Plans to consolidate schools

by Chris Norwood The Daily Home

Architectural rendering of new Talladega elementary school

slideshow TALLADEGA — The Board of Education discussed an ambitious, three year, $30 million project that would consolidate the city’s four elementary schools under one roof in a new building, relocate the junior high school and central office and renovate the high school’s sports facilities. No formal action was taken on the proposal during a work session Friday morning.

According to a presentation by Cory Mills of the architectural firm Lathan and Associates, phase one would involve the construction of a two story building containing 35 to 40 800 to 900 square foot classrooms meant to accommodate up to 1,500 elementary school students. The building would be situated next to Graham Elementary and across the street from Zora Ellis Junior High School.

At the same time, Houston Elementary School would be expanded to contain additional classrooms, a gym, locker rooms and a band room. The junior high school would move into this building, which is the newest in the system.

Phase 2 would involve moving the central office from a house on South Street into what had formerly been Zora Ellis. The central office would occupy the front of the building and the long hallway, according to Superintendent Doug Campbell. A teacher resource center would be located in the back of the building. The band room and Harwell Auditorium would remain as they are, but the gym and the cafeteria would be demolished.

The last phase would involve cosmetic renovations of the sports facilities, construction of new restrooms, locker rooms and a concession areas, renovation of the softball and baseball fields and new seating throughout.

Board member James Braswell pointed out that, according to a study commissioned in 2007, the board would have to spend about $1 million per year for the next 10 years on maintenance costs for existing buildings alone. “We can’t just keep on putting money into these old buildings. If our enrollment continues to decline or even stays the same, the money we save on maintenance could go into the classroom instead.”

Campbell said he would begin meeting with the Talladega Council and city manager in the near future to discuss funding.

The largest expenditure would be for the new, consolidated elementary school, which would cost an estimated $20 million. The modifications at Houston are estimated at $2.8 million, while the changes at Ellis will run $4 million.

The athletics projects would add another $3.4 million to the total estimated cost of $30.2 million.

The system currently has 1,357 elementary students enrolled at the four current schools.

Campbell also said he is doing title searches on the board’s various property holdings to determine what they can do with the unused properties after the project is complete. Hal Henderson Elementary, which was closed this year, has attracted the interest of a pastor who is returning to Talladega and thought the building would be an ideal fit for his ministry.

Board member Shirley Simmons-Sims encouraged Campbell to work with the Chamber of Commerce to “bring in more people with children,” and cited the example of increased enrollment in Lincoln and Munford after new schools were built there.

“The county built new schools and put money in their classrooms. If we can’t fulfill our obligations, then I might be in favor of some sort of consolidation (of school systems).”

Campbell also said leaks may be developing in the roof at Harwell Auditorium, and he is looking into options regarding metal roofing or shingles.

During the same meeting, the board also discussed some changes in the vocational program with director Trisha Turner, who said the current carpentry instructor is retiring, with a fairly low number of students taking his class, however.

Agri-science classes, on the other hand, are booming, so Turner suggested moving an agri-science teacher into agri-construction, which has carpentry as an element of it. A science teacher had agreed to move into the agri-science position from the high school. The science teacher position would still have to be filled.

Also Friday, the board:

• Held a 30 minute executive session to discuss a student disciplinary issue.

• Discussed the possibility of forming a parent committee as suggested by board member Juanita Curry McClellan, who had to leave the meeting early, but Campbell said he would discuss her ideas further.

• Discussed having an orientation session for new board members McClellan and Elizabeth Smith with the company that will handle Campbell’s evaluation. Simmons-Sims complained that the previous evaluation had not been delivered, but Braswell said this was because two board members had never turned in their forms. Simmons-Sims suggested not paying the evaluator.

Contact Chris Norwood at cnorwood@dailyhome.com.

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Plans to consolidate schools