SPLOST, redistricting plan recommended

By PAT NEWMAN
pnewman@thecitizennews.com


A preliminary recommendation to go for another Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and a redistricting plan for heavily overpopulated schools will be made to the Fayette County Board of Education at its Aug. 21 meeting by the board’s Facilities Action Committee.

The 28-member body composed of community leaders, school administrators and parent-activists has met four times in the last couple of months to tackle issues relating to school overcrowding. The group will meet again next week to formalize its proposal, following an initial presentation and discussion of the findings Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Fayette County Board of Education’s board room.

Fifteen of the 16 members present at Tuesday night’s meeting recommended placing a 1-percent SPLOST on the ballot in the November general election. While Fayette County voters have defeated the sales tax referendum twice in special elections, it has never been voted upon in a general election.

The discussion on the pros and cons of SPLOST versus bond boiled down to short-term versus long-term debt. ”SPLOST is the smart thing to do — we don’t like debt,” said school finance director Jim Stephens. “Bonds look attractive in the long run.”
Committee members agreed to gather more data on the option of financing school construction with a bond program as opposed to a SPLOST; specifically, what each initiative would cost the individual taxpayer. Another consideration was sticking to a “bricks and mortar” building program and eliminating controversial add-ons such as athletic facilities and technology improvements.

The discussion was led by Stuart Bennett, the county’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
The problem of school overcrowding and possible solutions were outlined by Bennett who emphasized the need to maintain academic standards whatever course of action was elected.
Redistricting surfaced as the most viable way to alleviate overcrowding in schools such as Fayette County High School which will be 300 students over capacity this school year, Bennett said. This option was deemed more acceptable than double sessions or year-round classes which research, Bennett noted, has had adverse effects on academics over prolonged periods of time.

“We have an immediate need at Fayette County High School,” Bennett said. “We don’t have a high school on the plan for five years.” The campus is also nearly maxed out on portable classrooms.

In the very early talking stages is a look at redrawing attendance lines for Fayette County High and Sandy Creek High School which remains 300-400 students under capacity. The middle schools in the affected areas may also come under scrutiny, as Flat Rock Middle school has recently completed an addition, while other middle schools, including Fayette, J.C. Booth and Whitewater are packed and awaiting construction of new classes beginning this fall.