Robbie Ferris: Leasing allows schools to provide better education

Regarding the June 21 editorial “Rent-a-school is a risky plan”: Contrary to the opinions of The N&O editorial board, it is not practical for the state to step in with “emergency school funding” in Robeson County. The cost would be staggering.

The good news is that if Senate Bill 554 passes, small rural districts can consolidate and solve their own problems. They won’t need the state’s help.

Public-private partnerships have been used successfully around the nation. Leasing schools has proven to be the most economical way to deliver world-class educational environments in North Carolina.

The law that allows for leasing schools has been in effect for over 25 years. A good example is in Hoke County, where Sandy Grove Middle School will save taxpayers in excess of $35 million during the next 40 years. These savings could have not been accomplished by delivering the school through traditional methods.

Sandy Grove is generating 50 percent more electricity than it uses, which means there is no electrical bill. The developer sold tax credits that lowered the cost to the taxpayers by $4.2 million. The developer also created a structure that allowed the project to take advantage of zero percent bonds and tax credits in the same transaction and eliminated about $16 million in interest.

Sandy Grove has been recognized nationally and even won an international award. It is driving cultural change in the community it serves. The building is a teaching tool that inspires the students to create a vision for their lives that can literally change the world.

The state treasurer and the Local Government Commission did not like Sandy Grove Middle School, either. Clearly, they don’t always get things right.

Strong schools create vibrant communities, and vibrant communities create a sustainable future for everyone. The question is, how do we provide strong schools?

SB 554 is about allowing school districts to use operating savings generated from consolidation to pay lease payments. It allows school districts to take money being spent on repairs, electricity and inefficient staffing and use that money to pay for buildings.

Contrary to what has been reported, the plan does not reduce the number of teachers or teacher assistants. SB 554 will allow counties that need to consolidate to provide world-class schools like Sandy Grove at a fraction of the cost of doing it the old way.

The issue is not really consolidation. It seems that the issue being debated is whether private developers should be involved in leasing schools. Clearly the way it has always been done, as the treasurer proposes, is not working.

Do the people of North Carolina want more of the same or is it time to deliver the children of this state the facilities they need to compete in life? SB 554 is a pathway to transforming rural North Carolina. If we want different results, we must approach things differently.

The length limit was waived to permit a fuller response to the editorial.

This story was originally published June 27, 2016 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Robbie Ferris: Leasing allows schools to provide better education."