Aiken County Schools to hold public input meetings on facility improvements
AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF)– In November, Aiken County voters will decide whether to renew a 1 percent sales tax that went into effect in 2015.
The Aiken County School District uses funds from that extra penny to make improvements to schools across the district. It was used to fund reconstruction of Aiken High School, North Augusta High School, Leavelle McCampbell Middle School, Ridge Spring Monetta, and the Career Center.
Now school leaders want to know what parents want to see.
Starting Monday, the Aiken County School District will hold 4 public input meetings.
The school board determines which school facility needs to be prioritized and what projects to focus on.
Hometown History: Burke County’s two battles of the American Revolution
At the public meetings the board will explain what the renewal of the sales tax means and ask them what projects they think need to happen in the next 10 years.
Superintendent King Laurence believes the district used the penny sales tax wisely and plans to continue that.
“The projects that we requested in 2014, the things that we thought were the most critical at the time, have been accomplished. So, North Augusta High School, Aiken High School, Ridge Spring Monetta K through 12 campus, Leavelle McCampbell middle school. All of those projects are complete or right at the cusp of completion,” he explained.
Laurence said that the district wants to know what parents think before they decide what projects to focus on.
“We want to ask the community what they see as the most critical needs for the school district. Of course, we’re doing this in the various areas of the school district. So what we anticipate is most people are going to talk about the the schools and the facilities close to home, the ones that they’re they’re most familiar with. But one thing that we also want to ask is, what do you see district wide?”
AU Spring commencement begins: Two grads’ inspiring stories
On Monday, May 13, a Community Input Meeting is being held in the North Augusta area (area 2) at North Augusta Middle School.
Thursday, May 16, residents in the Jackson and New Ellenton area (area 5) are encouraged to attend the meeting being held at Silver Bluff High School.
The following week`s meetings are being held in the Midland Valley/Graniteville area (area 3) at Langley Bath Clearwater Middle School on Tuesday, May 21.
Then, on Thursday, May 23, a meeting for community members in both the Aiken area, as well as those who live in Ridge Spring, Monetta, Wagener and surrounding areas, (areas 1 & 4) are encouraged to attend the meeting that evening being held at South Aiken High School.
Each meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.
Photojournalist: Dania Alawair.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
