Hall BOE calls for SPLOST IV

GAINESVILLE - Next March 15th, voters go to the polls to decide if they want to extend the special local option sales tax for education to support school funding in Hall County, Gainesville and Buford; the Hall School board approved their resolution calling for the SPLOST Monday night during a combination meeting and work session at the Career Academy on Atlanta Highway.

SPLOST IV could raise $197-million over five years through 2017 with about $100-million Hall County; Vice Chairman Nath Morris said he hopes the voters understand long term bonds need to be paid off, buildings and equipment need repair.

"It's either through SPLOST funding or property taxes," Morris said. "This is only for education so what we're asking for is a continuation of the one penny sales tax for education."

SPLOST lV revenues would pay off $9.6-million in Series 2007B bonds; Morris said the funding would also pay for roof and air conditioning system repair.

The Gainesville Board of Education, in a separate meeting Monday night, also approved the SPLOST agreement and referendum date. (See separate story.)

LEAVING AND NOT LEAVING

It was the final board meeting for Chairman Richard Higgins Monday night with a reception held in his honor before the meeting began at the Career Center.

"We've got a lot of positive things going on and they'll continue to go on with our present board," Higgins said.

Higgins lost in his re-election bid to Bill Thompson after 12 years on the board. The board accepted Transportation and Operations Director Jewell Armour's retirement request, but Superintendent Will Schofield explained that Armour is staying on the job.

"He's going to retire, he's got almost 40 years in public schools and then he's going to come back and work on a part time basis," Schofield said. "It will be a cost saving for the district He runs the best student transportation program in the state of Georgia."

DA VINCI LEARNING MOVES TO HIGH SCHOOL

School Board members heard and approved proposals from Chestatee, Johnson and West Hall High Schools for extending Da Vinci Academy style learning to the high school level.
Advanced Programs Director Dr. Sally Krisel said the programs, starting with the new school year next August, would have no impact on high school scheduling.

"We'll continue to use our seven period day, but within the high schools where they will be operating these programs they will have flexibility," Dr. Krisel said.

Krisel added that all three of the programs could be implemented on existing funding but like with Da Vinci, set up for middle school students on the South Hall Middle School campus, it is not a high cost program, it is a creative approach to education using existing resources.

Chestatee High plans to call its program the 'Renaissance Academy for Creative Enterprises. Johnson's program is entitled the 'Da Vinci Cohort International Scholars Academy and West Hall would have 'The Innovation Institute'.

"These are not limited to Da Vinci students," Krisel said. "We'll be using the Da Vinci approach as a 'seed' and we'll be including other students, we welcome students who are ready for his type of niche."