Nearly 64 percent of local voters who went to the polls during the July 20 primary voted to extend the 1-percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Bartow County and Cartersville City Schools. The new SPLOST will begin in July 2012 and last for five years; the current SPLOST, also five years long, took effect in July 2007.
Bartow County School Board members during a called meeting Monday approved a similar measure validating the vote's results.
Paying off bond debt on its high school is one objective for Cartersville under the SPLOST extension.
District officials also hope to make significant improvements to school sites, such as roof and HVAC system replacement and repairs, upgrades to Cartersville High's marching band facility and revamping of the traffic pattern around Cartersville Primary and Elementary to relieve traffic congestion on Old Mill Road.
Technology would be upgraded at all four city schools using SPLOST funds, while aging school classroom furniture also would see replacement. In addition, a fine arts facility at Cartersville Middle is slated to see construction under a new SPLOST.
Board members also approved clarification changes in two board policies and one board regulation.
One policy amendment will change wording to School Governance Councils to comply with the district's recently approved system charter, while another amended policy will allow schools to consider standards-based report cards as an acceptable means of reporting student progress.
The amended regulation adds wording regarding the transportation of homeless students.
The board's next scheduled meeting is its Sept. 9 work session.