Old schoolhouse might be firehouse

The old Leah High School might soon become Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue's next fire station.

In a Tuesday meeting, the Columbia County school board agreed to negotiate with the county commission, which wants to purchase the 4.2 acres near the intersection of Ridge and Ray Owens roads.

"We're real proud of that piece of property," Columbia County School Superintendent Tommy Price joked with the board.

"I don't think you can put a price on it."

According to county records supplied by the school board, the county tax assessor most recently evaluated the worth of the land at $46,284.

Price told the board the property has been unused for years and is too small to ever consider putting another school there.

The board also banned a book from the county's elementary schools during its Tuesday meeting.

Claiming the book contained graphic language and adult themes inappropriate for elementary school pupils, the board unanimously voted to remove The Same Stuff as Stars by Katherine Paterson from elementary media centers, but still allow it in middle schools.

For the first time in Price's recollection, he said, the board was asked to remove a novel from schools after a parent complained.

"There were some adult situations in the book, but I think the parent was mostly upset about the four-letter words in it," Price said.

After two committee reviews - one that approved the book for elementary readers and another that limited the book to fourth- and fifth-graders - the board determined it was best to remove the novel from elementary school media centers altogether.

"If they want to read it, they can check it out from the new (Columbia County) library," board member Roxanne Whitaker said.

Also at the meeting, the board set a date to conduct an annual evaluation for Price.

The evaluation will be conducted at the board's next meeting on May 9 at the Evans Government Center.

At the same meeting, the board will continue study sessions on the system's 2006-07 budget.