BOE votes to build new school at a cost of about $27 million

The vote in favor of a new school was unanimous at the regular meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Education held Tuesday, December 5.

According to a motion made by Wayne Williford, the board will build a new school, measuring approximately 163,000 square feet, at an estimated cost of $27,000,000.

The initiative will be funded by SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) monies and general obligation bonds, supported by sales and property taxes. The question will appear in connection with SPLOST referendum, tentatively set for March 20.

The board has until January 18 to decide whether to proceed with the referendum.

“If the referendum passes, architects will spend seven months actually designing the school before the plans are sent to the state for approval,” said Dr. Randall Edmunds, Lincoln County school superintendent. “We can make any changes then.

“Part of the problem is we have to identify how many bonds we’re going to sell prior to the referendum — we have to tell the state whether we’re going to build a middle school/high school or a high school in order to get funding. “According to Bill Loudermilk, facilities consultant with the state, we can say we will build a middle school/ high school (to get maximum state funding), but after it is built, it is the board’s decision as to what grades will be housed there.”

In other discussion, the board looked at the cost of furnishings as well as the cost of paving the access road to the school in the event the system cannot obtain funding from the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT)

Dr. Robert Williams, board chairman, reminded the group that the SPLOST projections were based on zero growth.

“From July through November of this year, we had a 41 percent increase in SPLOST revenues compared to this same period last year,” said Superintendent Edmunds. “However, we still need to be conservative because we don’t know if it will last. We can always make additions or cuts as needed.”

Edmunds went on to state that if the SPLOST referendum does not pass, the system will have to levy a bond tax to pay off the “old bonds” for elementary school renovations. The system is scheduled to make the final bond payment in 2009.

It will take at least three SPLOSTs, maybe four, to build the new school. “No one knows of any county that has failed to renew a SPLOST once it has started because it would mean higher property taxes,” said the superintendent.

In further discussion, Dr. Williams said, “Making the public feel obligated bothers me. If people don’t vote for the SPLOST in March, we will have to raise taxes. I don’t want people to think they are being forced into a situation. We’re going to get criticism regardless.”

“We can’t think about now — we have to think about 10 years from now,” said Board Member Williford.

It is estimated that the new campus will be ready for occupation in August of 2010.

In her remarks, Board Member Connie Arthur said, “In comments from the public, I’ve heard people ask what will become of the old campus we abandon it. It is important to let the public know that it will not be abandoned and subsequently vandalized. We will still utilize the football field, the gymnasium, and maybe the choral music classroom.”

In a related item of business, the group appointed Warren W. Plowden, Jr. of Jones, Cork, & Miller LLP to serve as bond counsel for the board.

Plowden will draw up a SPLOST resolution and bring it to board for approval.

In other business, the board discussed a proposal made at the group’s November 7 meeting by the cheerleader coaches and parents calling for the construction of a $50,000 practice facility for LCHS’ competitive cheerleading program.

The low bidder on the building was H & H Industrial Maintenance, Inc.

The coaches plan to use $10,000 of the $13,000 currently in the cheerleading fund for a down payment on the building. The remaining $40,000 will be obtained from the system’s Fund Balance and repaid by the cheerleaders within the next five or six years.

It was proposed that the facility be built between the tennis courts and the practice field at LCHS.

The building will also be available to middle school students to alleviate the overflow in P.E. due to inclement weather. If the building is to be used as a multi-purpose facility by the school, the coaches are asking the system to cover the cost of installing heating and air since the cheerleaders will not need heat and already have a portable five-ton airconditioner on loan from a parent.

It will cost $10,600 to install heating and air in the building.

During the discussion period, the board asked questions about funding and pertinent state requirements in the event the building is used as a multi-purpose facility for student activities during the regular school day.

Concerning the state requirements, Coach Marcella Goldman said, “We just want the site — we want to build the building for the cheerleaders. This is the first we’ve heard about state codes and the fire marshal.”

“We can’t just build a building,” said Chairman Williams. “If students use it and it’s not up to code, the state will shut it down and what will we do. We need to get things right before we start. You have a good thing going, and we need to support it as much as we can.”

The issue of liability was likewise raised. It was pointed out that the system is still liable for the safety of the cheerleaders even though they are presently practicing in the “Cheer Barn” which is owned by the county.

At the conclusion of the discussion, it was agreed that Andy Wengrow, a cheer parent, will meet with Superintendent Edmunds to determine what will be needed and how

Discussed “Joshua’s Law” which goes into effect January 1, 2007. This law requires all 16 year olds applying for a Class D driver’s license to complete an approved driver’s education course and a total of 40 hours of supervised driving, six of which must be at night.

“Parents can get the course off the Internet, but I don’t know the cost yet,” said Dr. Edmunds. “We probably need to look at offering a driver’s education course at LCHS. Although we will assist parents and students with meeting these requirements, right now they’re basically on their own.”

Reviewed financial reports for the SPLOST Fund through November 30, 2006, and the General Fund for the period from July 1, 2006, through November 30, 2006.

According to the superintendent, the system is within the budget in all categories.

Voted to approve a request made by the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce to use the LCHS Cafeteria on January 11 for its annual banquet.

Voted to approved a request made by a parent who has moved out of the county to allow her child to finish the school year at LCES.

Held a review of the following policies: Anti-Nepotism, Evaluation of Teachers, Gender Equity in Sports, and Student Health Services, Administrative Procedures. The Evaluation of Teachers Policy was changed to include “or an evaluation instrument selected by the principal and approved by the superintendent.” The revision of the policy was approved by the board.

Voted to approve a preliminary Lincoln County Board of Education Disaster Recovery Plan which was developed at the request of system auditors.

According to Dr. Edmunds, the plan includes a list of contacts (banks, insurance agents, the police department, the sheriff’s office, gas companies, etc.); provisions for the performance of critical business functions such as accounting, payroll, and technology services; and a list of recovery locations. For example, if the central office is rendered unusable, operations will move to LCES.

“And if something happens to all of our facilities, we can share space with the Wilkes County Board of Education,” the superintendent said.

The system will also back up vital records and store them at sites other than the central office.

Similar plans will be developed for all three schools in the near future.

Voted to enter into executive session to deliberate upon the employment of personnel. Upon returning to regular session, the board:

Voted to approve Beth Ashmore to serve at the will of the board in a paraprofessional position at LCES.

Voted to approve Stephanie Allen, Harold Coyle, Jr., and Georgia Tate as substitute custodial workers.

Reported that the group had conducted the superintendent’s annual evaluation which was deemed satisfactory.

The next regular meeting of the board will be held Tuesday, January 9, at 7 p.m. at the board office on Metasville Road.