Board of Education changes tack on facilities planning

After being told that the Alleghany County Commissioners could not financially fund a middle school in the near future, Superintendent Jeff Cox researched a potential avenue that could, if the application is accepted, allow the school system to fund between half a million dollars and $2 million worth of facility projects. The matter was discussed among the members of the Alleghany County School Board May 11 and was scheduled to be briefly discussed with the commissioners Tuesday night.

During the May 11 meeting, Cox spoke of his recently found information on Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZABs), which, according to information provided to board members are "designed to assist eligible local education agencies and schools to establish qualified zone academies in partnership with local businesses. QZABs allow schools to focus resources more effectively on achieving high standards that will equip students in high-poverty schools for the challenging demands of the 21st century workplace."

Should the members of the commission be willing to support an interest-free loan in the amount of $2 million, it would cost the county about $146,000 a year over a 14-year period.

Introducing the topic to the school board members, Cox commented, "We've got an opportunity here that might allow us a little bit of flexibility with some of our facilities projects. It is specific for repairs and renovations to buildings. It cannot be used for any new construction. That's a limitation on it right out of the gate. It is strictly (for) renovations."

Turning to the school's capital budget, Cox noted they would likely receive $575,000, the minimum amount required by the county.

"We've got almost $1.4 million worth of requests here in the capital budget," he said. "You can see an $800,000 to $900,000 shortfall on what we have an opportunity to do just to maintain our facilities."

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