BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
To watch the presentation in its entirety, you can view the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23hSkmStHN0
Elmore County Superintendent Richard Dennis spoke to the County Commission this week, giving a detailed breakdown of the school system, including a $50 million bond issue, funding sources and information on a proposed Ad Valorem tax increase.
It was all part of a larger plan of the focus on education in Elmore County, both past projects, and looking toward the future.
A very important public hearing will be held Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. in the historic Elmore County Courtroom in downtown Wetumpka prior to the Elmore County Commission Meeting. We urge Elmore County residents to view the video of the meeting to get an idea of projects, planned projects and the future need for expansion of educational facilities and programs.
Elmore County School system is the 13th largest in the state. While huge projects have been completed over the years, it was the frugality of the board expenditures that made them possible. Looking to the future, and expanding programs, more funds will be necessary to not just maintain, but to increase facilities and education.
With crisis of Covid, federal funds have been provided to various agencies across the country. For Elmore County education, 14 percent of the recent revenue for the Elmore County Board of Education has been bolstered with Covid funds. But that is not a long-term fix. Those funds are not permanent, officials stressed.
“It comes out to about $20.5 million that are Covid funds in the total budget that will expire…the longest one goes to 2024. We will maximize every chance we get, but that is the large piece of the pie right now to help us survive,” Elmore County Education Finance director Jason Mann said.
“The objective for tonight is to have an idea and understanding of the intent of the school’s boards pursuit of an ad valorem tax increase,” Commission Chairman Troy Stubbs explained. “It is important for all of us to know what the vision is, what the expectations are by the board of education, what they would use those funds for. Our role as a county commission – we are elected by the same people. The process by which this may or may not occur is the board of education passes a resolution, the county commission makes a decision about supporting that resolution in as much as it advances to the state legislature. Which then (the legislature) would have the opportunity to put it on a future ballot when the people of Elmore County would have an opportunity to make a decision with regards to the viability of the presentation we saw tonight. January of 2023, 11 months from now, is when it potentially would be on a ballot for Elmore County to vote on. We have 11 months for real conversation in our county on whether or not this is something that is really needed in our county.”
To watch the presentation in its entirety, you can view the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23hSkmStHN0
Completed Projects:
Eclectic: This past year finished a security entrance on front of Elmore County High School. LED lighting has been completed at the Softball field. Last week the Board approved purchase of three pieces of property. One will be utilized to resolve a traffic problem in front of Eclectic Elementary.
Holtville: Worked on the traffic loop at the elementary school, a security entrance at high school, new baseball and softball locker room, new gym floor and LED lighting for softball field and throughout all campuses.
Millbrook/Coosada area: New traffic loop at Coosada Elementary. At Stanhope Elmore High, a Spine edition was completed. Remodeling was done at the 100, 200 and 300 buildings. There is a new band/choral facility. Remodeling of the cafeteria is currently in progress. Work is also being done on a new theatre department and art area. There is a new gym floor, LED lighting throughout school and on softball field.
Wetumpka/Redland area: Wetumpka Elementary had traffic loop redirects traffic, new gym floor at high school, new softball locker room and public restrooms. LED lighting at softball field. At Redland there is a new parking lot. At Redland Middle is a new middle school set to open next year.
District Level Projects: Built a new maintenance facility and warehouse. At Elmore County Technical Center, just opened this past week the new access. Will move in on the 15th. A ribbon cutting and open house will be scheduled. “It is very impressive. We want everyone to see it,” Dennis said. We will be expanding our program for Career Tech. In addition to phase two which was just approved. Hopefully will be completed within a year and a half. “It looks like a college campus. It will have an open courtyard area in center with traffic perimeter road.”
LED lighting upgrades in all school facilities. Replacing classroom carpeting throughout facilities with tile. This is due to more people having allergies related to carpet. “It is going to take time to actually do it because that is a huge project,” Dennis said.
The Bus Fleet has been replenished to allow for full funding from the state. “For every bus that we have that is less than 10 years of age we get the full funding for it from the state. If the system has all buses under 10 years of age it keeps the fleet new with less maintenance issues.”
The schools have also been replacing older fleet vehicles that are 10 and 20 years old.
Officials have been working with municipalities for better communication on joint projects. “Part of that, is with 17 Springs – we are working with the YMCA, County Commission, City of Millbrook and ECEDA to develop that program. Here in Wetumpka, we are working with the city and the County Commission for projects here.”
An Ad Valorem increase would make it possible to prepare for the future, with growing communities and school populations.
“We are operating at a foundation level in Elmore County. We don’t ever get far above that because we just don’t have the funding to go that far. With COVID, out of 137 school systems three years ago, per pupil expenditure, we ranked 134 of 137. Over the last two years taking advantage of the Covid Funding, the people of Elmore County really came to the table for us. They helped deliver food. People don’t understand that put money in the general fund of Elmore County. Elmore County’s general fund is actually growing right now. With the Child Nutrition Program, Dennis said the system is reinvesting now in the cafeterias and kitchen renovations across the county.
HVAC/Air Conditioning projects: Older air conditioning systems are being replaced, with the use of COVID funds. “As much as possible, we are going to try and put back into the infrastructure in our schools.”
In the Holtville community, the Child Development Program is breaking ground within a month. “The child Development Program is huge in each community. Dennis said there are about 100 on the waiting list in Holtville alone. That is how big a program has become. It is something we will continue to report.”
In the Millbrook Community – Working on new tennis courts as part of our participation with 17 Springs. We have a 10-room addition waiting to go in at ARIS as needed. Space is adequate at most of the schools in the area, other than limited space at ARIS.
“Millbrook Middle is actually the largest school in Elmore County with about 1,230 students. They do not have a competition gym. That is something that is on our capital plan for the future.”
A focus is on developing indoor practice facilities for schools. In many cases, that happens when old gyms are repurposed. These facilities can be used across the board for a variety of programs.
At SEHS, the board is looking at the old gymnasium, and ways to repurpose that area. “They do not have an auditorium as such. This would be multi-purpose facility that would include a stage.”
Capital Plan for the Redland/Wetumpka: New Tennis Courts investment at stadium property. This is an investment from the Board of Education.
“Redland is built for 800 students. We can add two different wing sections to double the capacity as needed. That would be down the road over the next 15 or so years.”
Currently funds are reroofing three facilities. The desire is to increase funding for programs and personnel necessary including Nurses, STEM and extra-curricular activities. STEM labs have been placed in all middle schools and most elementaries. But there is a huge cost associated with that that so far has been made possible with federal funds.
Dennis praised nurses working with Elmore County and acknowledged not just how they have worked with the COVID crisis, but how they are facing new mandates that are required but are not necessarily funded.
For example, he said, “Right now, if you have a diabetic child at school, and they go on a field trip, I have to send a nurse with them. We have to have one with a student participating in athletics. For an example, I had one who wrestled with a health issue. The nurse was hired and had to sit outside while they wrestled in case something happened. That is what we are faced with that people really do not understand. You look at our student body, we have all types of health issues that they contend with and we are required by law to cover in some form or fashion.
To watch the presentation in its entirety, you can view the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23hSkmStHN0
