The substance of the proposal was similar to the one presented to the Board of Education Feb. 22. Robbie Ferris, of SFL+A Architects, presented.
The school as proposed would be 175,000 square feet and could be used by the community, in addition to the schools. SFL+A has built similar schools throughout the state, most recently in Sampson County.
He urged the board to take advantage of "historically" low construction costs, as well as low interest rates. Ferris claimed the utility expenses would be half of what they are currently due to the school's design, which revolves around a central atrium.
The county would lease the land and building to SFL+A for 40 years, then take possession of the school. The annual lease payment would be $1,527,000.
Ferris claimed construction, with commissioners' approval, could move forward as early as April. This would allow the building to be complete in time for the 2012-2013 school year.
"We do have some talking to do and we do have some thinking to do," County Commission Chair Anna Baucom said.
Commissioner Ross Streater said the commission promised voters in 1989 that if a $16 million bond passed, which it did, the 5-percent tax it created would be removed when the bond's debt was retired. The retired debt was mentioned as a source of partial financing for the new school.
"It encloses a campus that is wide open," Anson High School Principal Charles Murphy said.
The Commission will further discuss the matter at a later date. In a 5-1 vote Feb. 22, the Anson County Board of Education voted to move forward with plans for the construction of a new high school.
In other business, Commissioner Bobby Sikes asked the commissioners to approve an exception for a local children's baseball league with only 49 of the 60 required members to play. The motion passed.
The meeting was cut short by inclement weather and another meeting was arranged for March 22.
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