RALEIGH - Wake County school administrators say they're not yet ready to recommend which construction projects need to be delayed due to the troubled economy.

Because of problems selling bonds, Wake commissioners have agreed to postpone $154 million in building projects, and most of those likely will involve schools. School administrators said today they're still assessing the impact of the county's decision and will present a list of recommended cuts on Oct. 21.

"We're going to have to delay projects," Don Haydon, chief facilities and operations operation, told the school board this morning. "But we don't want to put out a list yet because it might be too big or too small."

Haydon told school board members he'll want a vote next week on the list, which will include new schools and renovations.

The county has canceled $454 million in bond sales because of a lack of a market for the instruments. To keep projects going, commissioners voted on Monday to borrow up to $300 million from Bank of America with $256 million going to school projects.

But school board members stressed today that there's no guarantee that they'll get that $256 million if the county can't borrow the money.

Administrators said they'll try to reduce costs by suspending construction contracts and purchases and delaying issuing contracts.

Administrators said they'll have to weigh factors such as the impact on student assignment. Mike Burriss, assistant superintendent for facilities, said delaying many projects by even just a month means not having those schools ready until the following school year.

Chuck Dulaney, assistant superintendent for growth and planning, said he'll have to scale back a new plan to tell families up to three years ahead of time where their children will go to school. He said the uncertainty over what new schools will be ready makes it hard to know which ones will be available past next year to assign students.

Dulaney plans to release a draft of the new reassignment plan next month.

Due to the financial uncertainty, school board members delayed today discussing a list of renovation projects that would be part of the next school construction bond issue. Board members said discussing the projects now would unfairly raise public hopes.

Board members said they are less likely to ask for a bond issue next year in light of the current economy.

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.