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Superintendent urges board to consider transferring Harmon School to community group; North School auction discussed
Summary
Superintendent George asked the board to explore transferring Harmon School to a local group forming a 501(c)(3), and attorneys flagged an auction as a possible option for the district's North School; no vote was taken and administration proposed a work session to detail next steps and federal equipment constraints.
Superintendent George urged the Randolph County Board of Education to consider transferring the Harmon School property to a community group that is working to form a 501(c)(3), saying the move could create a new local school or program and would be a "goodwill gesture for the county." He asked the board to consider a future work session where Mr. Booker and community members could present details about their plan.
George said the district's attorneys have looked into the legal steps required and indicated that, besides Harmon, the district could also consider auctioning the larger North School property to realize a financial return. He emphasized that only items required by federal law must be removed from buildings slated for transfer and that the district should try to leave other equipment in place to give a receiving group a better starting point.
Administration noted federal E-rate and other grant rules can restrict whether certain technology or federally purchased equipment can be moved, donated, or sold; staff said they will review the district's fixed-asset records to identify any federally funded items and paperwork needed to transfer or dispose of them appropriately. The superintendent said he would try to facilitate a transfer by July 1 if the board supports the move and recommended limiting removals to what is legally required.
Board members asked logistical questions about which items would be removed and how to ensure a transferee could have a fair and workable start. One board member suggested attorneys begin drafting options and that a brief work session or an end-of-meeting work item would be sufficient to gather needed information before any formal decision.
No formal action was taken. The superintendent requested feedback and recommended the board schedule a work session or add the issue as a work-session item at a future regular meeting to review legal details, asset inventories and timetable.
