Office plans back on drawing board

Brunswick County school board wants more detail

By Jason M. Rodriguez - jrodriguez@thesunnews.com

BOLIVIA, N.C. --

The drawing board for the proposed expansion of the Brunswick County Schools Central Office is getting a workout as board members sent administrators back to it this week.

For at least the fourth time in two years, plans for the central office have been put off. Twice in 2007, county commissioners denied the schools' requests to include the $5.9 million central office plans in the general school improvement plans. And the revised plans this March - with a pricetag of $600,000 - lay rolled up on the school board's meeting table after a committee meeting.

This week was no different.

Although board members Tuesday heard Director of Operations Steve Miley's pitch for the $200,000 renovation, the plan was sent back to Miley's office to get a more detailed list of the renovation plans.

The plans call for the Technology Department to move to the operations center, which is behind the central office, in warehouse space that would be converted to office space. It would create seven new offices and free up space in the central office for administrators and storage.

Board member Jimmy Hobbs liked the plans and made a motion to pass them, which failed for lack of a second.

"I agree that with the current status of economic times, the large scale plans needed to brought to this level," Hobbs said. "I do agree that the changes that were submitted today are needed."

Hobbs was talking about the more than $1 million proposal school administrators presented to county commissioners last year, which commissioners refused to consider.

"I don't think this has been studied," Gilbert said of the proposed shifting of personnel. "I think this needs to follow protocol and go back to committee."

The plans also included a renovation of the board room, which included a new boardroom table, chairs and lobby furnishings. Board Vice Chairman Charlie Miller requested an itemized list of furnishings Miley had requested.

Board member Scott Milligan said he would like Miley to look at who is located at the central office and determine whether their office needs to be there.

"The need [for more room] is still there," he said. "The problem is not going to go away."

Contact JASON M. RODRIGUEZ at 910-754-9868.