By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@alisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The Rowan County commissioners on Monday approved a $6.5 million loan to help make roofing and security improvements in the Rowan-Salisbury Schools system.

With no fanfare, the commissioners unanimously approved the loan, which is part of a 2014 settlement agreement with the school system. About $5.45 million will go toward roofing replacements. The remainder will pay for security improvements that include video surveillance systems and entrance vestibules.

The commissioners held a public hearing on the loan proposal, but no one spoke during it.

The loan, from First Bank, comes with a 2.4 percent interest rate, which will result in additional costs of $813,230. It will be paid for over the course of 10 years. The county will shell out about $675,000 per year to repay the loan, said Finance Director and Assistant County Manager Leslie Heidrick.

Next up, the loan will head to the state Local Government Commission for final approval. Once approved, only one item remains in the settlement agreement between county government and the school system — $27 million for a consolidated western elementary school in Cleveland. After that, there’s a much larger list of school needs.

School leaders have identified more than $200 million in capital needs, which includes the just-approved loan and elementary school. Commissioners Chairman Greg Edds said the county is focused on taking care of items listed in the settlement agreement before working on payment methods for remaining portions of the $200 million.

Remaining needs range from heating, ventilation and air conditioning repairs to a replacement for Knox Middle School.

Edds said both the school system and county government realize that it’s not possible to immediately tackle the entire $200 million list of needs. Instead, the county is focused on what it can afford, he said.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.