GREENE COUNTY
Last week, the Greene County Board of Education voted to approve the first spending allocation toward the new school on Meadow Crest Road in Greensboro city limits thanks to the favorable ESPLOST vote by taxpayers.
The new school plans have caused a fractious debate in the county on whether or not to close Union Point’s only elementary school in the system.
A $5.5 million allocation out of the $39 million expected cost for the school was approved to begin procuring building supplies and materials needed to construct the facility and address necessary lead times and any expected delays.
According to BOE Chairman Mike Lynch, this will include the procurement of necessary beams, framing materials, electrical, steel supports, and more. Georgia, as with most states in the nation, has experienced significant wait times on materials, which in turn causes construction delays. This summer is the expected groundbreaking for the new school with completion expected in 2024.
The board also approved plans to relocate fourth grade from Carson Middle School to Greene County Primary School for the 2023-24 school year. This means that third graders will stay at the current primary school for another year when moving up to fourth grade. Currently, fourth through eighth graders are combined at Anita Carson Middle School in Greensboro. The BOE has acknowledged it was not the most perfect arrangement but the only one until a new school is built. The best standard education model is to keep rising fourth graders in a primary school setting before moving to the new elementary school in Fall 2024 for fifth grade.
School Superintendent Dr. Chris Houston acknowledged that research has shown that multiple transitions are not essentially good for students.
“We believe that it is in the best interest of our present third-grade students to remain with the primary school this upcoming year,“ he said. “This will eliminate an unnecessary transition for these students. It is our hope and intention to get the new elementary school built soon so that Pre-K through fifth grade can all learn in the same school together.”
Two years ago, the BOE demolished the old and outdated Greensboro Elementary School on Martin Luther and brought over the fourth graders to the present middle school.
Discussions are underway to determine the best use of the property after final grading and completion of asbestos removal.
Lynch insisted there will be no fiscal impact on the overall budget and that this is the best solution until the new school is built.
“We are confident both teachers and parents will be happy with this until the new school is completed,” he said.
Also during the meeting, special recognitions were given to both student and teacher recipients of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) awards.
STAR honorees at Greene County High School were senior Ryan Evans and teacher Megan Calicott.
STAR honorees at Lake Oconee Academy were senior Hailey Heinen and teacher Amy Reber. The program honors Georgia’s highest-achieving high school seniors and the teachers that have been most instrumental in their academic development.