Search the ArchivesNavigation Contact InformationThe Citizen Newspapers For Advertising Information Email us your news! For technical difficulties |
BoE cautioned on closing E. FayetteTue, 11/27/2007 - 4:42pm
By: John Thompson
The Fayette County School System could face a loss of state funds if East Fayette Elementary is closed. That was just one of the revelations during a nearly three-hour meeting of the Fayette County Board of Education Monday night. The board was meeting to discuss the proposed new district lines for the elementary schools and spent a large part of the meeting discussing the future of Fayette’s oldest school. “Normally, something as big as closing or repurposing a school would come out of a strategic planning meeting. I don’t think we can even start discussing the maps until we decide what we do with that school,” said board Chairman Terri Smith. Assistant Superintendent of Operations Lyn Wenzel told the board that East Fayette could be used to house the system’s involuntary alternative school, along with the school nutrition program and after-school program. Board member Janet Smola wanted to know what would be done with the cafeteria at East Fayette and Wenzel replied that it would be used to feed the alternative students at the school and would also be used for the system’s nutrition program. “We spent a million dollars on that kitchen to turn it into a training facility?” questioned Smola. School officials also said that closing the school would result in an annual savings of $644,000 in administrative salaries, but some board members questioned whether the facility would not have to be re-opened in five years if the growth rate in the county started surging again. But one of the more interesting analyses of the situation came from Facilities Director Mike Satterfield. Satterfield explained the state has 37 instructional units classified for East Fayette. He said the state allows an analysis done by the schools system to determine if the school is viable. Using the state’s very-low limit of construction costs at $64 per square foot, the system’s analysis would have to show the school could not be upgraded to the newer elementary prototype for under $4.6 million. If the school could be upgraded for less than that amount, and the school is closed, the state would still consider the 37 instructional units in open inventory and would be reluctant to fund additional classrooms if growth picks back up. “Down the road, it could hurt us,” he said. A cost analysis of the upgrade would probably take two to three months to complete, which would be after the system voted on the issue. Chairman Smith compiled her own spreadsheet on the system’s capacity and said she believes the school system will probably need another elementary school in five years and said the only areas of declining population that she saw was around Braelinn, Peeples and Oak Grove Elementary schools. One of the more talkative members on the committee that decided the boundary maps is Cele Eifert, who told the board that there is not enough information to close East Fayette. With more questions still left to be answered, the board decided to go ahead with a public hearing on the boundaries Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. at the McIntosh High School auditorium in Peachtree City. The school system released the following guidelines for Monday’s hearing: • Parents and community members wishing to address the board will need to sign up before the meeting begins. There will be a sign-in sheet located on a table outside the auditorium. Only those who sign up will be allowed to address the board. Speakers will proceed to speak in the order they signed up. • Each speaker will be limited to three minutes at the podium. A time limit is necessary in order to ensure that everyone who wishes to address the board has an opportunity to do so. • The hearing will start promptly at 7 p.m. at which time the first speakers will be called to address the board. Sign-in sheets will remain at the front entrance to the auditorium until 7 p.m. at which time they will be removed and given to the board. • Neighborhoods should select one representative to speak on behalf of a group that supports the same idea. There may be multiple representatives from one neighborhood if there are differing viewpoints. • Since the board will function only in a listening capacity, it is suggested that speakers avoid asking questions. Instead, speakers should make specific comments or suggestions regarding the proposed boundary maps. Staff or committee members may answer broad or general questions if necessary. • Negative comments about neighborhoods, students, personnel or schools are to be withheld. • It is recommended that you sign in even if you are unsure whether or not you want to address the board. If you decide not to address the board when your name is called, say “pass” and we will move on to the next person on the list. If you give up your turn to speak, we will not return to those who decided to pass. • You may give your allotted time to another representative. If you choose to do this, please indicate so when your name is called so that we can record the name of the person speaking. login to post comments
|
Copyright 2010 - Fayette Publishing, Inc. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use Policy
Server 4
