Board holds off on resolution

The Columbia County school board declined a request by the Georgia School Board Association to endorse a resolution opposing Georgia House Resolution 58 in a Tuesday meeting.

The legislation proposes an amendment to the state constitution eliminating property taxes to fund education and replacing them with a 3 percent sales tax.

Board member Mildred Blackburn opposes the bill, saying it could wreak havoc with poor Georgia school systems as well as Columbia County.

"We're going to be in bad shape," she said.

Regina Buccafusco, board chairwoman, said if the bill is instituted properly she might be for it, but she still has reservations.

"I'm very wary of giving 100 percent control of funding to the state," she said.

Columbia County school Superintendent Tommy Price called property taxes a more stable source of revenue and said they also give the board more control of spending.

"There is no local distinction anymore if funds are doled out by the state," he said.

Believing the amendment would pass in a statewide vote, board member Wayne Bridges said he wants to discuss the matter further in an upcoming meeting, likely in November, with the county's legislative delegation.

Fellow trustee Mike Sleeper agreed with Bridges that more information is needed before the board denounces or supports HR 58.

"There's no sense arguing against something, or for something, until we hear a little more," he said.

Also at the meeting, the board voted to pursue purchase of property on Blackstone Camp Road for a new middle school.

Without divulging the acreage of the site, Sleeper said it is near the Furys Ferry Road intersection of Blackstone Camp Road.

Price said his staff will now negotiate the purchase of the property with the owner.

The placement of a new middle school on Blackstone Camp Road will help ease overcrowding at Riverside Middle School, the county's most populated middle school, Price said.

"We really need to relieve that school," he said. "Right now, they have 14 portables out there because they are so crowded."

Once a new middle school is constructed, school officials will then initiate a massive rezoning of all Columbia County middle schools north of Interstate 20, Price said.

No timeline was discussed for purchasing the Blackstone Camp Road property.

Currently, a new Evans Middle School is being built on Hereford Farm Road to replace the existing school on the corner of Belair and Washington roads.

Price asked the board's permission Tuesday to form a committee of Evans High School graduates to determine where six pillars and an arch at the current Evans Middle site should go once the school shuts it doors permanently at the end of the school year.

The pillars and arch belonged to the original schoolhouse built on the location in 1929.

"Let's get the ball moving again," Price said. "Summer will be here before you know it and we'll need a plan."