Post by Aggie One on Oct 15, 2006 9:53:35 GMT -5
Article published Oct 15, 2006
Leader: Changes needed at A&T
By Lanita Withers
Staff Writer
GREENSBORO — Construction is under way on N.C. A&T’s new School of Education, but that hasn’t eased the disappointment of those who feel shortchanged by the decision to scale back the facility.
Velma Speight-Buford, chairwoman of the university’s board of trustees, said supporters have a right to be upset. And as head of the board tasked with overseeing the design of buildings, Speight-Buford is vowing changes in the way the body operates.
"I’m not pleased with the manner we’ve done the School of Education," Speight-Buford said. "The School of Education has every reason to complain." The university originally planned to build a 65,000-square-foot building. But rising construction costs shot the bids over the $19.2 million budget, and university officials opted for an alternative design that cut 7,000 square feet.
But before making that decision, they didn’t consult the board of trustees. "People are blaming the board for what happened with the School of Education," Speight-Buford said. But the board didn’t know about the changes until a trustee retreat in August, she said.
"Our staff is going to have a real awakening because, at this moment, they have no respect for the board," Speight-Buford said. "I guess over the years that’s been ingrained in them that you do whatever you need to do and the board is just going to rubber-stamp it. That day has changed.
"This board, as long as I’m chair, is not going to rubber-stamp anything."
Administrators have said the decision to scale back the building was purely financial. "We’re building what we can afford," Willie T. Ellis Jr., A&T’s vice chancellor for business and finance, said last month. Even to build the scaled-back version, administrators had to come up with an extra $1.4 million.
Speight-Buford said the board of trustees also has some blame to take for not being as involved and for not asking enough questions.
She aims to change that by taking such measures as revamping the way trustees discuss business at quarterly meetings. "We’re going to stop having just the committee reports," she said.
Meanwhile, the School of Education has been caught in the middle.
More than 50 people in the school and with the Friends of the School of Education signed two letters of petition to the interim chancellor, highlighting what they say are the school’s successes and the need for the additional space that was trimmed from the building.
"Our wishes have not been considered with: (1) the selection of the architect; (2) building design; (3) building name; and now (4) building redesign and cutting of spaces," one of the letters reads.
"The decision to reduce the building size, which does not currently accommodate the educational needs of the students and faculty, is questionable," the letter continues. "This building, when constructed, will not sufficiently accommodate the instructional needs of our students."
Speight-Buford said she’s investigating to see whether there are other options for the School of Education . The building is scheduled to be completed by December 2007.
Contact Lanita Withers at 373-7071 or lwithers@news-record.com
Leader: Changes needed at A&T
By Lanita Withers
Staff Writer
GREENSBORO — Construction is under way on N.C. A&T’s new School of Education, but that hasn’t eased the disappointment of those who feel shortchanged by the decision to scale back the facility.
Velma Speight-Buford, chairwoman of the university’s board of trustees, said supporters have a right to be upset. And as head of the board tasked with overseeing the design of buildings, Speight-Buford is vowing changes in the way the body operates.
"I’m not pleased with the manner we’ve done the School of Education," Speight-Buford said. "The School of Education has every reason to complain." The university originally planned to build a 65,000-square-foot building. But rising construction costs shot the bids over the $19.2 million budget, and university officials opted for an alternative design that cut 7,000 square feet.
But before making that decision, they didn’t consult the board of trustees. "People are blaming the board for what happened with the School of Education," Speight-Buford said. But the board didn’t know about the changes until a trustee retreat in August, she said.
"Our staff is going to have a real awakening because, at this moment, they have no respect for the board," Speight-Buford said. "I guess over the years that’s been ingrained in them that you do whatever you need to do and the board is just going to rubber-stamp it. That day has changed.
"This board, as long as I’m chair, is not going to rubber-stamp anything."
Administrators have said the decision to scale back the building was purely financial. "We’re building what we can afford," Willie T. Ellis Jr., A&T’s vice chancellor for business and finance, said last month. Even to build the scaled-back version, administrators had to come up with an extra $1.4 million.
Speight-Buford said the board of trustees also has some blame to take for not being as involved and for not asking enough questions.
She aims to change that by taking such measures as revamping the way trustees discuss business at quarterly meetings. "We’re going to stop having just the committee reports," she said.
Meanwhile, the School of Education has been caught in the middle.
More than 50 people in the school and with the Friends of the School of Education signed two letters of petition to the interim chancellor, highlighting what they say are the school’s successes and the need for the additional space that was trimmed from the building.
"Our wishes have not been considered with: (1) the selection of the architect; (2) building design; (3) building name; and now (4) building redesign and cutting of spaces," one of the letters reads.
"The decision to reduce the building size, which does not currently accommodate the educational needs of the students and faculty, is questionable," the letter continues. "This building, when constructed, will not sufficiently accommodate the instructional needs of our students."
Speight-Buford said she’s investigating to see whether there are other options for the School of Education . The building is scheduled to be completed by December 2007.
Contact Lanita Withers at 373-7071 or lwithers@news-record.com
