Half of the board’s 12-item agenda next week deals with proposed purchases of items for the new Cass High School, which remains under construction. Superintendent John Harper said the project remains on schedule for a substantial completion by Oct. 29. He added that a dedication of the new site is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m.
“I’ve had a number of meetings to make sure of those dates, and we believe we’re on target for [them]. The school is looking really good,” Harper said.
The purchases board members will consider include $757,000 for computers, printers and active boards; $81,414 for telecommunications equipment; $77,917.15 for metals lab equipment; a media center materials refurbishment priced at $68,723; projectors totaling $57,960 and field house weight equipment with a price tag of $51,000.
While board members will be looking at an agenda stacked with items dealing with one incoming school, they also will consider measures focused on future facilities. One such proposal is a phase-out plan for Cloverleaf Elementary, which Harper said will be the next school to be replaced by a new facility.
A new Cloverleaf is included in the proposed district building plan, which board members also will consider during the meeting. The plan entails building two elementary schools and one middle school during the fourth Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for schools.
Nearly 64 percent of Bartow County voters who went to the polls during the July 20 primary voted to extend the 1-percent SPLOST 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.
In addition to Cloverleaf, the planned schools in Harper’s proposal are a new Emerson Elementary and Adairsville Middle School. If the plan is approved, his goal is to begin work on Cloverleaf next month with plans to start turning dirt on its construction in February or March.
Originally slated to be the first elementary school constructed, the district under the proposal would start the process for Emerson Elementary in 2011, while officials would look to start on Adairsville Middle in 2012. Harper said Cloverleaf has been moved ahead of Emerson as the district already has the land for it, though the timelines to build the two elementary schools could possibly overlap.
The board also will consider approving the final readings of policy changes covering leaves and absences and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Officials say the policy amendments will not change any of the district’s operations, but will consolidate policies and regulations and will make them easier to read.
The board will meet Monday at 6 p.m. in the central office boardroom.