Published: October 02, 2008 03:17 pm      

School board focuses on sewer problems at North Cumberland

With the budget crisis behind them, members of the Cumberland County Board of Education turned their attention to fixing a deteriorating sewer disposal system at North Cumberland Elementary School.

During Monday night's meeting, the BOE accepted a proposal from Upland Design Group. Inc. to start civil engineering services for a pump station and three miles of force main for the school.

"Folks, this needed to be done for years," said 7th District representative Mary Smith.

"It's just a better situation," said Upland architect Kim Chamberlin. "There will be less problems down the road. We think it is the right thing to do."

According to the proposal, the failing sanitary drain field system will be replaced with a sanitary sewer pump station and associated force main. Upland engineer Scott Nicholson explained four-inch lines will be used for the project, with the school the only user of that line up to the city limits.

"We do have a little concern with making sure there is enough right-of-way distance to get from North Cumberland to where we are tying onto the city system," explained Chamberlin. "Before we jump…into doing anything else, that will be where we start—to verify that it is there to faciltate and make sure everything can be run."

A question about the BOE's responsibilities, such as paying fees for the sewer line, construction and grading permits, was raised by business manager Cindy Randol. Nicholson explained most of the fees could be waived, and he anticipated wetland delineation and aquatic resource alteration permitting would not be necessary.

Smith made the motion to accept the proposal, and Victor Randolph, 6th District representative, supported it. The motion passed with all in favor.

Taking attorney Earl Patton's advice, the board tabled approving a draft of the sewer connection agreement with the city of Crossville because it contained "significant blanks with no formal numbers from the city," he noted. The numbers pertained to the connection fee the board will have to pay, the days in which it must be paid after the contract is executed and the gallons of sewage from the school the city will treat per day at its treatment facility.

"I wouldn't ask the board necessarily approve that contract because they're still some things to be negotiated," said Patton.

In other news, Chamberlain provided an update on the Phoenix/Alternative School, which held an open house for dignitaries prior to the meeting.

"Things are wrapping up," he said. "The punch list is being worked off. We should be completed 100 percent within the next week with all of the last remaining items."

Chamberlain was also glad to report that the project was constructed below the amount budgeted and final accounting was under way.

"It's always nice to be able to come and tell you when I have finished up under the budget that was set [and] under the bid price," he stated.

At the meeting, county commissioner Robert Safdie reminded the board and the public on why the school is important by describing the poor condition of the library annex in 2000.

"When I became elected on the board of education, I toured the library annex and saw five cubicles made out of rough board…windows and doors opened with no air conditioning…rough shoddy floors and unpainted walls, and I saw 26 young men and women being taught by one supervisor and one teacher's aide," he explained. "There was no lunch…[or] breakfast served to those children. There were no books in the annex because the philosophy of this community indicated that these children did not deserve any better."

He explained that perception has changed over the last eight years as the community started supporting education more. A result of this support was the building of the Phoenix School.

"That was the right thing to do, and I want to thank this community and the Board of Education for treating our children like children and giving them the opportunity to grow," said Safdie, who pointed out that 93 graduates from last year are "proof to our community that the decision to build this school was good [and] was the best opportunity for these children."