The Selma City School Board of Education members discussed the first read of Selma City School Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams’ recommendation to close Byrd First Class Learning Center and Cedar Park Elementary School.

School Board member and Vice President Brenda Randolph-Obomanu expressed her concerns.

“The intervention team came the same reason that Dr. Williams is using to close Byrd was the same reason they moved everybody over to Byrd and I’m confused,” she said. “They said we are really tight on funds, we can’t hire all of these people, and now here we are four or five years later and she (Williams) is using the same words to close the school. I encourage my board members to just focus and pay attention to what is going on.”

Obomanu said Byrd is a model school.

“I have some concerns that if we close it, there still will be a Pre-K program but it won’t be Selma City’s Pre-K program,” she said “It is time to fix our schools and not just close them because we are seeing inflated numbers without having quotes so, board members let’s just look at this carefully and look at this entire process.”

Board member Dr. Tanya Miles said the rules and regulations that would involve moving Pre-K students and the necessary equipment such as the playground parts would be difficult and almost impossible due to funds.

“I know it sounds easy for us to say that we would move these children and put them in other places, but it there are so many rules and regulations we are going to have to follow,” Miles said. “We do not have the finances or the manpower. We do not have the finances to put the playgrounds where they are going to need to be to wherever they will be considered moving to.”

Miles added there is space in Byrd that is not being utilized.

“We have eight classrooms in Byrd that are not being used,” she said. “I’m asking that the architectures come in there and look at that and look at using those classrooms. It is just a perfect spot. I’m asking that being looked at and considered.”

Board member Danielle Wooten said that more collective meetings involving the board needed to happen.

“I think we all can agree that are decisions that are going to have to be made moving forward about how to provide a better quality of education for our students and better use for our resources,” said Wooten. “I guess my concern is that with the Pre-K program the nation and the state are moving forward to sites of early learning, and I would not want us to be going backwards. I wish as a board we could get what the desires and goals that the board would like to see in regards to our facilities that we operate. I know that scenarios were presented but we have never sat as a unit to discuss what the board’s vision for the facilities is moving forward. I would hate for us to get to a point where we can’t move forward because we are not working collectively. I don’t want us to get to that point, and we not agree, and we have to take another step back. So, I hope that there will be an opportunity as a unit to see what direction we can move in collectively.”

Miles also requested more research be made to finding grants that could assist in keeping the schools open.

The Selma City School Board of Education heard a facilities assessment report from Lathan Associates Architects on Nov. 2.

The group presented an assessment of Byrd citing numerous problems the school has structurally.

“Byrd Elementary School appears to have been originally constructed in 1919 of wood framing with veneer, and plaster walls and ceilings,” according to the assessment. “Subsequent additions appear to have been constructed with a mix of load-bearing masonry, studs, wood and steel roof trusses, and acoustical lay-in ceilings. The building is approximately 37,000 square feet including the unoccupied wing.

“In general, the original building has limited Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access and outdated electrical and mechanical systems,” the assessment states. “There appears to be major structural concerns with the original 1919 building in particularly the floor framing systems, as well as roof leaks and environmental issues. The later additions, though appearing to be of good structural condition, have limited ADA compliance, roof leaks and environmental issues, especially in the unoccupied wing. The school does not have an activities gym or adequate site circulation or parking.”The assessment states to bring Byrd Elementary to current day operational and code standards, a complete renovation is needed at an estimated cost of approximately $115 per square foot or $4,255,000. This does not include fees, environmental studies, geotechnical investigations, special inspections or the addition of gymnasium and parking.

The biggest issue of Byrd, the hall flooring, would alone cost an estimated $1 million to repair.

There will be a community meeting to discuss the recommendation before the vote in January on Dec. 18 at Edgewood Elementary School at 5 p.m.