The story on the Guilford County School board’s discussion of a construction review panel made the N&R print edition, but I can’t find it anywhere online. As soon as I find it, I’ll put it up.
As for my own analysis, I’ll start out with the money quote from board member Darlene Garrett, who recommended the panel:
“I think it would be a timely idea because we’re going to be talking about another bond. There’s a lot of distrust out there because we’ve had a lot of cost overruns and problems in our construction.”
No kidding.
For starters, GCS already has a construction review panel. It’s called the school board. It’s obvious the educational eggheads now on the board have no knowledge of construction. If school construction truly is the biggest issue facing the system in the next few years, then concerned citizens with practical, real-world experience need to step and run for the school board. It’s too late for this November’s election, but 2008 will be here before we know it.
That’s not to say that the process can’t be improved in the meantime, and I don’t think an audit by the Council of the Great City Schools is the answer. Garrett suggested that contractors be brought in to serve on the panel, which I think is a sound idea.
But Superintendent Terry Grier raised questions about contractors on the proposed panel, given the fact that so few contractors specialize in school construction:
“Having a construction background, I don’t think, is going to be significant on this type of review.”
I’m not sure I agree with that, because any construction background is better than the construction background the school board currently has. With that in mind, here’s my suggestion: Bring in county commissioners with construction backgrounds. We’re talking Mike Winstead, we’re talking Steve Arnold, we’re talking Kirk Perkins. The board could even bring in Skip Alston to address board member Deena Hayes’ never-ending diversity concerns. Just don’t put him in charge of the staircases.
Do the commissioners have experience building schools? No. But again, they could bring vauable real-world experience to the process while keeping a closer eye on costs. Some might say bringing school board members and county commissioners into such close quarters is like mixing oil and water. I say the two boards need any excuse to work together.
