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October 27, 2018 2018-10-27T16:00:00 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM 836 Reynolds StreetAugusta, GA30901 Admission: Free to the...
Monday, Aug. 15, 2016 News 12 NBC 26
AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) — Students walking to class next to construction workers going to their sites, a common view at Aiken County Schools.
“It’s very important for us to provide learning spaces that will be very similar to the work spaces of the future,” Aiken County Superintendent Dr. Sean Alford said.
Several schools around the county are getting an upgrade thanks to the penny tax, something many taxpayers are coming around to.
“A lot of these schools are really run down, so we need to renovate our schools and that’s to better educate our children,” Grecia Lopez said, who lives in Aiken.
One of those schools benefiting is Aiken High School, getting an all new math and science wing for a little more than $35 million. Taxpayers like Janet Ferguson say some schools just can’t support the needs of students today.
“We can’t expect our children to compete in a global market if we con’t teach them global skills and technology, it’s not the wave of the future it’s the wave of now,” Ferguson said.
North Augusta High is also in the midst of a brand new multi purpose facility and Levealle McCampbell is getting a whole new school. Both projects more than 20 million dollars in cost, but Aiken’s school leader recognizes the need.
“We want them to be great contributors to the 21st century workforce,” Dr. Alford said, “We want to give them collaborative spaces, we want to give them spaces where they can share their creativity and also be able to use the technology.”
Overall the district has raised more than $21 out of the $188 million they expect to gain, more than anticipated. But the district is taking their time with future projects for now.
“It’s exciting to talk about and even exciting to consider,” Dr. Alford said, “Our priority right now though is to make sure that the projects that we’ve committed to are done not only on time, but under budget.”
Right now the next one on the totem pole is a brand new K-12 Ridge Spring Monetta with the planning process starting this fall.
Bu it’s not just the kids first day back at Hammond Hills, it’s also new principal Eric Jeffcoat’s.
“Since I’m new to the area and new to the school, I got to meet a lot of parents for the first time,” Hammond Hills Principal Eric Jeffcoat said.
He also took a tour with Superintendent Alford and as they walked through the aging hallways conversations about renovations were numerous. An exciting thought for the new principal.
“We are an older school and we keep adding technology, but the school was not designed to handle that much technology,” Jeffcoat said.
Technology like these computers for 5th graders or a space for reading enhancement. Hammond Hills is part of the 50 percent of schools that are between 40 and 60 years old in Aiken County.
“There are many buildings that we’ll have to address in the future, but we’ll come back to the public to get their feedback before those decisions are made,” Dr. Alford said.
Those decisions could come as soon as next spring. But Aiken County is currently facing another dilemma, keeping up with growing communities.
“We’re seeing great growth in the North Augusta and Graniteville area,” Dr. Alford said, “Right now we’re in constant communication with folks in the county and builders, we’re checking out plans for new subdivisions, we’re kind of plotting those things right now.”
An example of that the new Leavelle McCampbell Middle School in Graniteville next to blooming subdivisions. Jeffcoat says just looking at the students pouring in today, he can see North Augusta is right there with Graniteville.
“It is a growing area, I was given a tour of the area and I saw some new developments starting, so I said we either got to build some new schools or either upgrade some or add onto some,” Jeffcoat said.
The Penny Tax runs until 2025, but school district will re-evaluate their 5 year facility plan as the growth continues and schools age.
Source: News
October 27, 2018 2018-10-27T16:00:00 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM 836 Reynolds StreetAugusta, GA30901 Admission: Free to the...
October 25, 2018 2018-10-25T17:30:00 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM 103 Diamond lakes WayHephzibah, GA30815 706-821-1754 ...
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