Board to amend FY '25 capital outlay plan for West Green and phase out old George Washington Carver 9th-grade facility
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Summary
The Coffee County Board of Education agreed by consensus to place on the regular meeting consent agenda two proposed amendments to the district’s FY 2025 capital outlay plan: changes for West Green Elementary and a phase-out of the existing George Washington Carver ninth-grade facility.
Superintendent Dr. Leese told the Coffee County Board of Education on March 20 that the district would present two resolutions for the regular meeting consent agenda to amend the FY 2025 capital outlay application: one for West Green Elementary School and one to phase out the current George Washington Carver ninth-grade academy facility.
On West Green, the superintendent said an earlier state funding application included Building 2080 for roof and HVAC replacement, but district review showed the roof and HVAC in that wing do not require replacement at this time. Dr. Leese told the board the amendment would remove those projects from the application so the district would not receive state funds intended for work that will not occur.
On George Washington Carver’s ninth-grade facility, Dr. Leese said the superintendent recommends a resolution to phase out the current facility to make the campus eligible for state entitlement funding for construction of a new ninth-grade academy. “Public hearings to phase out said facility are in accordance with OCGA 20 dash 2 dash 2 60.1 and were not required,” Dr. Leese said, referencing the district attorney’s written opinion. The board noted they will keep the campus gym on the state roster (the gym will not be phased out) and preserve the historic Rosenwald School building on the site.
Board members discussed which buildings would remain in use and which would be demolished to create green space in front of the new facility. The H building (technology) would be phased out as classroom space but retained for district use; the Rosenwald building and gym would be preserved. The superintendent and staff said architects’ cost estimates show renovation costs that justify seeking replacement rather than upgrading the old building.
Both resolutions were presented at the work session and the superintendent asked that each be placed on the regular meeting consent agenda; the board gave consensus to do so.
Ending: The resolutions will appear on the regular meeting consent agenda for final approval; staff said they will keep a copy of the attorney’s letter on file regarding the public-hearing requirement.
