Education leaders, Gwinnett legislators discuss priorities

Gwinnett County Public Schools CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks speaks to the Gwinnett legislative delegation on Tuesday morning at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse. (Staff Photo: Keith Farner)

LAWRENCEVILLE As rain fell outside the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse on Tuesday morning, it gave J. Alvin Wilbanks a fresh example of how recent budget cuts have affected Gwinnett schools.

Weve delayed HVAC improvements, weve delayed carpet upgrades, weve delayed painting, weve delayed roof replacements, said Wilbanks, the CEO/Superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools. Were getting reminded of that more frequently as the rain falls.

Wilbanks spoke at an annual gathering of education and county leaders with the Gwinnett legislative delegation ahead of the upcoming General Assembly session. Wilbanks reminded the lawmakers that district officials would strongly recommend any new money available be put in the Quality Basic Education formula.

Gwinnett Technical College President Sharon Bartels also outlined more details about the new $24 million campus on Old Milton Parkway in North Fulton County scheduled to open in January, 2016. Construction is scheduled to begin in April on the 100,000 square foot building that will cost $6 million annually to operate, Bartels said.

The technical college system never gets special allocation when we open new buildings, much less new campuses, Bartels told the lawmakers.

While the money to build the new campus building is already allocated, money for operating it isnt, Bartels said, and she would prefer to not divert resources away from Gwinnett Tech. Bartels said the North Fulton market was desperately underserved, and Technical College System officials said they wouldnt be serving the community if there wasnt an opportunity for students in that area.

Bartels also showed a pie chart that said 77 percent of state education funding goes to K-12, 19 percent goes to the Board of Regents and 3.3 percent goes to technical colleges.

Georgia Gwinnett College Acting Provost Lois Richardson told lawmakers that her school is $40 per credit hour cheaper than the next closest baccalaureate institution, and $7 cheaper per credit than when the college opened in 2006.

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Education leaders, Gwinnett legislators discuss priorities