CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Transportation plus heating and air needs top the list of city school spending priorities from the March 2009 sales tax referendum.
The Cleveland Board of Education agreed Monday to the list of vehicles and HVAC projects that top its long-range facilities plan.
The board also agreed that next on its list should be the renovation of Cleveland High School’s Little Theater.
But first, the board said, 10 percent of annual collections of the increased sales tax revenue should be set aside for technology.
“You would be wise to do this annually so the technology program won’t fall behind,” Director Rick Denning told the board. Denning will retire next summer, and the search for the next director is under way.
The board also voted to spend $15,000 from the sales tax fund now to replace aging and unsafe equipment in the city high school’s art department. With the opening of Cleveland High School’s science wing, the art department will be moving to a larger area.
Spending Priorities for 2011-12 from sales tax fund:* Four 78-passenger school buses.* One special needs bus.* Replace HVAC units at Teen Learning Center.* Replace HVAC and energy management software in parts of Cleveland High School.* Replace undersized HVAC at Cleveland Middle School food serving line.* Replace energy management software at Cleveland Middle.* One 10-passenger van for Maintenance Department.* One delivery truck for Maintenance Department.* One cargo van for Maintenance Department.
“We’ve got something here that affects the education of children directly,” Denning said, urging the board to act now.
At the end of the current fiscal year, July 1, 2011, the sales tax capital projects fund is expected to have a balance of more than $1 million. Technology’s 10 percent would come from that balance plus annual contributions going forward.
Projections for the city school system’s Sales Tax Capital Projects Fund forecasts: $1,073,680 by July 1, 2011, $1,072,512 for fiscal year 2011-12, $1,343,077 for fiscal year 2012-13 and $1,436,068 for fiscal year 2013-14.
Board members said the approval by voters of the half-cent sales tax increase gives them a regular source of funding with which to make projections for immediate and future needs.
In the past the board had to work with a finite amount of money, said board member Dawn Robinson. But with the sales tax increase, the school system can count on future funds for capital needs.
“For the first time, the board has a chance to go on offense instead of playing defense,” said board member Steve Morgan.
Other projects are already waiting in the wings, including renovation of Cleveland High’s Little Theater. The board will meet at the school Nov. 18 over lunch to hear from drama and music faculty.
The board also got a letter from Cleveland Middle School on Monday reminding them of the school’s need for athletic field lights and seating.
The board has a three-page list of funding needs, divided into three tiers. The group of nine is the first part of the first tier.
Contact Randall Higgins at rhiggins@timesfreepress.com or 423-314-1029.