The Hall County Board of Education Monday approved the use of more than $2 million in ESPLOST funds for renovations and maintenance at six schools.
The largest portion of these funds, approximately $2 million, will be used for renovations at Friendship Elementary, including restroom renovations, converting the media center to a learning commons space and new fire alarms.
Hall County Schools Facilities & Construction also requested $300,000 for a fueling station near Mt. Vernon Elementary and $230,000 for intercom replacement at North Hall High School. Both items were approved as part of the ESPLOST requests.
The board also approved $1.1 million in bonds for renovations of learning commons stations at Chestatee Academy, Chesnut Mountain Elementary School and Lanier Elementary School.
In terms of additional funding, Superintendent Will Schofield said the school system will spend an additional $900,000 this year on diesel fuel for school buses. He said costs for liquid petroleum have doubled.
"One of the beautiful things about having a fleet that is part LP, part diesel is that we can start parcing out field trips using additional miles on whatever is most efficient," said Schofield.
Schofield also provided the board with an update on the upcoming relocation of Cherokee Bluff Middle School. The middle school's new building, which is located next to its current shared location with Cherokee Bluff High School, is expected to be complete by June.
Schofield said the cost of moving materials to the new middle school should cost less than other moves.
"It's gonna be a lot less than the last time we moved major high schools because of proximity and there just won't be near as much to move," said Schofield. "As soon as we get out of school this year, [we'll] get that new Cherokee Bluff Middle School facility ready to roll and ready for visitors in the month of June."
