New school plans scrapped

Cherokee County school officials are scrapping plans for one of five new elementary schools.

Frank Petruzielo, the county’s school superintendent, blames it on the economy and weak retail sales, which translate into fewer sales tax dollars for the school system.

Revenues from the extension of the system’s special purpose local option sales tax for education are down 16 percent, or $2.9 million for the first seven months.

If the trend continues, revenues could be down $33.4 million when the tax extension expires in 2012, Petruzielo said.

“That’s what has precipitated cutting one elementary school,” Petruzielo said. “Funding has already been committed for the middle and high school.”

A new elementary school, with land, now costs about $35 million, Petruzielo said.

An economic upswing, “a miracle” or a visit from “Santa Claus” could change the plans, Petruzielo said. But, he said, “we are anticipating this is a permanent cut. Fortunately, we don’t have to disappoint people.”

The school system has set the locations of three of the five new elementary schools on the north side of the county around Holly Springs, in the southwest part of the county near Oak Grove and in Ball Ground, the superintendent said.

The locations of the other two schools — including the one being eliminated — had not been determined, he said.

This is not the first time the school system has had to alter its plans based on SPLOST collections, Petruzielo said. Although revenues from the first SPLOST exceeded estimates by $10 million, an extension approved by voters in 2001 fell $15 million short of projections.

That also required the school system to forego plans for an elementary school, Petruzielo said.

The current SPLOST, which was approved by voters in November 2006 and took effect in January, was projected to bring in $208.7 million, said Mike McGowan, spokesman for Cherokee County Schools.

In addition to funding the new schools, the proceeds are slated to be used to reduce the public school system’s bond debt, buy land, build additions at two schools, pay for a new parent entrance at an existing school and cover the expenses of a new fuel island, technology and some renovations, McGowan said.