The Lawrence school district's plan to move its central administration into a new office and warehouse complex has come under fire by a board member.
Lawrence school board member Jack Davidson questioned Monday the district's strategy of selling its current administration building to help finance a move to a $4.1 million warehouse and office structure on McDonald Drive.
"Maybe we should stay here with administration and ... expand this structure," Davidson said of the district's service center on Clinton Parkway.
The board took no action on Davidson's idea, but it may debate it at a future meeting.
Davidson said it would cost in the neighborhood of $200,000 to back out of the deal to buy the complex at 110 McDonald Drive. That's too high a price, he said.
A November 1998 bond issue approved by district patrons contained $2.8 million for a warehouse and maintenance complex. There was no specific language in the bond question about central office space acquisition.
The district in February announced it intended to buy the 110 McDonald Drive property for $4.1 million.
The district is scheduled to transform the building into a warehouse and administration headquarters in November.
In regards to projects contained in a $16.6 million bond issue adopted by voters, school board member Scott Morgan questioned a decision to use $500,000 in bond interest to cover cost overruns.
Austin Turney, who was on the board when the bond issue was drafted and adopted, said it was always assumed bond interest would be part of the funding mix for a new elementary school and additions to three existing schools.
"I agree there are people in the community not aware of it," he said.
Morgan said it would have been better to have explained the entire financing scheme to the school district's electorate prior to the vote.
"You need to do it out in front," Morgan said. "It goes to public trust. Before we spend $500,000 of anything it has to be more than bland intent."
Board President James Hilliard said the board should do a better job in the future of articulating the projected total cost of projects paid for by bonds. Currently, projects related to last year's $16.6 million bond issue are pegged at $20 million.
-- Tim Carpenter's phone message number is 832-7155. His e-mail address is tcarpenter@ljworld.com.
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