The Randolph County School Board will consider how to proceed with aging buildings. One option is to consolidate all county high schools into one school.
The plan would include grades 9-12 in Wadley, Wedowee, Woodland and Rock Mills.
Superintendent Jay Jacobs outlined the options during a school board meeting.
Jacobs said the needs were evident after a federally funded inspection of the schools, some of which were built in the 1920s.
The four options are to address issues as they arise, renovate the older buildings, replace some of them and renovate others or build a centralized high school.
Jacobs said the county has been discussing the idea of a centralized school for years.
“I've been in office eight years, and people have asked about it,” Jacobs said. “People say we need to look at it but depending on who you’re talking to. Some people say no, they would never want that, and everybody has their opinion about it.”
“I'm not telling you what to do,” Jacobs added. “My job is to provide information.”
If all the schools were combined, the county school would become a 5A system. It would cost an estimated $80 million to construct.
The options will be considered with public input. He said he wants complete community buy-in before going forward. However, Jacobs said there is currently no way to pay for any of the options.
“There's no money,” Jacobs told 1819 News. “There is no money out there to do any option right now except do nothing.”
“So, whatever we do, money will have to be raised from somewhere to do it,” he said.
Jacobs said a property tax increase would be necessary for one of the more expensive options.
After further inspections, Jacobs said while some buildings are aging and some things need to be replaced, they are in good shape.
The school board will discuss the options further at its next work session.
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