Fairhope, Alabama
CITY EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETS
District 6 School Board member-elect Cecil Christenberry told the city's EAC he has been advised that funds are being included in the School Board's budget to add a new wing to Fairhope High School -- and demolish the vacant old Intermediate and Alternative Schools.
Christenberry: "Dr. Lee says its in the budget ... to raze the old schools ... make it green space and add a wing to the high school. That sounds good to me ... its frugal, balanced ... "
"Its a good signal ... a shot across the bow ... we needed to hear."
Also, Christenberry said he is impressed with School CFO John Wilson, who agreed to a town meeting sometime in the future, possibly at the Methodist Church where nursery-care is available for children, to explain expected budget shortfalls and needs for new revenue: "Put up the numbers ... . This is where we are and where we need to be ... this is the gap (in funding)."
The School Board is expected to seek tax increases to fund construction of new buildings throughout the county; some existing taxes will have to be renewed as well, by voter referendum.
(Christenberry will not take office until after the Nov. general election, where he will have no opposition.)
OTHER COMMITTEE ACTIONS
* The committee continued work on a new mission statement that it will eventually present to the city council.
* Discussed an academic performance assessment of Fairhope High School so that comparisons may be made to other similar schools in the state -- and any progress measured.
* Continued to express skepticism concerning no student population growth projections.
* Discussed how to fill a vacancy on the committee. Another founding member, Gretchen Schapker, has resigned. (The EAC was formed in early 2012 during the height of the school funding crisis/recession.)
* Began discussing next year's requests for the FY 2015 budget year beginning Oct. 1st. A new project involving a small pond south of the Middle School was mentioned.
CITY EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETS
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| Fairhope High School |
District 6 School Board member-elect Cecil Christenberry told the city's EAC he has been advised that funds are being included in the School Board's budget to add a new wing to Fairhope High School -- and demolish the vacant old Intermediate and Alternative Schools.
Christenberry: "Dr. Lee says its in the budget ... to raze the old schools ... make it green space and add a wing to the high school. That sounds good to me ... its frugal, balanced ... "
"Its a good signal ... a shot across the bow ... we needed to hear."
Also, Christenberry said he is impressed with School CFO John Wilson, who agreed to a town meeting sometime in the future, possibly at the Methodist Church where nursery-care is available for children, to explain expected budget shortfalls and needs for new revenue: "Put up the numbers ... . This is where we are and where we need to be ... this is the gap (in funding)."
The School Board is expected to seek tax increases to fund construction of new buildings throughout the county; some existing taxes will have to be renewed as well, by voter referendum.
(Christenberry will not take office until after the Nov. general election, where he will have no opposition.)
OTHER COMMITTEE ACTIONS
 |
| Christenberry (in back) |
* The committee continued work on a new mission statement that it will eventually present to the city council.
* Discussed an academic performance assessment of Fairhope High School so that comparisons may be made to other similar schools in the state -- and any progress measured.
* Continued to express skepticism concerning no student population growth projections.
* Discussed how to fill a vacancy on the committee. Another founding member, Gretchen Schapker, has resigned. (The EAC was formed in early 2012 during the height of the school funding crisis/recession.)
* Began discussing next year's requests for the FY 2015 budget year beginning Oct. 1st. A new project involving a small pond south of the Middle School was mentioned.
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