School asks for new primary school loan

School asks for new primary school loan

Up to $10 million could come interest free

By Frank Bradley

Sentinel writer

School board approved application recommending county borrow up to $10 million at zero percent interest for a new primary school, according to Superintendent Scott Penland.

In an action at a called school board meeting on Monday, the board agreed to apply for Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) money, which the may be available from the state. Penland said there is $150 million in state funds that have not been asked for by other school systems. Clay County has already applied for and received $750,000 in these funds, which was its initial allocation. If the county commissioners approve the school board’s application and the state provides the interest free loan, the county could go ahead with plans to construct the new primary school. The advantage of doing so is that there is no interest on the loan and construction cost for building the school is lower than it has been or is likely to be again.

In another matter, the state school budget is in and appears to be better than expected, according to Penland.

“We won’t have the county breakdown for a couple of weeks,” Penland said, “and it looks like we will have to send back about $80,000 to $100,000 more than had to be reverted last year, but all in all it looks like our budget is going to be doable.”

Penland said it looks like the school will not be required to layoff any teachers in the coming year; however some positions that have been vacated will not be filled. He said the assistant principal for the elementary school probably would remain open along with some teaching assistant positions in the Second and Third Grades.

Three positions now vacant, which are expected to be filled include the director of the high school media center and high school health occupation teacher (both teachers are retiring) and the high school art teacher, who is resigning due to her husband’s job relocation.

There will be no money for new textbooks or for new school buses, according to Penland. Also, the school will now have to pay for virtual (on-line) courses that are taken by students. In the past these courses have been provided from the state for free. Penland said the school will have to pay for the virtual courses; however, they will be offered to the students at no charge. Students at Hayesville High School can only take on-line courses for credit if they are not offered by the regular school curriculum.

Penland said the school’s transportation budget will be cut by $10,000, but that he expects it also will be manageable. “We were able to buy fuel at the end of the school year, so we may be able to take care of the difference,” he said.

The board also approved a 3-year plan for the Academically Gifted (AG) program in all three schools.