The walls of the old St. Stephens Elementary School are about to come crumbling down. The Catawba County Board of Commissioners approved $95,281 in funding and money transfer for its demolition Tuesday night.

The school system has 16 days to make it happen or risk not meeting its deadline.

“I don’t know that we will meet that deadline,” said Steve Demiter, CCS assistant superintendent of operations.

He said the school system started applying for the necessary permits last week.

“We will move forward as quickly as we can,” Demiter said.

The buildings, located off Springs Road near 24th Street NE in Hickory, have been a persistent problem for Catawba County Schools since it closed the school in 2005. A fire destroyed the main building in 2005, while vagrants and thieves have left the remaining cafeteria, classroom annex and shop building in disrepair.

“The types of problems you would see with any old, abandoned buildings exist, including some break-ins and problems with vagrants,” said Markley.

On Nov. 7, 2008, the code enforcement sector of the Hickory Police Department informed CCS that the old St. Stephens buildings were in violation of multiple building codes. CCS was given 90 days to correct the problem by either bringing the buildings up to code, a task that would cost an estimated $15,000 to $20,000, or demolishing them.

“If there is a problem, we would work with the city of Hickory to find a solution,” said Dr. Tim Markley, CCS superintendent, via e-mail.

The project includes the demolition of the three buildings on site and disposal of about 3,500 tons of debris in the county landfill. Clearing the property will cost about $88,281.  The county agreed to waive landfill fees, which will save CCS an estimated $68,250. However, the school system will still have to pay the $2 per ton state tax that was implemented this year, a cost of $7,000.

CCS will supplement $60,966 from the county with another $34,315 left over from capital projects completed at Balls Creek Elementary and Maiden High.

The school system was informed of the problems at a time when the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has already requested the return of $695,000 from this year’s state allotment.

“This was definitely not great timing. It has required us to identify money that could be used from several different capital accounts,” said Markley.

He said if the repairs were made, the school system would be faced with the same problems again within six months to a year. Keeping the property to code would mean continually spending money on a building that is no longer of any use to CCS.

“Demolition is a better solution and will offer a clear lot in a prime location,” Markley said.

The school system has attempted to sell the property since 2005 to no avail, said Demiter.  The 16-acre lot is valued at $4.6 million with buildings. He said it’s not sure how the demolition of the buildings will impact the property value.

The property is too small for a school, he said. North Carolina recommends 20-25 acres for an elementary school and he noted another school isn’t needed there regardless. Demiter said they still hope to sell it.