has caused even more concerns for an already controversial issue.
“This is pretty earthshaking news in my opinion; it’s a game changer,” Daniels said.

Many southeast Guilford residents supported the $457 million school construction bond last year because it included money for a new elementary school for their region.

Those parents and residents are now lobbying against the purchase of the Mount Hope Church Road property, saying the property is in the Eastern High School district, not the Southeast High district, and will eventually serve the eastern community, not theirs.

Discussions about the site have been held in closed-door sessions during school board meetings. Daniels said school district staff originally told the board the site would support a septic system when they recommended purchasing the land in late summer. The school board took an option to buy the property and has until Nov. 30 to exercise that option.

But last week, staffers told the school board they now have concerns the property cannot support the necessary septic system. Daniels said the staff told the board connecting to the Greensboro sewer system could cost between $200,000 and $2 million.

The 55 acres being considered include several lots along Mount Hope Church Road and would cost $637,500.

The district does stand to lose some money if it does not exercise the purchase option. Chief of Staff Nora Carr declined to say how much, saying the land negotiations were not public record.

“These are the kinds of mistakes that have to stop,” said Yow, who represents southeast Guilford. “The schools have been notorious for coming back and saying 'Oh, we need another $2 million here’ and 'Oh, we need another $4 million here.’ It needs to stop.”

Daniels said the board passed on several other properties because putting a septic system at the Mount Hope Church Road property made it less expensive than those other properties. He said now the board needs to go back and look at those other sites.

Daniels said the situation has shaken his and other board members’ confidence in the staff.

“Because the board is so dependent on staff, if (we) don’t have confidence in staff they just aren’t very helpful to us,” he said. He added that recommending the site without knowing all the facts was “…so elementary and fundamental to due diligence it raises questions about competency.”

Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green declined to answer questions about the issue, saying the matter was discussed in closed session and he would honor that.

Linda Welborn advocated for the 2008 bond and is now leading the fight against the school board. She said the school board should allow the current land option to expire and continue to look in the southeast area to place the school.

“Hopefully this will steer it in our direction,” she said.

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 373-7351 or brian.ewing@news-record.com