Wednesday, September 20, 2000

By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@TheCitizenNews.com

A special committee has been given the task of figuring out how to deal with all the new students if Fayette voters don't approve a $63 million bond for school construction this fall.

"You're going to have to redistrict at some point, so get your flack jacket on," quipped Board of Education member Connie Hale during the board's meeting Monday night.

The board voted unanimously to create the Facilities Usage Committee to discuss the possibility of double sessions, redistricting, additional portable classrooms and other options in case the bond issue fails.

"If it doesn't pass, you're going to have to make some drastic moves and it's not going to be pleasant," said Hale.

"We've got to start looking at what our options are," said school Superintendent Dr. John DeCotis.

"What do we do if it passes, and what do we do if it does not," he added.

Even if the bond issue is approved, it will be some time before construction of four new schools and enlargement of other schools can begin, and the board will need to have solutions in place for a short term space crunch. Solutions for the longer term will be needed in the event the bond issue fails, DeCotis said.

"Come November, whatever happens," DeCotis added, "we have to be prepared to step forward and do whatever we have to do."

A key problem that will have to be solved quickly if the bond issue does pass is finding land for the new schools. The board went into executive session Monday and discussed possible sites, but board members say sites that are large enough are not easy to find.

The board will look for a site in the Woolsey area for a high school, with enough land for athletic fields and to put one of the elementary schools and possibly add a middle school later, about 100 acres in all.

In other action Monday, the board unanimously approved declaring several school buses and other equipment surplus so that it can be sold in a multi-governmental auction Saturday, Nov. 4. The county government, Peachtree City, Fayetteville and Tyrone also will contribute items for the auction.

Items will be sold to the highest bidder 8 a.m. to noon behind the LaFayette Educational Center on Tiger Trail in Fayetteville and at the county public works office on McDonough Road.Teachers will get first dibs on items they can use.

Board members seemed inclined to grant softball booster Mitch Sneed's request to name the new softball field at Sandy Creek High School for Dr. Charles Warr, principal of the school. Warr went beyond the call of duty in helping get the new field ready in time for this year's softball season, Sneed said.

"I think it's wonderful that he was able to help you so much," said board Chairman Debbie Condon.

In keeping with board policy, the matter will be tabled for a month before being voted on in October.

Back to News Home Page | Back to the top of the page