By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—Although less than a year old, the Pelham City School System has outgrown its central office space below City Hall.

The Pelham City Council approved an agreement with the Board of Education on Oct. 20 allowing the BOE to rent and move the school system’s central office staff into the second floor of the Pelham Water Administration building.

Located behind the Pelham Public Library, the space is currently vacant and previously had problems with a leaky roof. However, the roof has recently been replaced and the space is “ready to go,” Pelham City Council President Rick Hayes said.

“It hasn’t been used for anything since the building was built,” Hayes said of the space. “It has never been built out… It’s pretty much a blank canvas up there.”

The PCS central office currently occupies a roughly 2,600 square-foot space below City Hall. The school system had been looking for a larger office space, and was considering renting office space in a building close to Valley Intermediate School before the second floor of the Water Administration building became available.

The Water Administration building offers the school system a more than 4,000 square foot space. According to the agreement with the city, the school system will rent the space for $3,900 each month, which will cover the cost to renovate and build offices in the space.

Since the second floor of the Water Administration building is entirely empty, Hayes explained the school system will be able to design their own office space to house the central office staff.

“The timing just fit together,” Hayes said. “It’s a great option… to keep everybody here on campus.”

Hayes said PCS hopes to have the space renovated and move the central office staff in over the Christmas holiday, and the lease terms begin Jan. 1, 2015.