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Community High wing still in limbo

By DAVID MELSON - dmelson@t-g.com
Posted 8/3/21

With the new school year officially beginning Monday, Community High School is riding on some good news to begin a new academic season. The school board has agreed to move ahead with the long promised education wing. It’s been 10 years, to be exact...

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Community High wing still in limbo

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With the new school year officially beginning Monday, Community High School is riding on some good news to begin a new academic season. The school board has agreed to move ahead with the long promised education wing.

It’s been 10 years, to be exact.

While the Community School district was hit pretty hard last year during the pandemic. Ironically, it may be funds associated with the coronavirus which finally provides the new build at the high school.

Community High Principal Robert Ralston has stated previously that his school is likely to grow in population within the next 10 years. The wing was promised during the building of the high school about 10 years ago, but board members said funds just weren’t available in that project to finish the wing—one which is designed for extra classroom space.

During the recent meeting of Bedford County Board of Education—when an alphabet list of school policies had to be addressed—board member Dan Reed, who represents the Unionville (3rd) District, asked where the board stands with an architectural contract on the Community High wing.

Once again, funding is an issue regarding this project.

Director of Schools Tammy Garrett advised during the recent board meeting that the school system is seeking pre approval to use ESSER funds, from the state. Though it is federal dollars, the state is in charge of approving any expenditures.

That of course puts some red tape before the build project.

Millions in ESSER federal funds have been distributed to the local school system. With all such large amounts of funding, there is red tape attached.

“What we’ve found out with the ESSER money [federal COVID-19 funds] that they keep putting out hoops for us to jump through. I think it’s fiscally responsible for us to continue to jump through those, so we can get that done.”

She talked about some trainings which have to be conducted, along with Bedford County Finance Director Robert Daniel. “As soon as we get our pre approval back, we’re hoping we can move forward with that.”

She said one hitch, or hoop, is that there are requirements from the government regarding wages for services performed under federal money. So that will have to be addressed.

Reed asked if contract has been signed by both parties. Garrett said from her understanding, there are no contracts, as pre approval has not been given by the state to use the ESSER funds. Garrett said timing, in this case in particular, can make or break the wing addition project.

“If we enter into the contract too soon, they won’t let us use the federal funds. Then, we would have to go back to the Commission. We are diligently trying to do that. With the pre approval, we think we can do it sooner. There’s one thing they sent back to us; Chad [Graham] fixed that. So we’re waiting any day to get that approval . . . use that money. If the timing doesn’t match, we can’t use that money.”

Garrett said like many other school superintendents, she’s therefore on state time. “I promise, as soon as I get that, I will call Robert [Daniel].”

Reed, a Community alumnus, told the superintendent that he appreciated that explanation of the Community wing progress.