In its regular March meeting, the Wilkes County Board of Education voted to extend the Superintendent’s contract, got an update on the Gordon Street school property, and agreed to get a $3 million line of credit from a local bank.

After an executive session, board members chairman Ricky Callaway, vice chairman Andrew Jackson, Kay Finnell, Bob Guin, and Steve Albertson voted unanimously to extend Dr. Rosemary Caddell’s contract as Wilkes County Superintendent of Schools until June 30, 2012. The board had signed a two-year contract in January 2009 with Dr. Caddell to become Superintendent last July.

Concerning the old school property on Gordon Street, Caddell said that she had contacted Geoff Burkart of The Guardian Center, who said that he is still interested in the property and should have an answer soon from his investors. Meanwhile, insurance adjustors are assembling estimates of the amount of hail damage to the building complex from storms in the fall.

“When we get those numbers in writing, we need to set a workshop and called meeting to consider the estimates on water damage, roof damage, and interior damage,” Caddell said. She added that she would also be getting the adjustor’s estimate on demolition of the buildings, in case that was needed at some time in the future.

Board members decided on Friday, March 19, at 1 p.m. for the workshop and 1:30 for the called meeting to discuss the Gordon Street property.

Caddell reported that some 51 percent of property taxes have been paid and that the system has received another $400,000 in taxes. “That’s good news, but we’re getting close. We need $3 million to see us through until taxes come in,” she said.

Board members discussed the burden of loan origination fees on the fragile budget, and agreed to put the line of credit out for bid to all local banks. Bids are expected to be in and a vote taken at Friday’s called meeting.

The board also considered and passed a revision of the 2009 school calendar to include three furlough days: April 2 and April 30, which are school days, and May 26, which would have been a teacher planning day.

The meeting started with a presentation by Verdale Thompson of the U.S. Census, who reminded board members that participation in the 2010 Census is important to schools due to its impact on the distribution of federal funds, and easy because it is only 10 questions. A special Census Awareness event is planned for Tignall on April 14 because of the low response rate there in the last census.