The Cobb County Board of Education voted 6-1 Wednesday to increase the new Ed-SPLOST V budget from $759 million to $795 million.
However, the final vote on the Ed-SPLOST V budget and list will not be taken until 7 p.m. Oct. 27 since Wednesday’s meeting was a work session. This vote means extra funding would go to undesignated classrooms — only after all of the projects are completed on the new list that would take effect 2019 to 2023. That also is contingent upon the vote of Cobb residents on the March 21 referendum.
Even if the current Ed-SPLOST IV brings in extra funds, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said there is no category for undesignated classrooms. For now, School Board Chair Susan Thayer said no extra seating can be added for King Springs Elementary School in the Smyrna area, for example, even though there are enough students to comprise two separate elementary schools.
In opposition to this increase to 10 percent, board member Randy Scamihorn said, “A prudent five percent already was built in along with undesignated classrooms. I would hate to see the SPLOST vote jeopardized on a whim.”
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