Harding preservation committee needs more time for high school recommendation

Harding preservation committee needs more time for high school recommendation

WARREN — Committee members named by the board of education to make a recommendation by March 18 about the fate of Warren G. Harding High School says it doesn’t have enough time to do so.

Meeting for the first time today, members of the Harding Historic Respect Committee agreed to ask the school board for 90 to 100 days to do their job.

The school will close at the end of the current school year, and a new school adjacent to Harding will open in the fall.

The district has $946,510 available from a 2003 bond issue to preserve an unspecified section of the school. The issue raised $1 million, but $53,490 has been spent on architectural fees.

“Your challenge is to move forward with the best options,” said board member Shari Harrell, who named the committee along with board member Edward Bolino.

“I don’t think I can made a decision by the 18th [of March], said committee member Atty. John Pogue, noting that if the board doesn’t extend the time, he won’t serve on the committee.

Anthony Payiavlas, a businessman named committee chairman, said meeting the timeline is unreasonable and “in some degree disrespectful” by the school board to committee members.

Donald Ford, a committee member and retired judge of the 11th District Court of Appeals, called the task impossible in two weeks.

For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.