Nearly half of proceeds from Atlanta Public Schools’ next SPLOST dedicated for school construction and renovation would go to schools that have some of the district’s worst conditions, most crowded classrooms and wealthiest families.
Tonight, the Atlanta school board is set to call for a May Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax election. If voters approve the SPLOST, the district expects to receive about $464 million over time.
Of the $208 million Atlanta would spend on school construction and renovation, about $100 million would go to schools feeding into Grady High School. That includes $47 million to turn the now-closed Howard High School into a middle school, $33 million for Grady High School and $20 million for Morningside Elementary School.
The Grady and Morningside buildings received some of the lowest ratings from a recent district facilities analysis.
This fall, Superintendent Meria Carstarphen told Grady parents their cluster would be a priority in this SPLOST.
"This has been a long time in the making," she said. "I believe other communities will understand why we need to start these projects as early as possible."
The SPLOST plan the school board is set to approve tonight also prioritizes spending on buildings that are part of Carstarphen's plans to improve some of the district's worst schools by closing some schools and merging others. That means that work at some buildings in worse shape has been put on hold.
Those turnaround plans would send $23.5 million from the SPLOST for renovations at Connally Elementary School, $6.5 million to Grove Park Elementary School and $10 million to Kennedy Middle School.
APS’ east and west regions are set to get the most SPLOST renovation and construction money — about $44 million each. Schools feeding into North Atlanta and Therrell high schools would see little if any funds for renovations and construction.
The SPLOST spending plan the board is set to approve tonight also includes about $128 million for repairs to air conditioning and other systems; $47 million for technology — including a pilot project to give digital devices to every middle and high school student — and $36 million for debt repayment.
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