Simpson County’s school board is still open for options regarding improvement of school facilities, according to a meeting held last week.
It had previously been reported that the final option that would be presented for a bond issue is the building plan known as 5.0. However, a second plan referred to as 4.1 is still on the drawing board for discussion.
A bond issue would be required to fund either project. The 4.1 project is anticipated to come in at $30.7 million, and plan 5.0 is $37.5 million. The major difference is that 5.0 provides a consolidated high school for the county. Both plans require closing the Mendenhall Junior High campus and restructuring the existing Mendenhall Elementary and High School campuses to accommodate the larger student population.
The 4.1 plan creates a kindergarten through sixth grade at Magee Elementary. Grades 7-12 would be on the existing high school campus.
Initially, the plan had called for renovation of what was known as the Headstart building on the Mendenhall Elementary campus for additional students. However, the architect’s plan showed it would cost more to renovate than it would to build a new building since the building in discussion was built in 1959.
Planners determined that whatever the course of action, the old building needed to be torn down and the asbestos abated. The estimated cost for the new project is $3 million. Actual construction for the new building is $2.1 million. The architect said that it would cost between $205 and $215 per square foot, which includes furnishings for the new building. The board advised the architect to meet with the principal, and the green light appears to have been given for demolition.
School board member Lillie Hardy was quick to point out that nothing the board had intended to do would be completed for the start of the new school year. It was stated that a new building could be built by mid-term but most likely it would be finished by the end of next school year. The motion to proceed was made by Hardy and seconded by Stanley Bulger. It was approved by unanimous consent; however, the design phase was delayed until additional information could be obtained.
The board discussed 16th Section lands owned by the district. Members commented about how good the revenue was on property leases. Superintendent Greg Paes praised Tom McAlpin, who directs the management of 16th Section lands, for his hard work to see that as much land is leased as possible. McAlpin provided comparative lease agreements as requested by board member Stan Bulger. McAlpin said that the reason some of the lease rates averaged low is that so much land is leased, which creates a greater amount of revenue.
Good news came from Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Robert Sanders, who reported that only three teacher vacancies remain for the 2020-2021 school year, a Special Education position at both the middle and the high school in Magee and a position at Mendenhall High as an English teacher.
The board also discussed the Cheerleaders’ Constitution for the schools. Dr. Sanders said it was “a little harsh” and made some exceptions, which the board approved.
Lillie Hardy stated that the activities for cheerleaders cost their families much more than they should. Middle school cheerleaders pay approximately $1,200 per year to participate; first year high school cheerleaders pay up to $2,400, and returning cheerleaders pay approximately $1,800 per year. Expenditures cover things like uniforms and camp expenses. Hardy pointed out that boys playing football do not pay nearly that much for equipment.
Additionally, at the start of the meeting board member Stacy Herring said that local teachers were very disappointed that they were not going to be getting the anticipated $1,000 raise this year after receiving a $1,500 raise last year that was supposed to raise their wages closer to the southeastern average.
Simpson County will get $1.4 million from the state to help with expenses associated with the pandemic. The State Department of Education received $250 million of the total distribution, of which State Superintendent Carey Wright wants the county to spend 30 to 60 percent, up to $600,000, on distance learning.
Part of the reason for the requirement is that not all students in the district have the necessary bandwidth or the internet available to make distance learning feasible. It is estimated to cost $300 per device for each student and teacher to have the one-on-one capabilities that the state is advocating in preparation for off-campus learning, which may become necessary if there is a resurgence of the coronavirus this fall. This includes software in order to operate.
Superintendent Paes said he does not feel that the state department should be setting guidelines as to how to spend the funds.
Currently, the plans are for Simpson County students to go back to class as usual. Paes said there is no way to reduce bus routes down to only ten students per bus for social distancing, that it just is not feasible because the district does not have the buses or drivers.
He explained that the idea of sending children every other day does not work because parents can not stay home from work on their children’s off-days. He said such a plan might be possible on alternating weeks.
Lillie Hardy told the board that technology is a must and the need to figure out how to accomplish this is a necessity. She said, “We’ve got to get on the bandwagon like everyone else in the world.” From the recent distance learning experience, Hardy said, it was evident that most of the children did not get the quality of education that some other students were able to get through distance learning.
The board went into executive session at the prompting of the board attorney to discuss personnel matters as well as the real estate negotiation on the Pioneer Properties for the possibility of a consolidated high school site.
