Cobb board discusses Oakwood HS, tax money
School is out in Cobb County, but parents, teachers and students packed another school-board meeting Thursday, many in last-ditch efforts to restore teacher cuts and save Oakwood High School.
More than two dozen speakers addressed the board at the beginning of the meeting, which included an agenda of less-controversial items
“Think of Schindler’s List,” Wheeler High School teacher Susan Smith told the board, while referencing the Steven Spielberg film. “Could you have saved one more?”
Earlier this month the board tentatively approved a fiscal 2011 budget that contains 734 position cuts, including 579 teachers, as well as reorganizing Oakwood into a digital learning center. More than 30 teachers at Wheeler lost their jobs.
Former Oakwood student Shawn Lee drove to Cobb from Nashville to attend the meeting and support his former teachers.
“I don’t think it’s right that they're closing the school. Those students need that school,” Lee, 22, said.
Oakwood’s current teachers have been reassigned to other schools within the district. Plans are for a private company to operate the digital program.
But before the final budget is approved June 9, board member Alison Bartlett has requested a discussion of alternatives to the school’s closing during the next budget hearing on June 2.
“I’ve been told that nothing is final until the final budget is passed,” said Bartlett, whose district includes Oakwood. “I want to see how we are going to address the county’s disenfranchised students.”
In another budget item Thursday, board members voted 6-1 for a plan to use $23.6 million in excess funds from a special tax to help balance next year’s budget.
Superintendent Fred Sanderson has recommended using the money to avoid a potential millage rate increase from 18.9 mills to 20 mills, one of only two possible uses for extra SPLOST funds. The money can also be used to pay off debt, but the school system has no debt.
Bartlett voted against the measure, wanting instead to keep the SPLOST funds separate from the millage rate.
The board votes on millage rate changes in July.
The excess money would come from the system’s $76.5 million SPLOST II money. The remaining money will be kept in reserve to complete outstanding projects, said Doug Shepard, the system’s chief administrative officer for SPLOST. A portion of the remaining money will be used for the new Clarkdale Elementary school, which replaced one that was destroyed in last year’s floods. The board approved a site plan for that school’s relocation on Thursday.
Also Thursday, board member David Morgan was working out a plan to ensure that high school’s with the worst sports fields were first to have artificial turf installed.
During the last meeting the board signed a contract with Marietta-based Deluxe Athletics to install the turf fields at 16 county high schools. Under Morgan’s plan Osborne and Pebblebrook would be first on the list when installation begins next month.
Before the meeting, the board held the first of two salary hearings for school employees who will be required to take five furlough days and will not receive salary step increases. The hearings are required by law, and a second hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
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