As long as the money goes for either renovating schools or building new ones, OK by me, but if you spend that money for other than schools, you can refund my taxes I paid for this!
For five years, consumers will pay a sales tax with every purchase in Richmond County to build schools that, according to an external audit and the school board's former planner, aren't needed.
School board members now want to know whether they are obligated to deliver on the $230 million in projects promised to voters in a November 2006 referendum.
The reconsideration follows the audit's recommendations that schools be closed because of years of declining enrollment and projections that it will continue to decline.
Board President Jimmy Atkins said he is awaiting a response from attorney Pete Fletcher, who is researching whether the group must follow through with the building and renovation projects that began last year.
Mr. Fletcher was out of town Tuesday; he told board members in August 2006 that projects could change should priorities change or errors be found.
The list of projects was based on politics, not facts, said former school board member Ken Echols, who was the chairman of the building committee when voters approved the measure.
"When you get 10 board members in there, everyone wants something for their district, and it's all about politics," he said, citing two schools in his district.
Garrett and National Hills elementary schools were to be consolidated because of their proximity, a little more than a half mile apart, and small enrollments, yet they were spared and beefed up with $15.3 million in improvements under the current sales tax.
Through August 2012, the penny sales tax will be collected to build or renovate schools in a system that has seen declining enrollment since 2001. Among the projects are:
- $13 million for a new John Milledge Elementary for 500 pupils, although the current school only has 299
- $10.2 million in renovations for Tubman Middle, a school underenrolled by 332 pupils or 38.5 percent
- $16.5 million as a contingency project to construct an elementary school for 650 pupils somewhere in Augusta.
For just as long as enrollment has declined, there have been calls for closing schools. Construction, however, pushed forward.
"It was more of a political issue than a fact issue," said Kelley Carey, the planner who worked with the school board as early as the 1970s and as recently as a few years ago.
MGT of America released an audit in March recommending closing a high school, a middle school and a minimum of three elementary schools because of 5,650 empty seats, echoing what Mr. Carey had suggested for years.
The county experienced a "demographic shift of major proportions" as residents moved from east Augusta, downtown and the inner city to south Augusta, producing growth in that portion of the county, he said. To address the growth, the school board put two new elementary schools in south Augusta and plans to add a middle school.
"The growth was really a displacement," Mr. Carey said, which left some schools being only nominally used.
School board members turned a blind eye to these facts, he said.
"It was shrugged off because closing schools was considered political suicide," Mr. Carey said.
His recommendation had been for all pupils to attend facilities of equitable quality, yet schools are being constructed to ensure equity in size. Every child should have the opportunity to attend a new school, he said.
"I think we need to start managing the public's money better, huh?" school board member Frank Dolan asked.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
As long as the money goes for either renovating schools or building new ones, OK by me, but if you spend that money for other than schools, you can refund my taxes I paid for this!
There are several schools that need to be closed and someone needs to show some leadership and get it done. Here is a list of schools that need to be closed: National Hills Elementary, Milledge Elementary, Tubman Middle, and Laney High School. Redistribute students to other schools: National Hills to Garrett and Warren Road, Milledge to Lamar, Jenkins-White, and Collins, Tubman to East Augusta, Laney to Josey and ARC, and rename A. R. Johnson to Johnson-Laney Magnet School and give football, baseball, and basketball to A. R. Johnson along with Laney Stadium. Take Laney, Irving Towers, and other buidlings along Laney Walker Blvd and sell them to MCG for expansion.
Godness, WakeUpAUG, nothing like having a plan!
DeborahElliot2 - if the survey conducted by professionals who have no personal stake in our school system recommends the closure of buildings, I believe it warrants more than a cursory glance and a demand of refund. Dr. Bedden wants to see Richmond County excel - and how does that happen? By making changes. Lots and lots of changes. Big, drastic changes that will make possible growth and improvement for Richmond County Schools. I personally look forward to these changes and cant wait to see the results!
Why not close the ones which need to be closed and use the money on the remaining schools? I haven't found one school in any county that doesn't have needs.
WakeupAUG that's funny about Laney, it will NEVER Happen.... I for one as an Alumni and many others will make sure of that, and we OWN the land Laney is on.
it is truly sad, that pork barrell projects exist within rc schools, but i guess as long as the property owners are paying then there is a perception that there is a never ending supply of money avaialable for everyone. a suggestion would be 1)get rid of the students who are trouble makers, and 2) close the schools that are not performing or graduating more students then are failing. and those of you who say this may be a racial thing, just look down the street at AR JOHNSON, DAVIDSON, and CT WALKER, if i am not mistaken the enrollmanet is primaraly black children. but until the needs of educating black children are put above anything else including football georgia will continue to battle with south carolina for the 50th place when in comes to education.
give the money to the sheriff. less drugs less crime more safety
will certainly improve the schools.......... harrisburg is out of control. typical govt in action. find a way to waste money needed or not. breeds corruption.
The headline misunderstands county behavior - common sense will never enter the equation. Richmond County will not only spend the money - they'll encounter delays, completion will be way behind schedule, and they'll find numerous ways run massively over budget. Once again the tax payers, students, and teachers will be shafted - all for schools we don't need to build.
DeborahElliot - your comment misses the point. Consider it in this context, would you go out today and buy a dozen pairs of shoes for Imelda Marcos? The situatuion is no different than Imelda Marcos laviously spending on thousands of pairs of absurdly expensive designer shoes (that she never wore) with money coerced from Filipinos starving in poverty.
the bottom line is that several schools need to be closed and tubman needs to be one of them along with several elementary schools
There is NO Way Laney will ever or should ever be closed. It is a historic piece of property and the namesake of one of Georgia’s greatest historical figures. Closing Josey H.S. and putting the students within Laney and Butler, both of these schools border Josey zones, would make much more sense. The problem is, will the school board ever used good common sense and make decisions based on what is best for the students of Richmond County and not what is best for themselves.
All I am saying people is that they keep wanting more money for other projects OTHER THAN schools, and yes, I know my hard earned money should do that too, but if you look at it--We have had to quit sport activities, give up after school activities, give up necessities that help keep the schools running to start with, fire some teachers and then they say cut down on class loads only to pack them so much teachers can't keep up. If the money is going for the schools to be used, then by God, use it for that purpose instead of dancing around with other ideas. Our kids suffer with enough stupidity from the Board of Education!
Next thing to go is the bus driving due to higher gas prices!
(In case nobody understood me on this last comment, I am being Sarcastic).
The November 2006 referendum needs to be published as I sure can't remember exactly what was in it! If what was voted on will not be delivered then the associated sales tax hike needs to be repealed.
nla - you just stated the perfect case for why it should have never passed in the first place - good luck looking for accountability in a government official.
I wonder if Butler was on the list of school projects. I have never been in a more run down school. The Teachers and Staff are great...but the building and track field is an embarrassment. I wonder how this environment effects the students morale or pride in their school when they enter the other schools in Augusta. Wonder if this environment has an effect in their performace. If I had the money...I would re-build/renovate Butler myself.
As an Alumni of Josey we will not stand for them trying to close our school. The suggestion of combining with another school is not an option. We suggest that the Board look elsewhere because closing T.W.J will never happen.
How many schools are there? Over 60 right? Each one of them has history and memories for thousands of former students. It is amazing how supportive people can become when their schools are being considered for closing. If that energy could be tapped for making the schools better learning centers for actual learning, they wouldn't need closing. These schools are a bright spot in some neighborhoods that have enough closed up houses and businesses already. I would say the Board should give Bedden a bonus if he can consolidate and get four schools closed. Duh.
God is in charge of everything and no one complained when new schools were being built at the hands of the taxpayers and other monies wasted because of inside, raw ,and behind-the schene deals being made. We must learn to accept change and always play a fair hand. I do believe that God has sent a uperintendent to Richmond County to do what is best for the students and the overall well-being of the school system. Close buddy dirt deals and unfaithfulness is what has this system in a deficit and at least the monies are not being wasted anymore on all of those behind-the schenes deals. For example; I'll hire you if...., I'll make your cousin a principal if..., She's my sister's best friend who helped me so I will appoint her......... This favortism list can go onand on. We must always remember that if we are in a position and God did not ordain for us to be there, it will not stand. Thank God for Dr. Bedden.God has given him the ability to promote because of character and merit. He doesn't agree with the good ole BUDDY system. Our words are powerful so we must make sure that we hear from God before we make any remarks. Richmond County is a SUPER system because God is there! PEACE!
I apologize for the word superintendent being mispelled in line 5 of my aforementioned message. It should read as follows, " I do believe God has sent a superintendent To Richmond County to do what is best for the students and the overall well-being of the school system." Thank you and have a blessed and proseprous day. May the favor of God overtake you. God is looking for soliders with PURE hearts.
Why not fix up the current schools. Most anything can be renovated unless it is not structurally sound. If it is not sound, tear down the bad parts and build new on the same site. I graduated from the same high school in 1970 that my mother graduate from in 1940, and it is still going strong. New is not always better.
This message is for WakeUpAug. It seems like you have it all figured out. Why aren't you in charge of something? First of all A.R Johnson must not be interested in sports because if they were, they would have those programs in place. Second of all, how can you "GIVE" them Laney's stadium since it was not fully funded by the county, a large portion was donated by the alumni board. Finally, I don't think you know that Richmond County does not own the land that Laney sits on nor does it own the school itself. Besides have you looked at ARC lately, hasn't been remodeled in years. Looks spooky to me! Since you're so wise, why not figure out ways to build Augusta up instead of simply trying to shut things down?
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