Panel seeks extension for report

March 11, 2008 at 1:10a.m.

Committee members are at odds over seeking more time to make a decision.

WARREN — The chairman of a committee studying how to preserve Warren G. Harding High School when it closes June 3 will tell the school board it needs more information before it can make any decisions.

During a Monday committee meeting, it was decided that committee chairman Anthony Payiavlas will tell the board of education during its meeting this evening that it wants to hear from a demolition expert to determine what is involved in razing Harding or a portion of it. The committee was appointed by the board.

The committee decided to hear from the demolition expert, along with the project construction manager, before it can approve its own mission statement and determine a date when it can make a recommendation to the board.

If the board decides not to give the committee added time, the group will be disbanded, Payiavlas said.

When voters approved a bond issue in 2003 to replace the district buildings, including the high school, they also voted for an issue to generate $1 million for school preservation.

The committee was formed to make its recommendation by March 18 because room is needed at the school site for the streets, parking lot and landscaping for the new high school facility.

Committee members Payiavlas, retired Judge Donald Ford and Atty. John Pogue presented to the committee Monday a draft mission statement that includes asking the school board for time until June 30 to make its recommendation.

Board members Jimmy Pugh and Colette Parker said they believed that June 30 was too long of a period. They said the longer the committee’s decision is put off, the greater the chances are of losing a part of the $946,510 left in the preservation account.

There have been estimates that keeping Harding’s facade with some unoccupied offices in back of it will cost $941,000. This means the auditorium and building wings would be demolished.

Pugh said there are valuable memories in other buildings that have been demolished or will be razed to make way for new school buildings.

If a portion of the money earmarked for preservation of schools isn’t used for that purpose, “I won’t be able to sleep at night,” he said.

Parker suggested that any delay in the process might spur the Ohio School Facilities Commission, which is paying a portion of the demolition costs, to withdraw its funding — adding to the school district’s burden.

Judge Ford, however, asked if anyone can show him where a delay until June 30 will cost the district money. Nobody responded to his question.

The judge said it’s “impossible” for the committee to get all of its questions answered within 30 days.

Another committee member, Dave Ambrose, said more time is needed so the committee can look at other alternatives than saving only the facade and some unoccupied office space behind it.

Pugh agreed that June 30 is a viable date to make a recommendation because demolition can’t begin until students recess for the summer.

yovich@vindy.com