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Spotsy needs new schools
What does the bond referendum in Spotsylvania County mean for schools?
Date published: 11/4/2006
By MELISSA NIX
When Spotsylvania County voters roll into their polling places on Tuesday, they'll get to vote on a $64 million bond referendum for school projects.
School officials want to use the money to complete one elementary school and build another, put flexible, wireless and interactive technology in classrooms, and expand and renovate schools.
Superintendent Jerry Hill said an investment in technology is critical.
"If we expect our children to be successful in a workplace that is super rich in technology, we've got to expose them to a variety of technology that they'll know how to use," he said.
Hill said the district needs to play a bit of catch-up, too.
"The Windows 98 operating system [we're using] is pretty old," he said. "The Gibson Report said we're not investing enough in technology for a school district of our size."
The state-funded report reviewed the efficiency of school district operations across Virginia.
Hill also drew attention to the renovation of John J. Wright Middle School, which sits on the historic site of the county's first African-American high school.
The renovation honors the historical value of the site and will enable the district to serve 550 children with alternative programs, Hill said.
"We're freeing up classrooms in elementary schools and moving out the construction of elementary school 18 with this renovation," he said.
Wright will house preschool special education classes, as well as alternative middle school, high school and GED-preparation programs. It also will be open for community use.
The biggest chunk of change has been earmarked for elementary schools 17 and 18.
"Elementary 17 is mostly already funded, but because construction was delayed, we added $3.5 million to [this] bond," Hill said.
Elementary school 18's construction cost is estimated at $20 million. The price would be higher if the school wasn't being built on land the district already owned, Hill said.
"With the decline in enrollment, we're looking hard to see if we do it in 2009 or push it out a year," Hill said. "It would keep the [county] tax rate down for the next two-year cycle, but you lose a little with" inflation.
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Date published: 11/4/2006
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