Jul. 14Cobb Schools Superintendent Chris Ragsdale will unveil plans on Thursday for the first phase of $160 million in federal money to come to the school district.<\/p>\n
While Ragsdale said specific categories where money will be used will be presented during the meeting, the superintendent previously told the MDJ about 20% of the $160 million from the American Rescue Plan must be used to combat learning loss from extended online learning during the pandemic.<\/p>\n
He said Thursday's discussion will focus on what he called the \"first phase\" of the money, the $104 million. He declined to give more details until his presentation to the board.<\/p>\n
The school board is also expected to consider construction contracts for a $13.1 million performing arts center at Osborne High School and a $300,000 robotics lab at Walton High School.<\/p>\n
Both projects would be paid for under the current cycle of the county's 1% sales tax for education.<\/p>\n
The Osborne High School Performing Arts Center is expected to be complete in July 2022, according to the board's agenda item listing the contract with Carroll Daniel Construction of Gainesville.<\/p>\n
The new 23,731-square-foot theater will seat 750 people, including a stage and associated support spaces, according to district officials. The project also covers the renovation of the existing 5,530-square-foot auditorium into a \"black box theater\" and two additional instructional units.<\/p>\n
Osborne High School's main school building recently received a rebuild. The new, four-story $30 million Osborne opened its doors in August. The Osborne campus's rebuild is being completed in phases, said Ragsdale, and construction has now moved into the performing arts center phase.<\/p>\n
Walton's $307,007 robotics lab would be built by Prime Contractors, Inc., of Powder Springs, and is expected to be complete in November, according to the school district.<\/p>\n
That project, Ragsdale said, will give the robotics team at the high school its home back.<\/p>\n
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\"That is a new building. They were currently using, I believe, the old East Cobb Middle, because they had to relocate during the construction phase of Walton,\" he said. \"So this will prepare them and provide them a place on campus.\"<\/p>\n
The project covers the renovation of the existing 7,579-square-foot practice gymnasium into the robotics lab, inclusive of a practice field and associated shop areas.<\/p>\n
Ragsdale said both the Osborne and Walton projects are \"a great example of how Ed-SPLOST provides so much for our district.\"<\/p>\n
In other business, the board is expected to consider:<\/p>\n
An $887,050 track resurfacing at McEachern High School, to be paid for with money from the McEachern Endowment Fund;<\/p>\n
A resolution calling for a special election on Nov. 2 to be held for a 1% special sales tax for education (Ed-SPLOST VI) that would begin collections in January 2024;<\/p>\n
A contract with the Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration for Ed-SPLOST VI election services. The district would pay for the costs attributed to its Ed-SPLOST election, which the agenda lists as \"to be determined\";<\/p>\n
Adopting a resolution establishing the same millage rate as last year, at 18.9 mills. The adoption of that millage would increase the district's property tax revenues by about $32.2 million over last fiscal year.<\/p>\n
Follow Thomas Hartwell on Twitter at twitter.com\/MDJThomas.<\/p>\n
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Federal money plans, Osborne theater, Walton robotics lab up for consideration Thursday - Yahoo News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jul. 14Cobb Schools Superintendent Chris Ragsdale will unveil plans on Thursday for the first phase of $160 million in federal money to come to the school district Continue reading