Following concerns raised by a parent over plans to lease the second floor at Youngsville Elementary School to Warren County, the Warren County School District is asking its solicitor to modify language in the lease.

During regular school board committee meetings this week, Youngsville parent Kelly Sullivan spoke to the board via Zoom about concerns the county could use the space for activities that could cause security concerns if housed near children. Specifically, Sullivan expressed concern over the possibility the county could operate certain human services functions out of the space, including those related to mental health or substance abuse issues.

“Reading through this agreement, it appears that anything can be put on the second story of Youngsville Elementary School,” Sullivan said. “This is alarming to me and a lot of other parents that I’ve spoken with today.”

During discussion at the board Physical Plants & Facilities Committee meeting, board members shared Sullivan’s concern.

Superintendent Amy Stewart noted, “This can be shaped and modified.”

Committee members asked that language within the agreement be amended to limit county usage of the site and proposed restricting usage to housing county staff rather than providing services on-site or to exclude adult services such as probation and certain human services functions.

It was decided to advance a revised agreement for full school board approval once the district solicitor had made changes. If approved, the agreement would be sent to the county commissioners for review.

Currently, the agreement specifically lists human services as a potential usage for the space. It does specifically prohibit the county from conducting any “Program associated with persons convicted of crimes.”

It also limits county employees to occupying the second floor, parking lot and a separate point of entry to the second floor designated by the district only. Employees would not be in contact with students unless an emergency, such as a fire, where to occur. Any modification to ensure this would be made at the county’s expense.

The current wording is set to span a 10-year period.