Can Chatham County Afford a 40 million Dollar High School at Present

[RandysRight]

With the population growth at a stand still in the county and High School enrollment down 2% from last year, I'm not so sure.  And that's not even including the cost to maintain a new High School and employees.  Property taxes will have to sustain this costs on the already over burden tax payer.  And expect another tax hike in July.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for education, but do we really need a new High School at this point, I don't think so. 

We don't have any money, we're broke and in a deficit already.  The democrat general assembly already raised taxes to just under a billion dollers in the middle of the night last year thanks to Joe Hackney his crew. 

PS; The General Assembly needs to be aware that NC Freedom is coming for them next and the Chatham County Commissioners liberal spending spree.  They have already added many new $$$ positions on the county budget over the last couple years over $200,000 in salaries, I still don't feel stimulated.  Cutting taxes and social programs will stimulate my wallet so I have more to save and spend.

[bornhere]

This is WHY we need new business in the County... so we can build the things that we need. I still get grumpy when I have to go to Cary or anywhere to get something to eat...something DIFFERENT to eat.

But is now the time to build...not sure either, but we cannot keep putting it off.

Bedroom community is not the answer.
AGAIN.. just my 2 cents worth

[missjane]

It has been planned and budgeted for. Growth will return, for better or worse. A large construction project will create jobs and help put money into the local economy now. Hiring faculty and staff will create new jobs in the next several years. It won't get any cheaper. Why not get it going asap?

[mike_thomsss]

It has been planned and budgeted for. Growth will return, for better or worse. A large construction project will create jobs and help put money into the local economy now. Hiring faculty and staff will create new jobs in the next several years. It won't get any cheaper. Why not get it going asap?

I agree. By the time you realize you need a new school, the kids are suffering from overcrowding in the current one and you're looking at years of construction to finish the project. If it's been planned and budgeted, make it so. Looking at the report that Woods had 190 applicants for 32 kindergarten spots, the kids are on the way!

[chrstnhsbndfthr]

That may speak more to the excellent reputation Woods Charter has for actually educating children than it does for proving that there are so many more kids coming.

Personally, I favor smaller neighborhood schools for several reasons and would like to see pressure taken off of Northwood. If that could be done without having to build a new High School, it would be great for the taxpayers of this county.  Has the School Board considered redistricting and moving more people into the other high school?  Building a new high school WILL mean redistricting anyway. If it could be done into existing facilities that are under utilized that could save money.

It would also help if we could convince the state to remove artificial limitations on the number of Charter Schools. They, unlike public schools, have to be effective or they cease to exist.

[RandysRight]

It has been planned and budgeted for. Growth will return, for better or worse. A large construction project will create jobs and help put money into the local economy now. Hiring faculty and staff will create new jobs in the next several years. It won't get any cheaper. Why not get it going asap?

who's budget, tax payers.  Were broke with no money coming in and like I said High School enrollment was down 2% lasy year and as far as more jobs, you mean "more" SEIU/SENAC union state jobs that will us cost even after the school is built.  Now, this is just fiscally irresponsible at this point.

[whatsup]

The recession should hopefully end by sometime in 2011 and growth will return. Planning for 2014 is probably not a bad idea.

I am glad that people pushed for upgrading Northwood. The updated facilities and principal Blice have made a world of difference.

I would leave the high school in the planning budget for now. We can take another look at it towards the end of 2011. Parents with children have put up with overcrowding at North Chatham, Perry Harrison and Northwood for years.

If you believe in community schools, NE Chatham will need a new high school before decade is over.

[whatsup]

Aside to Randy -

You have lost an "ally"!

I used to put up with you on the BBS because of your illness and thought folks should give you a break. However, lately your ongoing conversations with yourself have grown tiresome, sad and somewhat creepy when you carry on "whatever" conversations in the Chatham online section.

This section is about Chatham County, it is NOT about what Randy is doing each and every day outside Chatham County.

If I wanted to read what was on your blog I would go and visit your blog.

Please stop or please just go away.

[RandysRight]

Aside to Randy -

You have lost an "ally"!

I used to put up with you on the BBS because of your illness and thought folks should give you a break. However, lately your ongoing conversations with yourself have grown tiresome, sad and somewhat creepy when you carry on "whatever" conversations in the Chatham online section.

This section is about Chatham County, it is NOT about what Randy is doing each and every day outside Chatham County.

If I wanted to read what was on your blog I would go and visit your blog.

Please stop or please just go away.

Thanks for your input, but most things that I've spoke about that were per say unpopular does come to pass.  I see nothing wrong with giving some fiscal responsibility information and opinion.  And the economy is not going to get better by 2011 nor our budget deficit and taxes will continue to rise.  Budgeting to spend "more" money just doesn't appear smart at present day.
My beef with started when Sen Burr revealed that the orignal HR 3200 healthcrae bill had earmarks to give SEIU and state union 10.2 billion dollars of tax payers money, what was that all about.

[munn5]

Previously, the northeast high school was in the county capital budget to start building in 2012 and open in 2014. Jan 28, the commissioners voted to delay that one year, so building would start in 2013 and it would open in 2015. At tonight's school board meeting, the board reaffirmed (at the commissioners request) their request for the new high school. From the discussion tonight, and from talking to administrators, the new high school may not be needed in that time frame, but SOME school, likely a new eastern elementary school, will be. By keeping the high school in the capital plan, it can be a placeholder - either delayed another year if the economy doesn't turn around (and so growth doesn't appear likely) or next year or the following year, it could be changed to an elementary school, if that is the greater need.

There will be growth, and a need for additional schools. We just don't know when.

[djkelly]

The issue of the school is that it's not the only major construction that's needed in the county and there's only so much debt we can responsibly take on.  That's why the 5 year Capital Improvement Plan is reviewed and updated every year.

We're still paying debt for the Virginia Cross School and the building downtown with the YMCA.  We currently have several projects under construction including the new library and CCCC classroom in Pittsboro and I believe there is construction for CCCC in Siler City as well.

There are other needs besides schools.  The Judicial Center and Jail have been severely overcrowded for years and their condition presents a safety risk as well as affecting almost everyone in the county that has business with the courts for any reason including marriage licenses and child welfare issues.  They cannot continue to be put off.  They are a higher priority than the new high school at this time.  The economic slow down bought us some time to catch up on other needs besides schools but we can't build everything at one time or the county will take on too much debt which would not be a good idea when the economy is so uncertain.

More schools will be needed at some point but we may have to deal with some temporary overcrowding at as we work to meet all the county's responsibilities.  We can't focus on the school alone.  The current commissioners have repeatedly said they'd rather build schools than jails and I'm sure we'd all agree with that but we do need other facilities besides schools.

[RandysRight]

Previously, the northeast high school was in the county capital budget to start building in 2012 and open in 2014. Jan 28, the commissioners voted to delay that one year, so building would start in 2013 and it would open in 2015. At tonight's school board meeting, the board reaffirmed (at the commissioners request) their request for the new high school. From the discussion tonight, and from talking to administrators, the new high school may not be needed in that time frame, but SOME school, likely a new eastern elementary school, will be. By keeping the high school in the capital plan, it can be a placeholder - either delayed another year if the economy doesn't turn around (and so growth doesn't appear likely) or next year or the following year, it could be changed to an elementary school, if that is the greater need.

There will be growth, and a need for additional schools. We just don't know when.

now I have nothing but respect for this answer, it's common since and rational thinking.  Rock on munn5

[RandysRight]

The issue of the school is that it's not the only major construction that's needed in the county and there's only so much debt we can responsibly take on.  That's why the 5 year Capital Improvement Plan is reviewed and updated every year.

We're still paying debt for the Virginia Cross School and the building downtown with the YMCA.  We currently have several projects under construction including the new library and CCCC classroom in Pittsboro and I believe there is construction for CCCC in Siler City as well.

There are other needs besides schools.  The Judicial Center and Jail have been severely overcrowded for years and their condition presents a safety risk as well as affecting almost everyone in the county that has business with the courts for any reason including marriage licenses and child welfare issues.  They cannot continue to be put off.  They are a higher priority than the new high school at this time.  The economic slow down bought us some time to catch up on other needs besides schools but we can't build everything at one time or the county will take on too much debt which would not be a good idea when the economy is so uncertain.

More schools will be needed at some point but we may have to deal with some temporary overcrowding at as we work to meet all the county's responsibilities.  We can't focus on the school alone.  The current commissioners have repeatedly said they'd rather build schools than jails and I'm sure we'd all agree with that but we do need other facilities besides schools.

Thanks DJ, excellent insight as usual.

[Muddylaces]

Does anyone know how much it costs to build Woods?

[RandysRight]

Does anyone know how much it costs to build Woods?

Much, much cheaper to tax payers

[Tags:]

Jump to: Please select a destination: ----------------------------- Chatham County Online ----------------------------- => Chatham County Online => Chatham County Schools => Chatham County Food & Drink => Chatham County Music & Arts => Chatham Community Calendar => Free Classifieds & Help Wanted Ads => Noah's Ark - All Creatures Great & Small. => Neighbor to Neighbor => Gardening and Agriculture => Chatham County Real Estate => North Carolina => This, That and Everything Else