Marcell Dampier works on a row of seats while getting the auditorium ready to open back up to the public in April 2010 after it was closed in December 2009. The school auditorium was closed again in December 2011 until foundational issues are fixed and the roof is repaired. The proposed E-SPLOST will make all necessary renovations for the auditorium to be reopened permanently, includ- ing fixing the roof, foundation, ceilings, all the seating, stage and window curtains, fire alarm system, carpet and HVAC system.
E-SPLOST project list proposed
The Pike County board of education approved a list of E-SPLOST projects at the May 8 meeting, including repairing and reopening the auditorium, technology upgrades, campus-wide road improvements and building repairs at the high, elementary and primary schools.
The initial phase of the projected $5.5 million E-SPLOST is earmarked for renovation, repair and technology upgrades totaling $4.1 million. These projects include $2.7 million for building repair and renovation with $1 million for technology upgrades, $303,790 for school-wide road and parking lot repairs and improvements and $126,000 to resurface the tennis court and track. In years four and five of the E-SPLOST life cycle, a subsequent project list totaling approximately $1.4 million will be proposed to the board of education to address future maintenance, technology and construction needs.
“We’ve been presenting the board of education for the last seven years with an annual needs assessment and because of austerity, we have been unable to keep up with facility repairs and renovations,” said superintendent Dr. Michael Duncan. “It is our goal to complete repairs and renovations at every school within three years.”
The board has not yet approved a resolution to be submitted to the county before the proposed one cent educational sales tax can be put on the ballot in November. Duncan said the list of projects was developed for members to select the most urgent improvement needs.
If approved, the E-SPLOST would replace the roof and rain gutter system on the auditorium, repair the foundation, replace the ceiling, seating, stage and window curtains, replace doors and hardware, install a fire alarm system, install carpet, epoxy the stage and floor and include HVAC repair or replacement.
“Once the auditorium is completely renovated, it will be reopened with the goal of maintaining the building so we never have to close it again. We have to be good stewards of the tax dollars we receive and that means taking care of what we already have,” Duncan said. “We’ve been unable to maintain our buildings in an appropriate way. We are in a slow student growth cycle, which allows us to allocate E-SPLOST funds to repairs and renovations rather than solely focusing on new classroom construction.”
The E-SPLOST would commit $1 million to technology improvements to upgrade school computers, 42% of which are more than seven years old. Technology upgrade funding would update operating software which is eight years old, provide projectors in classrooms and install an internet cloud systemwide and wireless service at the high and middle schools to allow internet access from any desktop or mobile device.
For a complete list of proposed E-SPLOST projects and cost estimates, go to pike.k12.ga.us and click on E-SPLOST 4.
“We’ve been presenting the board of education for the last seven years with an annual needs assessment and because of austerity, we have been unable to keep up with facility repairs and renovations,” said superintendent Dr. Michael Duncan. “It is our goal to complete repairs and renovations at every school within three years.”
The board has not yet approved a resolution to be submitted to the county before the proposed one cent educational sales tax can be put on the ballot in November. Duncan said the list of projects was developed for members to select the most urgent improvement needs.
If approved, the E-SPLOST would replace the roof and rain gutter system on the auditorium, repair the foundation, replace the ceiling, seating, stage and window curtains, replace doors and hardware, install a fire alarm system, install carpet, epoxy the stage and floor and include HVAC repair or replacement.
“Once the auditorium is completely renovated, it will be reopened with the goal of maintaining the building so we never have to close it again. We have to be good stewards of the tax dollars we receive and that means taking care of what we already have,” Duncan said. “We’ve been unable to maintain our buildings in an appropriate way. We are in a slow student growth cycle, which allows us to allocate E-SPLOST funds to repairs and renovations rather than solely focusing on new classroom construction.”
The E-SPLOST would commit $1 million to technology improvements to upgrade school computers, 42% of which are more than seven years old. Technology upgrade funding would update operating software which is eight years old, provide projectors in classrooms and install an internet cloud systemwide and wireless service at the high and middle schools to allow internet access from any desktop or mobile device.
For a complete list of proposed E-SPLOST projects and cost estimates, go to pike.k12.ga.us and click on E-SPLOST 4.
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