Community News
School Board is Ready to Spend
Nov. 5--The Glynn County Board of Education will begin spending the one percent sales tax voters approved Tuesday even before it starts to collect it. Al Boudreau, executive director of operations for the school system, said bonds for construction a new Risley Middle School, backed by the taxwill be sold in July. The school, expected to break ground shortly after the issuing of bonds, will be built at Southport Parkway, near the existing Satilla Marsh Elementary School.
The education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax voters approved as a renewal of an existing tax will go into effect Jan. 1, 2011, and last through Dec. 31, 2016. After a new Risley Middle School moves to the drawing board, the construction of a replacement for Brunswick High School will get under way. Brunswick High School will remain at its existing location on Habersham Street, but a new entrance will face Altama Avenue and the College of Coastal Georgia. Bonds will be issued for the project in January 2011 with construction to start soon after.
Time lines for other projects, such as renovations and additions to Glynn Academy, and a new community arts center on the campus of College of Coastal Georgia will depend on how much revenue the tax actually generates. School officials estimate they will receive $160 million during the five years the tax will be collected.
"A new Risley Middle School and Brunswick High School are the only bonded projects (that will be financed through the sale of bonds to investors)," Superintendent of Schools Howard Mann said. "The other projects will be pay-as-you-go and depend upon collections received."