BY MILES LAYTON

GATESVILLE — The Gates County Schools superintendent has addressed questions regarding communication and project management raised by Gates County Commissioner Dave Forsythe, who seeks clarification from the school board about the progress on the TS Cooper Elementary School construction project.

Forsythe said commissioners recently learned during a work session that Buckland Construction, the contractor for the project, has not received payment in at least two months. He said the amount owed is more than $700,000.

In a public statement, Forsythe also raised the issue of whether required design approval from the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI) was obtained before the construction contract was awarded. Without that approval, he said, grant funds expected to support the project might not be released.

“I requested a special meeting to address the matter, but have not yet received a response,” Forsythe said. He added that commissioners have been asked to tour schools but have not received detailed updates on the project or results from a facilities study conducted last fiscal year.

Superintendent Responds

Gates County Schools Superintendent Barry Williams said delays were the result of late paperwork, not a lack of approval.

“Regarding approval for the two projects, the architect was contacted and apologized for not getting his work turned back into DPI in a timely manner,” Williams said. “This tardiness was the cause of the delayed payment. The September approval disbursement should come the first week of October.”

Williams emphasized that the TS Cooper project remains funded and approved. The work at the school focuses on window replacement, HVAC system upgrades, and roof repairs. It has been budgeted by the county at $1.7 million.

A second project at Buckland Elementary School, which involves similar repairs and upgrades, has been budgeted at $2.9 million.

“These are critical infrastructure needs,” Williams said. “We are addressing modernization efforts in all five schools. The funding was grant-funded and comes at no cost to the citizens of Gates County.”

Differing Perspectives

The differing accounts highlight a contrast between commissioners’ concerns about process and oversight, and school leaders’ assurances that the projects remain on track.

Forsythe said the unanswered questions leave commissioners in a difficult position as they monitor the county’s financial commitments. Williams countered that the delays were temporary and tied to paperwork, and that the work itself is moving forward.

While Forsythe cautioned that missing approvals could put grant funding at risk, Williams noted that the approvals have since been secured and that payments are expected to resume shortly.

School Tours

The timing of recent school tours has also drawn attention. Forsythe questioned why commissioners were invited to visit campuses without receiving project updates. Williams, however, said the tours are valuable for showing officials daily school activities and improvements.

On Sept. 5, Commissioner Brian Rountree toured the schools with Williams. The superintendent said the visit highlighted the work taking place and allowed students and teachers to share their experiences directly.

“His visit provided a comprehensive view of the excellent work happening in our schools every day,” Williams said. “Our teachers and students were energized by his presence and the genuine interest he showed in their accomplishments.”

Larger Context

The discussion around TS Cooper fits into a broader pattern of balancing oversight and operations in local school projects. Commissioners provide the funding, while the school board manages planning and execution. That relationship can be tested when delays, communication lapses, or financial concerns arise.

In Gates County, school officials have stressed that the projects are funded through grants and do not require additional county tax dollars. Still, Forsythe said commissioners need more consistent updates to ensure accountability as multimillion-dollar projects move forward.

Next Steps

The contractor remains unpaid for now, but Williams said that issue should be resolved once state disbursements are released in early October. Forsythe’s request for a special meeting to discuss the matter has not yet been scheduled.

With more than $4.6 million in combined work budgeted for TS Cooper and Buckland Elementary, both county and school leaders agree that completing the projects is a priority. How quickly remaining concerns are addressed may determine the level of confidence residents have in the school system’s ability to carry out its modernization plan.