By PAT NEWMAN
pnewman@thecitizennews.com

Using the formula: more students = more classrooms, Fayette County school officials are now drafting a new facilities plan to address the need.

In a community roundtable session Thursday evening, Dr. John DeCotis, Fayette County school superintendent, and staff members outlined the state requirements for seeking funding. “To earn money from the state, you have to have a facilities plan,” DeCotis said.

A facilities committee composed of six school district employees is currently working with state officials to put together a new five-year plan. Mike Satterfield, facilities director for the Fayette School District, told the group of about 20 staffers and citizens gathered for the session that the state population projections are “less than what we feel it should be.”

Local predictions are for 4,500 or more additional students over the next five years, with state figures estimating 3,600 over the same time period. “We have to use the state predictions,” Satterfield affirmed. “We're now working on school size and organization, where you need additional classes or a new school built.” Based on 20 students per classroom, estimates indicate a need for 180-200 additional classrooms.

Satterfield explained that the first task is looking at the 3,500 incoming students and seeing where they can spread out into existing facilities. Anticipated growth in Fayetteville could push the student population at Fayette County High School up to 2,250 students.

The school, which opened in fall 1997, was built to accommodate 1,800 students and currently houses 1,916 students, based on 1999-2000 enrollment figures as of Jan. 27. The situation is similar across the county.

“Currently in the county, if there were no more rezonings, 6,000 lots could get building permits tomorrow. Those kids are already on the way,” Satterfield said.

While adding classrooms onto existing facilities can be used as a stop-gap measure, Satterfield explained that some schools cannot have additions because their core facilities, such as hallways, media centers, cafeterias, etc., cannot handle the increased student load.

Kedron and Spring Hill elementary schools exemplify the situation with core facilities. Schools such as Tyrone Elementary present different problems. “We couldn't physically add on there, because there is not enough property and there is a sewage problem,” Satterfield said.

“We also have philosophical concerns about large schools — of making schools too large where students become numbers,” DeCotis said.

Another concern voiced by district staff is the time it takes to develop a school from the plans to completion, and the financial burden it incurs. Satterfield estimated it takes four years to build a high school, three-and-a-half years to build a middle school and, because a prototype is available, elementary schools can go up a little faster, in about 18-20 months.

DeCotis explained that state funding is based on the number of instruction units, or designated classrooms, formulated for a number of students. “We are now using rooms for education we shouldn't be,” he added, noting the use of storerooms or less than full-size classrooms.

The school district must first apply for funding and later sign a contract with the state locking it in. “It's a two-step process,” he said. When Fayette declined elementary school funding from the state last year due to budget constraints, DeCotis explained that the district lost not only the money, but the instructional units as well.

“We're trying to hold onto some money for the middle school,” he said, noting the present application with the state for $5 million. A local share is required for receiving the grant.

The next community roundtable discussion will be in April, on technology in the schools.