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New
Middle School Bond Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Why?
Academic Achievement - With a new middle school we will be replacing
two schools that are each more than 50 years old. These inefficient
buildings are expensive to maintain and would be even more expensive
to renovate. A new school will be safer and designed for academic
achievement.
Where?
The NEW middle school will be built within the boundaries of the
Columbus School District. Proposals will be accepted from all land
owners meeting criteria set by the Board of Trustees.
When?
The NEW Columbus Middle School will open Fall 2010.
What?
One School….Every Student!
A bond issue to build a state of the art middle school designed
for Academic Achievement and Safety.
How Does this Benefit Our Community?
Academic Achievement - A NEW Columbus Middle School
will eliminate a building transition to increase academic achievement.
Effective Teaching Environment - A NEW Columbus
Middle School will be designed to provide teachers an environment
for success. Teaching areas will be separated by grade levels creating
a more personalized approach to instruction.
Student Safety - A NEW Columbus Middle
School will be designed to maximize student safety by increasing
visibility and limiting access to student areas.
Efficient Use of Resources - A NEW Columbus Middle
School will be less expensive to build than renovating Hunt and
Lee. This will focus dollars on new infrastructure and support of
students NOT maintenance of old buildings.
Vision - A NEW Columbus Middle School is a critical
part of our plan for success. The plan also includes magnet schools,
middle and high school academies, and expanded workforce development.
A new school would send a powerful message to our students, community,
and those considering relocating here that education is a Columbus
priority. And, this is a vitally important message to send.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Q. How much will this cost?
A. The bonds will be repaid from a tax levied on all taxable property
in the district. An increase of about $30 per year on a home assessed
at $100,000. That’s less than the cost of one soft drink a
week. That added cost will decrease as the value of property in
the district increases and will disappear in six years when the
1994 bond issue will be paid off.
Q. How will a new school impact student achievement?
A. A new middle school will reduce from four to three the number
of schools our students will attend in their K-12 education. A review
of local data indicates that students struggle with school transitions,
taking as long as a year to recover from the change of schools.
Also, the new school will be designed so teaching areas are separated
according to grade allowing a more personalized approach to instruction
.
Q. Why couldn't you renovate one of your existing buildings
for a consolidated middle school?
A. The two buildings now used for middle-school aged students, Hunt
and Lee, have outlived their usefulness. Professional estimates
put the cost of renovation for one of these facilities in the neighborhood
of $14 million. To renovate both sites could cost almost $24 million.
Even with spending that much money, you would still have a less
than ideal facility.
Q. How will the design of the new middle
school impact student safety?
A. The school will be designed to maximize student safety by increasing
visibility and restricting access to student areas. For example,
sixth grade, seventh grade, and eighth grade students will each
be housed in separate team areas limiting their contact in hallways,
restrooms, and shared spaces during the instructional day.
Q. Why are we closing schools at the same time we are building
a new middle school?
A. To be efficient with our money! If we spend millions of dollars
to renovate Hunt and Lee, we still have two old buildings that are
not designed for our students’ needs. The school district
can focus dollars on instruction and support of students not continued
maintenance of old buildings. Just because you have a building does
not mean it is the best environment to teach our students.
Q. What will happen to the vacated buildings?
A. Columbus School District will seek partners to utilize these
facilities in a way that best serves the schools and community.
This could mean selling surplus properties, partnering with community
organizations, or finding new uses for vacated buildings within
the school system.
Q. Can the school district and community afford to wait?
A. NO!
For More Information:
Columbus
Parents for Public Schools
Last Update:December 18, 2007
Columbus Municipal School District
Brandon Central Services Center
Mailing: P.O. Box 1308
Columbus, Mississippi 39703
Physical: 2630 McArthur Drive
Columbus, Mississippi 39705 |
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Phone:
662-241-7400
Fax: 662-241-7453
© 2005 Columbus Municipal School District
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