By Gerri Miller
Staff Writer
Autauga County School Superintendent Timothy Tidmore presented plans to the Autauga County Commission Tuesday night showing where the money would go if residents of the county vote to approve a proposed 15-mill, 30-year ad valorem tax hike.
All funding would go to capital improvements and no funds would be used for salaries, he said. “It would be for all things that benefit kids directly,” Tidmore said. “Let the people have a choice-let them vote to voice their opinion.”
If approved by voters, the property tax would remain in effect for 30 years and is expected to raise $17 million a year. The County Commission must first ask the Legislature to set a date for a local election on the issue. The Commission tabled the BOE’s request Tuesday night in favor of gathering more information and forming a committee on the issue first.
Tidmore said that there are schools in Autauga County that were built in the 1920s (Prattville Primary) and the 1930s (Prattville Kindergarten). “These are things that should have been done years ago,” Tidmore said.
So where would the money go? The plan calls for construction and renovation of facilities in four phases:
Phase One
- Build a new early learning center that will include Pre-K and Kindergarten. The location will be behind the Daniel Pratt Elementary School and to the left of the new YMCA. The entrance will be off McQueen Smith Road.
Tidmore said Phase 1 doesn’t hinge on the proposed tax increase, but Phase 1 is all the school system can do without the increase. The timeline to begin Phase 1 will be the Spring of 2022. The current kindergarten and Prattville Primary School buildings will be saved because of their historical significance.
Phase Two
- Add additional classrooms to Daniel Pratt Elementary School and make it a first through third grade school. Prattville Primary School would close.
- Build a new fourth through sixth grade school at the current Prattville Elementary School and Prattville Intermediate School campuses.
- Construct additional “activity” buildings at Pine Level Elementary School and Daniel Pratt Elementary School.
- Purchase 75 to 100 acres for a new Prattville High School.
- Purchase land for a new elementary school for the East Memorial area of Prattville
- Renovate athletic facilities at Autaugaville School Billingsley School, Marbury High School and Marbury Middle School.
- Increase STEM-related programs in all schools. (Science, Technology & Math)
- Expand co-curricular and extra-curricular programs at all campuses.
The proposed start for construction on the second phase would be in January/February 2024.
Phase Three
- Build a new Prattville High School for grades nine through 12.
- Plans include a fine arts center that will allow the school system to expand fine arts program.
- Baseball and softball facilities
- Gymnasiums
- Competition Track and Field facility
The plan would not include a football stadium on campus and this phase would begin in the Summer of 2026.
Phase Four:
- Renovate the current Prattville High School and move Prattville Junior High School and Second Chance to the renovated facility.
- Build a new Marbury Middle School on land now owned by the BOE.
- Build a new elementary school in east Prattville.
- Renovate the old Prattville Primary School to be used as the central office.
- Place schools on a rotating renovation schedule based on the year constructed.
Phase Four is proposed to begin in the Summer of 2027.
“We would like the opportunity to communicate with each other and the community before we put this out to vote,” said County Commissioner John Thrailkill.
