‘E’ SPLOST, if approved, would fund new Coosa High as well as enhance school security, technology, campuses Posted on October 28, 2013 by hometownheadlines • 0 Comments coosahsrendering By Natalie Simms [email protected] This is the first of a two-part report on the 2013 SPLOST projects. Tuesday’s report will focus on the “general SPLOST.” Also, we have not found or heard of any specific group urging a “no” vote on the education SPLOST so the following story does not features comments from organized opponents. Two of the biggest issues facing all Floyd County voters as they head to the polls this season are the fate of the proposed $65 million “general purposes” Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and the $46.5 million Education Special Local Option Sales Tax (E SPLOST). With so much attention being focused on the general SPLOST, some voters don’t realize there actually are two SPLOST packages on the ballot. The proposed E SPLOST would be a continuation of the current 1-cent sales tax that already is in place, it would not be a new tax. The current E SPLOST expires in April and the new package would then begin and last for five years, through April 2019. “Voters should understand, first, that this simply continues the current Education SPLOST that expires in April 2014. This not a new tax as some would have you believe,” says Tony McIntosh, co-chair of the Rome/Floyd Citizens for Better Schools. “Also, there are two independent SPLOST issues on the ballot … the general purpose and the education.” The $80 million E SPLOST covers three main areas including improved security, technology innovations and upgrades/maintenance of facilities. The biggest project on the list is a new Coosa High School (pictured above) estimated at $32 million. You can see the complete list of Floyd County Schools projects here and the complete list of Rome City Schools here. “The vital projects that were selected by a parent group representing our schools for inclusion in the Education SPLOST are essential to keep our school system moving forward in the next five years,” says Tim Hensley with Floyd County Schools. “The parents selected these projects because they know we need to continually upgrade our facilities to be attractive to business, industries and individuals interested in relocating to our community.” School officials say the amount of federal and state education funds continue to shrink each year; therefore, the funds raised from the E SPLOST are vital to the maintenance and growth of our local school systems. “Our budget, like most school systems, is 90 percent people. We are a people business. We do not receive enough revenue through local, state or federal programs to address the areas that can and must be addressed with the passage of E SPLOST,” says Dr. Jeff Bearden, superintendent with Rome City Schools. Security is a big issue facing local schools especially in light of recent school violence across the country. The new safety upgrades at all city and county schools would provide greater access control, improved surveillance equipment and would tie all systems directly into our local 911 emergency center. “We need to assure the safety of the students in our community,” says Chris Carey, co-chair of the Rome/Floyd Citizens for Better Education. “The research is evident, a school culture and climate that is conducive to teaching and learning has a positive impact on student achievement. When students (and their parents) feel safe, there is a direct positive correlation on the culture and climate of the school.” But to go along with a safe environment, officials believe students also need improved technology to continue to keep our schools moving forward in innovation. “If we are to offer our students a quality 21st Century education, we need to invest in digital learning opportunities. Our goal is to use technology as a tool to further engage our students and increase student achievement,” says Bearden. Hensley says technology upgrades will not be possible without E SPLOST dollars. “Virtually every technology upgrade in our schools over the last 10 years has been funded by SPLOST funds. The state provides no funding for technology. To keep our schools moving forward in innovation and technology, SPLOST funds will be necessary.” “Our students are learning much different today than when many of us parents went to school,” says McIntosh. “To reach the digital generation of today and in the future, our schools must invest in technology that includes expanding the bandwidth, learning technology and access to electronic devices for research must be available to our children when they walk through the door.” The other major component of the E SPLOST package is upgrades and maintenance of facilities. “It’s hard to believe but Rome High and Middle are 20 years old and are in need of a roof. The oldest high school in the county, Coosa, will be replaced with a new building. That building is 43 years old. You can only patch a roof or put fresh paint on so many times until you just have to completely replace. There are other school buildings in both systems that will be getting much needed attention too,” McIntosh says. For the city schools, one major project will be the equipping of the Early Childhood Development Center at the new Anna K. Davie school now under construction. “A partnership between the Rome City Schools, the South Rome Development Committee and Berry College has introduced an Early Childhood Development Center at the new Anna K. Davie Elementary School. The current E-SPLOST is helping fund Anna K. Davie but the next ESPLOST would allow the Early Childhood Development Center to be added to and implemented,” Carey says. Bearden adds, “West Central needs more classroom and cafeteria space; the cafeteria at Main needs to be replaced; the cafeteria at West End needs to be expanded; and we need to replace the roofs at RMS and RHS. We will not receive enough funds, even if ESPLOST does pass, to take care of all of this work, but we will be able to prioritize and address some of these needs.” The Rome/Floyd Citizens for Better Schools will be working to get yard signs up this week and working within the schools to educate parents and grandparents on the issues. “Bottom line is the projects need to be done one way or the other. The school systems just don’t have the funds to do what is needed. You can only tax just property owners so much. The sales tax is the fairest tax because it is shared by all consumers and it does not put an additional tax burden on citizens,” says McIntosh. Carey adds, “Generally speaking, in order to keep existing as well as attracting new industry, it is imperative that we as a community ensure that our students graduate and are ready to either go on to college/university or enter the workforce. Education, while definitely not the only characteristic of a community that a corporation looks at while deciding on where to relocate or expand, is certainly a highly-weighted criteria. If a company doesn’t believe that they will have a properly education workforce to draw from, they will check us off from their list and select another community that fits their needs.”
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 15:23:54 +0000
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