PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Board of Education last Monday formally authorized the location for its new Central Services administrative building, which will be constructed on Renaissance Drive on the western edge of Pittsboro.
The location, which sits off of U.S. Hwy. 64, was offered by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners last month after the county bought the tract of land on which the building will sit.
The school board approved the change 4-1 over the objections of board member David Hamm, who raised a couple of concerns during the discussion.
The final motion, made by board chairman Gary Leonard, was for a conditional agreement to the site, pending the county government authorizing funds for a warehouse on the premises to store child nutrition and other items. The district currently utilizes a warehouse on the grounds of the current administrative building, located at 369 West St. in Pittsboro.
A 2014 facility conditions assessment stated that the current Central Services building had passed its intended lifespan and was in need of costly repairs. In addition, the building is not large enough to house all the district’s administrative staff — some work out of Horton Middle School — and more space would be needed as the county grows in population. The most recent projected cost was more than $11 million, but the addition of that warehouse would increase costs.
Hamm raised concerns was about the nature of the transaction between the district and the county government.
“We’re kind of being added into this process maybe as a reason why some land was bought, and get the building out there and we can add other government buildings out there,” he said. “Our school logo and motto has always been ours and theirs has always been theirs. I can’t ever say we’ve been a part of Chatham County government in that sense. But now we’re good to be part of the complex out there.”
Superintendent Derrick Jordan agreed with Hamm’s assessment, but added that his view was the county attempting to “pool together the most common services” — including the Animal Control and Solid Waste & Recycling facilities on the site currently — in the same place. The Chatham County Detention Center is also on Renaissance Drive.
“But I agree that the school district is separate and apart,” Jordan said. “They are a funder, and aren’t we happy that they are? Unless there were some change by the General Assembly, we are not a Chatham County government agency.”
Additionally, Hamm followed up on a concern he raised at the October meeting. The current Central Services building used to house a high school, and he said the citizens he’s talked to don’t want to see it go unused and become, as he called it, an “eyesore.”
“I’m stepping up to the plate for people talking to me,” Hamm said. “The business people, the Realtors I’ve talked to, Joe Citizen, they really don’t want to see the central office moved out of town. They see this as another hit on Pittsboro. I feel like I’m representing their sentiments.”
Reporter Zachary Horner can be reached at zhorner@chathamnr.com or on Twitter at @ZachHornerCNR.