The Fulton Public Schools Board of Education unanimously voted in favor of the finalized details for the district's ongoing facility planning.
During Wednesday evening's board meeting at Fulton High School, representatives from Hollis + Miller Architects presented the school board with their final list of priorities in which the district plans on spending the $27 million they plan to borrow. Because that money is contingent on the passing of an April 2020 bond issue, the district can now begin creating ballot language over the next two months.
"The big picture is set in stone, in terms of what's happening in each building," FPS superintendent Jacque Cowherd said. "How it gets done is not set in stone nor the priorities of what gets built first."
Priorities include securing entries at all schools, upgrading security cameras, adding a new gym at the high school, improving the high school's theatre, renovating the middle school's gym, creating enough new space that could support two grade levels, expanding the district's athletic complex parking lot, and improving the district's HVAC, electrical, plumbing, parking lots and sidewalks.
Cowherd said the district plans to keep the ballot language "general" to potentially accommodate for a variety of circumstances. One potential circumstance that could come up in a few years is the possibility of the district obtaining Rice Hall.
"There's still a potential out there on Rice Hall and I think it's very slim. But if it were to come up as an option, we want to make sure we can do that (legally within the ballot language)," Cowherd said.
Previously, FPS and Hollis + Miller have discussed the possibility of building a new kindergarten center in order to solve spacing issues. Cowherd said obtaining Rice Hall would eliminate the need to build this new center as it has the capability to hold two different grade levels.
"We don't want to commit to specific grade levels so we don't get tied down and we could choose the best option for the district," Cowherd said.
A number of other potential circumstances were brought up that included building a new kitchen at Bartley Elementary School. Cowherd expressed concerns during the meeting the ballot language must be transparent to ensure trust is not damaged between the district and community.
"We've been given a direction by the public for what they want to see happen. If we have money at the end to swing (some of these circumstances), we'll make them priorities, but let's move in the direction that we've been pointed," FPS board secretary Andy Bonderer said.
Cowherd anticipates the ballot language will be submitted by the district in November or December.
Additionally at the board meeting, Cowherd said FPS director of health services Lauren Jacobs is conducting research on vaping. Cowherd said vaping has become an issue within the district and they want to help parents understand it.
"We see more kids with (vaping) products and we're handling it the same as cigarette use, and occasionally, there's some marijuana in them," Cowherd said. "We're almost leaning towards making a small YouTube video we'd stick on our website to help get more coverage that way."
While Cowherd said there have not been any "vaping-related illnesses" within FPS, he has paid more attention to the issue and has viewed it more seriously since people have been dying from complications recently.