The Charlotte County School Board in January during a special called meeting to consider hiring a third-party administrator to help the division in how to improve its elementary school facilities, but did not finalize a contract or choose a vendor.

The administrator, when hired, will assist the board with the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 (PPEA), which enables public entities, such as school board, the authority to create public-private partnerships for the development of projects, such as an educational facility, that meets a public purpose.

The partnerships are allowed only if the public approves and if using private contractors is more cost-effective or efficient.

Division Superintendent Dr. Nancy Leonard said the board reviewed applicant information during the meeting Tuesday with the purpose of hiring a third-party administrator to help the school system work through the PPEA process.

“The third-party administrator will help the school board to evaluate proposals that may be submitted by architects and construction companies who have ideas, plans and costs, on how to address our elementary school facilities’ needs,” said Leonard.

She said the board previously decided to focus on two construction options. They will either renovate all three elementary schools or close them all and build one consolidated school, Leonard said.

“This direction could be reconsidered as information comes in, but that is the decision to date to help narrow the inquiry focus,” Leonard said.

She said the PPEA process is unique, thus school divisions and localities that utilize it hire a third-party administrator to help with the process.

“The school board did not reach a conclusion on the hiring of a third-party administrator,” Leonard said of the meeting. “They did not take action at the last meeting and continue to give the decision thoughtful consideration.”