BOE Anticipating State Capital Outlay Funds
By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor
The Dade County Board of Education held a workshop on October 13 to discuss the five-year facilities plan, with no vote or decisions made at this time. The upcoming five-year facilities review by the Georgia Department of Education determines how the school system can earn State Capital Outlay Funds.
Superintendent Josh Ingle reminded the board that through the state, the school system receives money for buildings that are reaching the ten-year mark and again when they reach twenty years. These funds are only eligible for repairs such as roof, HVAC, and painting. The funds cover up to 20% of project costs, so a majority of the cost is still funded by local budgets.
Ingle noted that while the state representatives have done digital walkthroughs of the facilities before, onsite reviews are better. He requested an onsite review this year, and officials will specifically look at Davis Elementary, Dade Elementary, and Dade Middle. They will look at what Dade County Schools have addressed based on the current five-year plan, the bulk of which has been at Dade Middle School, with some work at Davis and Dade Elementary. Items addressed include HVAC, roof repairs, and cafeteria repairs at Davis.
Ingle noted that the the next five-year plan will focus on both elementary schools. Both elementary schools have buildings from 2005 that will be reaching the 20-year mark during the next five-year plan.
Ingle said, “One thing I anticipate in terms of new construction particularly at Davis, if we built a new kitchen and cafeteria, we earn money for that…Once that building became occupied, we would start earning twenty-year money and ten-year money…That’s a recommendation I anticipate. Doesn’t mean you have to use that recommendation.”
The board then heavily discussed the architect’s plans for the Davis classroom building (as received and reviewed last year), which would replace the old rock building. Daniel Case (District 1) and Jennifer Hartline (District 2) in particular brought up many questions to ask the architect due to several parts of the plan that seemed to create unnecessary work or expense.
Ingle said he would immediately communicate those questions to the architect, Jayne Griffin (at-large) inquired about the possibility of a session with the architect, and it was generally concluded that more information and answers are needed.
This building, however, would not fall under the state’s upcoming five-year plan. Essentially, the state sees a new cafeteria as a need and would provide capital outlay funds at the ten-year and twenty-year marks, but the state does not see a new classroom building as a need, and therefore, the school system would not receive state funds for the building at any point.
See the July 12 issue of the Sentinel for further information about work at Davis and the complications of state funding.
