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Lorrie Ross • Clay County Progress Clay County Board of Education chairman Dr. Jason Shook expressed his gratitude for the state grant which will build a new school for Clay County. Clay School Superintendent Dale Cole listens nearby.
By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
On Friday, April 28 a press conference called by Clay County Schools Superintendent Dale Cole shared exciting news. Thanks to a $32 million grant awarded to Clay County Schools, another new school will soon grace the Clay County Schools campus.
The new structure will house classrooms for grades three through eight; a new gym for Hayesville Middle School; a cafeteria to serve grades three through 12 and a new performing arts center for use by kindergarten through grade twelve, as well as the entire community. “This would consolidate 11 old buildings under one roof to save future maintenance costs for taxpayers, provide a much safer environment and help us better recruit and retain families and teachers to Clay County Schools,” Cole explained.
He cited the age of some of the buildings on campus. The cafeteria currently being used by most of the students was built in 1966, the HMS gym was built in the late 1950’s and Hayesville Middle School was remodeled in 1990, but the building is much older than that. The current school auditorium is several decades old.
The combined estimated repair costs for the old buildings exceeded the costs of building an all-inclusive facility which will meet the school’s needs for many years. In addition, it will offer space such as a performing arts center, which may be used to serve the overall community’s needs. Based on a school building plan Cole recently commissioned, the estimated costs of the new structure will be $43,186, including site development and demolition.
A change to the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund, which is funded by N.C. Education Lottery revenue, created an opportunity for Clay County Schools to write a grant request. The lottery funds changes now allow for new buildings, additions, repairs and renovations. In addition, the five year period of ineligibility for receipt of annual PSBCF capital funds and the five year restriction for prior recipients to reapply, were both eliminated. Maximum grants allowed are $30 million for elementary schools, $40 million for middle schools and $50 million for high schools. There will not be a local match required.
A Tuesday, May 3 press release from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction gave more information. “The needs-based grant applications were reviewed by the Department of Public Instruction based on priorities provided in the law, including ability to generate revenue, high debt-to-tax revenue ratio and the extent to which a project will address critical deficiencies in adequately serving the current and future student population.”
Nearly $400 million in grants are funding 42 individual projects for school districts in 28 counties. Projects will range from some new schools, new classrooms, renovations and improvements such as roof replacements.
The press release continued. “The grants, awarded under the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund, represent the largest annual allocation under the program, created by the General Assembly in 2017 from state lottery revenues. The grants are in addition to the state’s lottery-supported Public School Building Capital Fund, from which all districts receive an allocation each year.
Clay County Board of education chair Dr. Jason shook and Clay County Commission chair Dr. Robert Peck both spoke, thanking Cole, school staff and administrators and the community for their support. Cole thanked the commissioners and the school board. “Thanks to County Manager Debbie Mauney for her support,” Cole added. “We want to thank all of our public servants and our community as we move forward over the next three years.”