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Nash-Rocky Mount board dumps architects for new high school

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Nash-Rocky Mount board dumps architects for new high school


SFL+a design to replace Oakley Collier


By Natasha Robinson
Rocky Mount Telegram


Tuesday, December 02, 2008

In an unexpected move Monday, the Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education terminated negotiations with Oakley Collier Architects, the firm selected to design the new Rocky Mount High School.

After returning from a closed session, board member Frank Lamm made a motion that negotiations with the firm be terminated. All present board members except Robert Bynum, Walt Wiggins and Brenda Brown voted to approve the termination. Member Cindy Berry was absent from the meeting. Member Greg Camp was excused for the discussion and vote because he works for Oakley Collier’s lawyers, presenting a conflict of interest.

The termination caught Oakley Collier officials off guard Monday evening.

“We are completely shocked by the news of the school board (terminating negotiations),” Oakley Collier partner Tim Oakley said. “We had been negotiating with the board in good faith. We have responded to every request that they made. We’re certainly disappointed with their action.”

As part of the motion, the board voted to hire SFL+a Architects. The move didn’t sit well with Wiggins, who walked out on the meeting immediately after the vote.

A majority of Nash-Rocky Mount’s Board of Education members had voted in a work session earlier this year to have SFL+a design the school. During a regular board meeting, however, the board unselected the firm and decided to use Oakley Collier’s services.

SFL+a lawyers sent school superintendent Rick McMahon a letter in September requesting the board reconsider its action.

Board member Robert Bynum said the decision to fire Oakley Collier lacks integrity. He said the move was more about politics and “self-serving interests” than about the children.

“We never discussed terminating Oakley Collier in any open session,” Bynum said.

Bynum said the board was supposed to have “good-faith discussions.”

“Everything discussed openly appeared in good faith, so it would never look like we would rescind them,” Bynum said. “So to come back with such a drastic decision, you have to wonder if our open discussions were actually in good faith.

“The backlash we got from actually hiring Oakley Collier may very well pale in comparison to what we did tonight.”

Your comments

Tyki Pitt

01/16/2009 09:57:15 AM

need to know price on bjue print for house?

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Children Learn What They Live

12/29/2008 11:26:50 PM

There is a poem, Children Learn What They Live that says If a child lives with criticism. He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility. He learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule. He learns to be shy and so on. I believe if a child lives with (and is lead by) a bunch of liars, cheats and racists they learn something, too, and it is not in the state's curriculum.

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Lying Through Their Teeth

12/29/2008 11:22:03 PM

This kinda says it all doesn't it? Board member Robert Bynum said the decision to fire Oakley Collier lacks integrity. He said the move was more about politics and “self-serving interests” than about the children.

“We never discussed terminating Oakley Collier in any open session,” Bynum said.

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Get What You Deserve

12/29/2008 11:18:46 PM

Let me see. Now the Board engaged in its usual lying and manipulation to get the property and now more scheming, lying and duplicity regarding hiring an architect. Public, wake up, ask questions and demand some answers. You have leadership and a board playing foul games. Do you think folk can be so dishonest on one hand and not on another. What kind of leadership do you think this is for a school system?

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Tim

12/02/2008 07:29:20 PM

This whole situation is just politics as usual in Rocky Mount. Oakley is a local firm with local ties to the good ol' boy network. The best firm should be chosen for the job. If the board can't decide on that maybe they shouldn't be on the board.

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