By Jeanie Groh

jeanie.groh@salisburypost.com

The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education will have a called meeting on Monday to discuss its capital projects.

At the board’s last meeting, its members decided to hold a called meeting to focus solely on the district’s capital needs before the board’s joint meeting with county commissioners on April 29.

The district needs millions of dollars for safety and security repairs, upgrades and additions – many of which are urgent.

In addition, the board will look at Knox Middle School being rebuilt and Woodleaf and Cleveland elementary schools possibly being consolidated.

“Now it’s up to the board to make some decisions on priorities,” Superintendent Dr. Lynn Moody said at the board’s meeting last week.

“We as a board need to sit down and set those priorities,” said board member Dr. Richard Miller.

The board agreed it was important to have its priorities in order so it could go into its meeting with county commissioners with clear goals and a unified plan.

“We need to make a final decision on what is the next big thing,” Chairman Josh Wagner asked the board. “What’s our No. 1 priority between the two schools?”

“We need to hammer those things out,” he added.

A variety of solutions have been brought to the table concerning the district’s top capital needs.

Board member Chuck Hughes said he feels the board should pay for safety and security needs first with the money already promised by the county. Then, it could put a bond referendum on the ballot later to cover the expenses of a new Knox Middle and a consolidated elementary school.

Another option brought up was reassigning the district’s students, then closing down one or both elementary schools in the western part of the county to save the district from paying to build a consolidated elementary school.

“There’s consequences to each,” said Moody.

“I think a question would be, ‘Are we going to change all the attendance areas or are we going to build a west Rowan elementary school?’” board member Susan Cox asked.

The board will meet Monday at 3 p.m. at its Long Street administrative office, 110 S. Long St., in East Spencer.