Monday, December 17, 2007

Area schools to get millions

Long before Gov. Bob Riley signed the record $1.07 billion education bond issue into law Wednesday, public school administrators throughout Lee County already had plans for the millions in funds coming their way.

June 14, 2007

Long before Gov. Bob Riley signed the record $1.07 billion education bond issue into law Wednesday, public school administrators throughout Lee County already had plans for the millions in funds coming their way.

The bond issue was approved by the Legislature on May 31. It’s the largest bond issue for school construction ever in Alabama and will provide funds to replace or repair decaying school buildings across the state.

Auburn City Schools will receive $4,321,704, Lee County Schools $8,297,566 and Opelika City Schools will get $3,594,574, according to figures released by the governor’s office.

Auburn City Schools will use the funds to renovate the cafeteria at Auburn Junior High School and to finish the school system’s transportation and maintenance shop project on Pumphrey Road, said ACS Superintendent Dr. Terry Jenkins.

The state education bond issue funds will also go toward installing security cameras in all of the elementary schools, Jenkins said.

Opelika City Schools will initially use the approximately $3.6 million in funds from the bond issue to serve as a financial “cushion” for the planned Opelika High School construction project, OCS Superintendent Dr. Mark Neighbors said.

The estimated $38 million OHS project, which includes renting trailers for up to two years and other associated costs, is currently on hold until funding can be secured.

If the bond issue funds are not used during the OHS project, Neighbors said the monies could go toward the future expansion of existing schools or to build a new elementary school in the growing northeast corridor of the school district.

Lee County Schools will use the approximately $8.3 million in funds to renovate schools and construct new schools, particularly in the Smiths Station area in preparation of the expansion of Ft. Benning in Columbus, Ga., said LCS Public Relations Coordinator Cindy Irvin.

Every school system in the state is required to provide a five-year capital plan to the Alabama Department of Education every year, which outlines construction needs and future plans and makes it easier for them to determine how to spend such funds.

Construction of new schools and repairs to old education buildings could begin by the end of this year, state schools Superintendent Dr. Joe Morton said Wednesday after Riley signed the law.

The bond issue divides the money with public colleges receiving 25 percent and K-12 schools 75 percent. For K-12 schools, the funds will be divided among all school districts based on enrollment, with even the smallest districts receiving at least $200,000. Morton said some larger districts will be able to mix the money from the bond issue with funds from other sources, but he said the bond issue formula assures that small rural districts without other options will receive some construction money.

Morton said some school systems that have already made plans for construction projects shouldn’t have to wait long before they receive some of the money.

“They need to be getting ready now. Hopefully some bonds will be available by the end of the year,“ Morton said.

Postsecondary two-year colleges and four-year institutions will also benefit from the education bond issue. Auburn University will receive $35,546,573, according to figures released by the governor’s office.