The Tri-County Journal
& Chattahoochee Chronicle
PO Box 850,
71 Webb Lane
Buena Vista, GA 31803
229-649-6397
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BOE hopes a federal grant will be approved to help deal with expected increase in students
By RICHARD HARRIS
(From the March 21, 2007 issue)
The Marion County Board of Education conducted a special workshop recently to discuss a wide variety of ideas for the future. It was a “brainstorming” session with no official motions or votes, but the topics included some serious ones that could be very significant for the school system if they come to pass.
Chief among the topics was an update of the School System’s Five-Year Plan, which the Board of Education will have to officially adopt before the end of the year. This is a plan that the state requires, even though the school system will not necessarily be committed to fulfilling every single item in the
Officials are particularly concerned about what might happen in the next one and a half to two years, however, as that is the time period in which the county should start to feel the effects of the predicted population increase due to the coming expansion of nearby
The U.S. Army will not be attempting to provide enough housing for the influx of soldiers, many of whom will have to find their own living spaces. While it is unknown how many of them may choose to reside inside Marion County, various people who have studied the possibilities think the number could be significant. Biff Hadden of the Benning Futures Partnership has said that the expansion will bring almost 30,000 new people to the area (soldiers, their families, and civilian contracts), which he described as the equivalent of picking up the City of LaGrange and suddenly dropping it inside the City of Columbus.
The Marion County School System has actually experienced a bit of a drop in student population in recent history, due in part to first Schley County building its own high school and then Webster County voting to start educating its own high school students. So, if the county only sees a modest amount of growth from the Fort Benning expansion, the school system may be able to handle it without being overburdened. If, however, the county sees many hundreds of new families, it will definitely put a strain on the local schools.
Not knowing exactly what to expect, school officials are beginning to weigh various possible options for the future. First, they have already applied for a federal grant (along with eight other school systems expected to be affected) to build a new school. Not long ago the “buzz” was that the grant would not be approved, but now it appears to have new life and be back on the table.
If approved in its entirety, the Marion County School System would receive enough federal funds to build a brand new middle/high school for grades 6-12 (where it would be located is still up in the air), as well as expand L.K. Moss Primary School (which would then likely serve grades Pre-K through 5, rather than Pre-K through 4 as it does now).
It may be more likely, though, that the school system will receive partial funding. If so, just how “partial” the funding is may determine whether or not that proposal comes to fruition. Superintendent Richard McCorkle, while not wanting to speak for the board members, said he doubts the School Board would vote to build a new middle/high school without at least significant funding from an outside source – be it the federal or state government.
“The School Board is very conscious of local taxes and they are looking toward the uncertain future situation and trying to think of ways to deal with whatever comes while being as conservative as possible with taxes while also upholding our excellence in education,” said McCorkle.
Of course, the School Board is also always looking at the condition of the existing school facilities and gauging how best to keep them in shape or make other decisions as may be needed in the present and in the years to come.
OTHER ISSUES:
In addition to the very serious issue of the expected growth, the School Board discussed some other issues, also important but thankfully not as unpredictable. Some of the other items mentioned during the workshop are listed below.
* The BOE expressed an interest in continuing to expand its technical programs with a desire to provide students in our rural area with the best equipment and training possible for the technical age.
* Agreed in principle that the school system should continue to fine-tune and expand its website, which has been praised by many (many of whom have said it’s hard to believe that such as rural system would have such a professional presence on the World Wide Web). The website is being developed by local teacher Michael Medders, who also teaches technical-related classes at the high school. For those interested, it may be viewed at http://www.marion.k12.ga.us/
* Expressed an interest to continue to encourage more parental involvement and reviewed various statistics that show children tend to do significantly better in school when their parents/guardians keep up with what they are doing and offer encouragement. Discussed various ideas to encourage this, such as Parent and Grandparent Days.
* Noted the cuts in state funding in recent years, but also a desire to find a way to continue after-school programs.
* Talked about the need for the Marion County Commission, Buena Vista City Council and Marion County Board of Education to pull together and have a team effort to make the community the best that it can be.
* Discussed transportation issues (successes and challenges), noting that before this month is over every bus in the fleet will have air conditioning, and also noting the challenges the Transportation Department deals with (and does a good job with) due to the large rural area it has to cover to transport children to three schools. They continue to be concerned with the amount of time some students have to spend on the buses. They also agreed the newly-started bus monitors are working well (they have added an adult monitor to ride on some buses and may add more as needed and as feasible).
* Agreed to work toward extra accreditation, even though all the schools currently already have the accreditation required by the state.
* Continued to look at possibilities for how to best use the SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, also sometimes called the “penny tax”) to keep the school facilities in good shape. Renewal of this one percent sales tax will be on the ballot later this year.
* Agreed to continue working with South Georgia Technical College to provide more options for students at the high school.
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Local News
• Ellaville trio performs in ‘The Sound of Music
• Marion Chamber says community is at a crossroads
• No. 2 ranked SCHS Wildcats reel off three wins in a row
• MCHS students bring home region win with ‘Love Shouldn’t Hurt’
• Central Auto opens in Ellaville
• CCES Talented & Gifted kindergarteners learn about community
• Schley Chamber is preparing a Business Directory
• Cusseta VFW to host monthly parties
• Schley County has a new tractor and mower dealership
• Which Marion County administrators will kiss a pig?
• Schley Family Connection meeting has three speakers
• Luminaries on sale for Marion County Relay for Life
• Chattahoochee Elementary School Honor Students
• James and Brown crowned Valentine Sweethearts
• Pancake Breakfast is this Saturday in Tazewell
• McAllister named Tennessee Cameo Girl
• Fiddler’s BBQ to conduct sale for ‘ChattCo’ High baseball team
• Doyle VFD Yard Sale coming soon
• Ellaville’s Greene Family has Yard of the Month
• Strickland is LK Moss Teacher of the Month
• MCHS baseball team flirts with wins against Pacelli and Heard
• Webster County Middle School News
• Forsyth enlists in US Army
• ‘Schley Concerned Citizens’ plan BBQ fundraiser
• Region 7 EMS to host Awards Program
• Schley County Elementary School Honor Rolls
• MMS Reading Counts Winners: Wiggins, Lockhart
• Head Start registration time nearing
• Annual Egg Hunt is March 31st in Buena Vista
• Marion County High School Honor Rolls
• Local cancer survivor info needed
• Cookin’ In the Community: Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sandwiches
• Marion Middle School downs Chattahoochee and Webster in baseball
• Chicken dinners on sale as Relay for Life fundraiser
• CCES announces perfect attendance students
• Support the Relay, maybe win a quilt
• Lowe’s to build new store in Americus
• Pre-K slots are available in Webster County
• Marion Public Library to observe National Library Week
• Chattahoochee celebrates Dr. Seuss’ birthday
• LK Moss Students of the Week: Julianne Moon, Mayia Martinez
• Area farmers and conservationists saluted by NRCS
• Bows now on sale to show support for Relay
• MMS Students of the Week: Ann Brink and Kamisha Stevens
• Help St. Jude Children’s Hospital by buying ticket for ‘Dream Home’
• MCHS Students of the Week: Patel, Harris, Rush
• Schley Republicans plan big day on March 24th
• LK Moss Primary School News
• Adult Ed classes offered at Bethany Church in Marion County
• 2,700 children already booked to watch ‘Oliviatown’ at The Springer
Letters to the Editor
• Waters not impressed at local Commission meeting
• Yard and Bake Sale for Claws-n-Paws
Opinion Columns
• America’s ‘Berlin Wall’?
• Rosie the Riveter
• Marketing What? To Whom?
• Take the Bull by the Horns
• Be wealthy in the eyes of God
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