By Jamie Gardner
Architect Larry Pope, of SP Design Group, and Dr. Mickey Schuber, facilities consultant for Southeast Georgia (Georgia Department of Education), spoke to Appling County Board of Education members on Thursday, April 21 during the board’s monthly work session meeting. Pope talked to the board about the renovations to the school that SP Design is recommending. He noted various problems at the school that include little or no insulation throughout the facility, window walls that are not energy efficient, handicap accessibility, bathroom facilities are outdated, the roof needs to be replaced, lighting fixtures, flooring and painting.
Architect and DOE representative update board on Fourth District
Pope also stated that under the redesign of the school to bring the facility up to standards, the kitchen would change to a serving kitchen only, meaning that meals would be cooked at another school and shipped to Fourth District. He added that this is not new as other systems in the state have already went to this process. Pope stated that overall there are no structural deficiencies with the school.
Under the draft design for the school, there would be eight classrooms, two half-size classrooms, a multipurpose room and would allow for an 80 percent growth upon completion.
Board Member Scottie Ammons stated that a parent had inquired if there would be the potential for asbestos issues during the renovation of the school. Pope stated that years back the state mandated that asbestos had to be abated in school facilities and assured the board that his company would not take any chances. “If someone missed some in the past, we will stop immediately and have it removed,” said Pope.
Pope told the board that he projected the cost to do the renovations to the school would be $1,600,000.00. (The funding for the renovations would come from Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) funds.)
Dr. Mickey Schuber also spoke to the board about potential state funding for the facility. Schuber explained that Fourth District earns funding for educating children but doesn’t earn any state funding for maintenance or construction (capital outlay) for the facility, and is not sure it ever will. Schuber stated that back in the late 80s the school system made an agreement with the state to build additional classrooms in the system. As part of that agreement Fourth District and Altamaha Elementary Schools were to close and be consolidated with town schools. He further explained that when the community decided to keep the schools open the state told the system at that time that the schools could remain open, but they would never earn capital outlay funding again.
Schuber stated that since new buildings had been constructed at Altamaha, those buildings are earning capital outlay, but since Fourth District has the same buildings and is basically the same facility, it is not earning capital outlay. He stated that the state architects would have to review the plans that have been drafted to see if the school would qualify for entitlement once the renovations are performed. He also added that even if the school were approved, it would be ten years before the facility would start earning any capital outlay funding.
Another interesting point made by Schuber was that Pre-K, ESOL and a few other classrooms do not earn capital outlay. Schuber finished by telling board members that every five years school systems must complete a five-year facilities plan. Appling’s five-year plan was due last year. Schuber added that the state had granted the system a one-year waiver. He told board members that now would be a good time to begin discussing the plan.
Other business
A representative of the Touchdown Club asked the board for permission to construct a new platform near the end zone for the cannon that is used during football games at Jimmy Swain Stadium. The board stated that they would vote on the matter at the next regular board meeting.
Lonnie Sanders and Vann Mills presented information to board members about the Appling County High School Canning Plant. Due to extended day being cut, and or a reduction in the school calendar this year, there is no funding to pay for the plant to be open this year. The board asked Sanders and Mills for more information that will be presented at an upcoming meeting.
Superintendent Scarlett Copeland presented information the board on Policy IHF, or graduation requirements. The board was asked to look at paragraph four within the policy that involves diploma requirements and state requirements. ACHS Principal Gene Starr stated that there is the potential that 21 kids will not be able to participate in graduation ceremonies this year since they were not able to pass part of the state required High School Graduation Test. Starr stated that as a parent it doesn’t seem fair that kids are not allowed to walk because of one test even though they have met all other graduation requirements. He then added that as an administrator he believed that it was a good policy since it does count against AYP for the school.
Information was presented to board members concerning textbook budget revisions for review.
The board accepted resignations from Elaine Williams, Cindy Schell and Adrianna Gore.
Board members approved a fundraiser request for the ACHS Boys Basketball team.
The board approved a Migrant Education filed trip request to Washington, D.C. on June 19 - 24.
Financial reports for March were unanimously approved.
Board members approved the low bid for the pump station and force main sewer project at Appling County Middle School. Woodard Construction Company, of Waycross, submitted the low bid at a cost of $315,000.00. The funding for this project will come from ESPLOST funds. In total there were nine bids submitted ranging from $315,000.00 to $551,174.00.
Under the draft design for the school, there would be eight classrooms, two half-size classrooms, a multipurpose room and would allow for an 80 percent growth upon completion.
Board Member Scottie Ammons stated that a parent had inquired if there would be the potential for asbestos issues during the renovation of the school. Pope stated that years back the state mandated that asbestos had to be abated in school facilities and assured the board that his company would not take any chances. “If someone missed some in the past, we will stop immediately and have it removed,” said Pope.
Pope told the board that he projected the cost to do the renovations to the school would be $1,600,000.00. (The funding for the renovations would come from Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) funds.)
Dr. Mickey Schuber also spoke to the board about potential state funding for the facility. Schuber explained that Fourth District earns funding for educating children but doesn’t earn any state funding for maintenance or construction (capital outlay) for the facility, and is not sure it ever will. Schuber stated that back in the late 80s the school system made an agreement with the state to build additional classrooms in the system. As part of that agreement Fourth District and Altamaha Elementary Schools were to close and be consolidated with town schools. He further explained that when the community decided to keep the schools open the state told the system at that time that the schools could remain open, but they would never earn capital outlay funding again.
Schuber stated that since new buildings had been constructed at Altamaha, those buildings are earning capital outlay, but since Fourth District has the same buildings and is basically the same facility, it is not earning capital outlay. He stated that the state architects would have to review the plans that have been drafted to see if the school would qualify for entitlement once the renovations are performed. He also added that even if the school were approved, it would be ten years before the facility would start earning any capital outlay funding.
Another interesting point made by Schuber was that Pre-K, ESOL and a few other classrooms do not earn capital outlay. Schuber finished by telling board members that every five years school systems must complete a five-year facilities plan. Appling’s five-year plan was due last year. Schuber added that the state had granted the system a one-year waiver. He told board members that now would be a good time to begin discussing the plan.
Other business
A representative of the Touchdown Club asked the board for permission to construct a new platform near the end zone for the cannon that is used during football games at Jimmy Swain Stadium. The board stated that they would vote on the matter at the next regular board meeting.
Lonnie Sanders and Vann Mills presented information to board members about the Appling County High School Canning Plant. Due to extended day being cut, and or a reduction in the school calendar this year, there is no funding to pay for the plant to be open this year. The board asked Sanders and Mills for more information that will be presented at an upcoming meeting.
Superintendent Scarlett Copeland presented information the board on Policy IHF, or graduation requirements. The board was asked to look at paragraph four within the policy that involves diploma requirements and state requirements. ACHS Principal Gene Starr stated that there is the potential that 21 kids will not be able to participate in graduation ceremonies this year since they were not able to pass part of the state required High School Graduation Test. Starr stated that as a parent it doesn’t seem fair that kids are not allowed to walk because of one test even though they have met all other graduation requirements. He then added that as an administrator he believed that it was a good policy since it does count against AYP for the school.
Information was presented to board members concerning textbook budget revisions for review.
The board accepted resignations from Elaine Williams, Cindy Schell and Adrianna Gore.
Board members approved a fundraiser request for the ACHS Boys Basketball team.
The board approved a Migrant Education filed trip request to Washington, D.C. on June 19 - 24.
Financial reports for March were unanimously approved.
Board members approved the low bid for the pump station and force main sewer project at Appling County Middle School. Woodard Construction Company, of Waycross, submitted the low bid at a cost of $315,000.00. The funding for this project will come from ESPLOST funds. In total there were nine bids submitted ranging from $315,000.00 to $551,174.00.
And to #6: I own a home and property in this county which I pay taxes on, not to mention doing the majority of my shopping in this county which causes me to pay the ESPLOST on my purchases!
And to the comment about it costing all Appling Co. students to educate FDES kids: Fourth District has been stripped to the bone, but the parents and teachers believe it is such a good school, they are willing to, and have HAD to, sacrifice more than you know.
Unfortunately, in these tight economic times cuts have to be made everywhere and those students as FDES will get a good education at the "town" schools, as everyone puts it, as they would at FDES. My son went to the "town" school and had a fine education. Then maybe when the "country/county" is back "in the money" again we can have small community schools. I like the idea of small community schools, it is nice to have a smaller amount of kids to the teacher and I'm sure the teachers like it better to, but we can't always have what we want in tough times.
It is hard times these days and we all have to make sacrificies throughout our lives. The children of FDES will not be left behind by going to the "town" school. I sincerely doubt that there is a teacher in the Appling County School System that wants that to happen. The teachers are not perfect and they do complain I'm sure, but we all do....don't we?
I know this is a heated topic, but I do hope that one day there will be a solution that will make everyone at least slightly happy.
A BIG "THANK YOU" goes out to your local Firemen that helped in the Wild Fire fight. Josh Yawn, Tony Merrit & David Yawn - Any others that I don't know about. AGAIN - "THANK YOU"!!