I’m not real sure what Guilford County school board member Jeff Belton is talking about when he says the “school board has had many ideas” about what to do the abandoned Craven Elementary School. I don’t remember any ideas floated when the board last discussed Craven, and it seems like every idea floated by former Superintendent Terry Grier was squashed by previous boards. So if Belton knows of any really good ideas about what to do with Craven, we’d like to hear them.
No one’s sure what’s up with the new GCS headquarters on Elm and Lee streets since the Community Foundation’s trip to D.C. to lobby for federal funds has been delayed. But — as I’ve said before —- the Craven situation is a strong indicator of just how poorly the school system manages and develops property. Indeed, board member Garth Hebert pointed other botched deals, most notably acquisition of its Washington Street office building.
Which is it’s easy to believe that —- should the project get off the ground —- that the powers that be will do their best to keep this out of the school board’s hands. All they’ll have to do is raise their hand and vote ‘yes.’
