$189 million list is finalized. MCSD asking voters to renew tax for these projects
Columbus voters will be asked next year to renew a tax that would pay for 22 projects totaling an estimated $189 million, including the consolidation of two schools into a new building, the construction of a postponed sports complex and the replacement of a public library.
During its monthly meeting Monday night, the Muscogee County School Board unanimously approved Superintendent David Lewis’ recommendation for the final list of proposed projects.
The projects would be funded by the 1% Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax if Columbus voters renew it. That referendum will be on the March 24 ballot, along with the presidential primary.
The school district’s current ESPLOST, which lasts five years or until the requested amount is collected, is scheduled to expire June 30.
Here is the final list of proposed projects, with estimated costs:
▪ $45.5 million: Improvements to technology and technology infrastructure.
▪ $25 million: New elementary school. Dawson and St. Marys Road elementary schools, about 1 mile away from each other, would consolidate into a new school, to be constructed on 20-25 acres of MCSD property behind Dawson. The latest enrollment figures from the Georgia Department of Education show 59-year-old Dawson had 345 students and 63-year-old St. Marys had 502 students as of October. Dawson’s capacity is 475, and St. Marys’ is 438. With enrollment at Dawson below the minimum for full state funding, Lewis has said, merging with St. Marys into a new school would make the district more efficient and effective.
▪ $22.5 million: Unspecified renovations and modifications in district’s five-year facilities plan.
▪ $16 million: Bus, vehicle and transportation equipment replacements.
▪ $15.5 million: Athletics facilities improvements throughout the district, including upgrades to middle school football and soccer fields, expansion of Carver and Columbus high school weight rooms, replacement of wooden bleachers throughout the district, upgrade Kinnett Stadium technology, scoreboard and lighting, and resurface Carver and Hardaway high school tracks.
▪ $15 million: Athletics complex for multiple sports and systemwide use, built to specifications that would allow MCSD to host more state championship events. It would be constructed next to Spencer High School and include a 6,000-seat football stadium, with an eight-lane track and a separate 2,000-seat soccer field. This project also would include the $11 million from the current ESPLOST, which voters approved in 2015. But sales tax revenue has been less than expected, so this project was postponed.
▪ $13 million: Arnold Middle School modernization.
▪ $4 million: Hardaway High School addition.
▪ $4 million: Kendrick High School addition.
▪ $3.5 million: Campus safety and security upgrades.
▪ $3 million: Bond issue financing.
▪ $3 million: Columbus Museum upgrades.
▪ $3 million: Furniture, fixtures and equipment throughout the district to replace outdated items.
▪ $3 million: Jordan Vocational High School College & Career Academy facility enhancements.
▪ $3 million: North Columbus Public Library replacement. It would be built at another location, yet to be announced.
▪ $2 million: School nutrition equipment replacements.
▪ $2 million: Stephen T. Butler STEAM Center upgrades. STEAM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
▪ $1.5 million: Mathews Elementary School addition.
▪ $1.5 million: Playgrounds.
▪ $1.5 million: Secondary science equipment and technology updates.
▪ $1 million: Columbus High School exterior upgrades.
▪ $500,000: Veterans Memorial Middle School band room expansion.
The administration presented the preliminary projects list to the board during its October work session. Lewis and other administrators then conducted four public forums to gather feedback about the proposal.
The board didn’t have a separate work session this month; it was combined with the meeting instead.
The final list varies slightly from the preliminary list of 20 proposed projects totaling an estimated $185 million and reported by the Ledger-Enquirer two months ago. The differences between the two lists are:
- $1.5 million to add the project that would update secondary science equipment and technology.
- $1 million more for furniture, fixtures and equipment.
- $1 million more for the STEAM center upgrades.
- $500,000 more for improvements to technology and technology infrastructure.
- $500,000 to add the project that would expand the Veterans Memorial Middle School band room.
$500,000 less for the five-year facilities plan.
