SA waiting on an answer (08/22/07)

It could be January before the state lets South Adams Schools know whether it can go ahead with building a new school to replace crumbling buildings in Berne and Geneva.

Superintendent Cathy Egolf said this morning she had been notified by Cheryl Musgrave, commissioner of the Department of Local Government Finance, that the decision may be put off an additional 90 days.

South Adams is seeking to construct a new kindergarten through grade 8 facility adjacent to the current high school under a design/build project at a cost of $25 million. The project won overwhelming local support this summer during a remonstrance petition drive.

But the DLGF advisory board was divided last week as to whether to recommend state approval. The board, meeting in Indianapolis, voted 3-3 with one abstention before passing the matter on to Musgrave. The abstention came from a board member who had done work for South Adams in the past and felt he had a conflict of interest.

Under state law, the DLGF had an initial 90 days from July 17 to act on the project. This week's notice from Musgrave indicates an additional 90 days could be tacked on, making the date for final action Jan. 17, 2008.

"We need a decision made before December to get the best rates for our bonds," said Egolf. She indicated all other pending school construction projects have received similar notices of a de facto moratorium on DLGF approval.

"They're effectively shutting off all building projects for the rest of the year," she said. "Its effect only increases the cost."

Without DLGF approval, there's little that can be done to move the project forward.

Meanwhile, the middle school building in Geneva, the oldest of the structures due for replacement, may pose an immediate hazard. On Monday afternoon, a large piece of ceiling fell to the floor in one of the classrooms. No injuries were reported.[[In-content Ad]]