BRYAN COUNTY SCHOOLS

HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY FORUM

Agenda

Welcome Presentation Table top discussions Table top feedback Closing

Community Forum and Goals Share community forum survey results Share relevant information regarding one or two high

schools in South Bryan county Gather additional feedback from stakeholders Share next steps

Community Forum Survey Results

Question 1: What are you most interested in learning about when considering one high school or two high schools in South Bryan County?

692 Responses

Community Forum Survey Results

DistrictingTwo high schools would facilitate a need to draw

attendance linesAttendance lines would be developed based on:

Location of each high schoolStudent population densityProjected growth

Demographics and feeder patterns

AcademicsEach school would have access to quality academic

offerings Foreign LanguageAdvanced Placement Fine ArtsCareer, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) - PathwaysOther:

A larger variety of academic offerings can typically be offered in a large high school

Individual class sizes would not be impacted by the overall size of the school or whether you have one or two high schools

Timeline Gather stakeholder feedback regarding high schools in South

Bryan County Study and finalize funding options Identify and secure building site(s) Design phase (6 months) Land prep phase (12-18 months)

Potential wetlands mitigation Construction phase (24 months) Total time from start to finish

36 – 48 months

Growth Projections Based on 10 years of past enrollment data, South Bryan Schools are

growing between 3 ½ and 4 ½ percent each year Projections are based on actual enrollment from the last 10 years Projections do not account for the unknown

New interchange New industry

Richmond Hill High School currently serves nearly 2,100 students With a 4 ½ percent growth factor, Richmond Hill High School will need to

serve approximately 3,000 students in 10 years Richmond Hill High School is currently near 96% capacity Richmond Hill High School will require building modifications to

accommodate for growth prior to one or two new high schools opening

Extracurricular Athletics

Each high school would have access to competitive athletic programs

A large high school might have a:9th grade teamJunior VarsityVarsity

Fine Arts Each high school would have opportunities for

participation in fine arts If a decision was made to build either one or two new high

schools, they would both be designed with a fine arts auditorium

Estimated Costs All cost estimates are based on the following:

One new 3,000 student high school Two new 1,500 student high schools

Estimated Facility Cost One 3,000 student high school - $85 +/- million

Includes furniture, equipment, technology, athletics fields, fine arts auditorium

Two 1,500 student high schools - $100 +/- million (50 +/- million per school) Includes furniture, equipment, technology, athletics fields, fine arts

auditorium Operational Costs

We project it will cost Bryan County Schools an additional $1.5 to $2 million dollars a year to operate two high schools in South Bryan County rather than one

Funding Local Funds State Funds Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) General Obligation Bonds Considerations when looking at funding Additional Needs

New middle school in South Bryan County and Operational Costs New elementary school in South Bryan County and Operational Costs Transportation/Maintenance Facilities in North and South Bryan Renovations and additions in North Bryan County Life-cycle maintenance and upkeep

Community Forum SurveyQuestions and Concerns

The new high school(s) would include technical and career space and offerings We have not finalized a location for one or two high schools Building one or two new high schools will impact your taxes One large high school could feel smaller by having a 9th grade academy, fine arts

academy, vocational/career academy, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math academy, etc.

Splitting athletics and fine arts is expensive based on start-up costs for new programs

The number of clubs offered at a school is usually based on the number of teachers willing to sponsor a specific club or activity and student interests

We would need to research the feasibility of adding an aquatic center to a high school

Adding an additional high school would increase our need for bus drivers and busses

A decision has not been finalized regarding what to do with the existing Richmond Hill High School site

Question 2:

497 responses

Discussion and Feedback Session

Organized in table top discussion Table recorder Table speaker Google platform Table discussion and feedback

Table Discussion and FeedbackTopic 1

Discussion: What do you think the Bryan County Board of Education should consider when planning for one or two new high schools in South Bryan County?

Feedback: What are the top 5 items the Bryan County Board of Education should consider when planning for one or two new high schools in South Bryan County?

Table Discussion and FeedbackTopic 2

Discussion: What do you believe should be an essential aspect of any new high school?

Feedback: What are the top 5 essential aspects of any new high school?

Table Discussion and FeedbackTopic 3

Discussion: Considering the significant cost of building one or two high schools of $85 - $100 million, what do you think the BOE should consider when trying to fund a project of this magnitude? How should the difference in costs to construct and the costs to operate one or two schools be considered?

Feedback: Considering the significant cost of building one or two high schools of $85 - $100 million, what are the top 5 things the BOE should consider when trying to fund a project of this magnitude?

Feedback: Also, list the top 5 thing the BOE should consider when looking at the difference in costs to construct and the costs to operate one or two schools?

Next Steps

Survey all stakeholders regarding their desire for one to two new high schools in South Bryan County

Study long-term “system” needs Study all funding options Begin the 36 to 48 month journey to design, construct,

and open one or two new high schools in South Bryan County