HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_0194109%, Barringer by 52%, and that the Cool Springs Township would grow by 62%. Johnson
said in earlier years, not enough money was spent on educational facilities. He said it was bad to
have a crowded classroom, but it was even worse not to have a classroom at all. Mr. Johnson
said that according to Area Development Magazine, the number one priority that industry looked
at when reviewing an area for a new facility was that it had to have a low crime rate. He said the
next priority was good health care facilities, followed by housing availability, and then, schools
along with reasonable housing costs. Johnson said Lake Norman, and the area's close proximity
to Charlotte, were the predominate reasons why growth was occurring in the southern end.
Dr. Serene said 51% of the system's money had gone to the southern end, and this didn't
leave much for the other areas. She said Scotts Elementary was in a "sad situation." Serene
said, "I cannot vote, in good conscience anymore, to spend more money in the southern end,
until all of the schools are up to par." Serene said she didn't know of a single medical
professional that had recently moved to the Statesville area. She said these people -- educated
people -- were needed in the Statesville area to help with the United Way Agency, and other
civic organizations. Serene said the county had individuals who had lived here all of their lives,
and their children were attending older schools, while people who had just moved here were
sending their children to the newer schools.
Tice said she believed in equity in the schools, but she took issue with the remarks being
said about the southern end. She said that prior to the construction of Lake Norman High, the
students had long, lengthy rides to South Iredell. Mrs. Tice said she had to attend a high school
in Mecklenburg County because a high school didn't even exist in the southern end. She
stressed that there was an influx of people in the lake area long before the new high school was
ever built.
Serene acknowledged that Lake Norman High was needed, but she said the economics in
all parts of the county needed a boost.
Tice agreed that the older schools needed to be improved, but she said that when she first
became a commissioner, in the early 1990s, Brawley School was the worst one in the county.
Mrs. Tice said Statesville needed a new high school, but she took issue with people saying the
reason why growth was occurring in the southern end was due to the new schools.
Parker said that when boards waited too long, the catch-up was expensive.
Cashion said she attended South Iredell High School, and she was one of the students that
endured a long bus ride. She said today, she lived within three miles of Lake Norman High.
Mrs. Cashion said the students at Statesville High School were attending a facility that was third
class, and she believed the funding proposal could work without a tax increase.
Williams said the reason for the Statesville and Iredell County School merger was exactly
about what was being discussed -- equity between the northern end and the southern end.
Madison said that when he became a commissioner in the 1990s, he was told it would
take $50 million to bring the schools up to par, and the system would be in good shape for ten
years. He said that in the 1990s, the county was in the bottom third for current expense, but this
ranking had steadily improved. Now, he said the system was asking for $124 million. Mr.
Madison said the school officials were the ones responsible for the inequity, and they were the
ones that sited the locations for the recently built schools. He said that he was proud of the past
funding and the construction of the new schools, but he didn't see spending $124 million for the
purpose of building a new Lake Norman High School in each area of the county. Mr. Madison
said he thought that if a $124 million bond went before the general public for a vote, it would be
defeated.
Parker said the $50 million was insufficient. He said in 15 years, everyone's successors
would be thinking about how irresponsible it was that this opportunity, with a low interest rate of
four percent, wasn't accepted.