White Pine Rennovations
Two million dollars just doesn’t buy what it did twenty years ago, when the building programs for Jefferson County first began. This was never more evident than it was last week, as the School Board met to take a look at what they can get for a couple of million bucks for White Pine School. Doing the whole enchilada-revamping the kitchen area including adding space and outfitting the with new equipment, eight additional classrooms and a band room in a second floor addition, as well as stair and elevator for access and three administrative offices with conference room- comes with a nearly $3 million dollar price tag. Unfortunately they need nearly a million dollars more than they currently have available and, according to the Jefferson County Finance Director, neither the Department of Education nor the County Commission has the additional funds to spare right now and adding to the combined kitty would require going out for a bond, which is highly unlikely considering the current county debt.
Say what you will, I still believe that funding this renovation with available cash is the way to go. Yes, I know that means that some of the added space will have to wait. And, I know that means that all of the portables will not go away in one fell swoop. However, building maintenance and up keep is an on going process. Personally, I do not ever foresee a time when either the Department of Education or the County does not have some type of building need. The financially sound approach is the one that the County Commission and the School Board are taking with the upcoming White Pine renovation and addition with the pay as you go plan. It will certainly mean that architects will have to shave off something from the current plan and the direction from the School Board last week was to focus first on the kitchen area, complete with new equipment, and make needed cuts from the upstairs addition.
If the kitchen area is the first phase of renovation, it is possible that other monies could present themselves as this fiscal year comes to a close at the end of June. If so, perhaps those funds could go for additional classroom space, even if it is only adding one or two rooms to the plan. Right now, sales tax is strong. But there is still ½ the fiscal year to go and it would be foolish, with the recent financial commitments that the County Commission has made, to bite off more than can be chewed and swallowed in one sitting.
Someone said recently that we must change the culture to see long term, significant change in the County. I think that one of the first things we must do is wrap our heads around the fact that, if we do it right, building upgrades and renovations will be an ongoing process. Instead of swinging for the fence every decade or so, it would be a lot less painful and, ultimately, more successful to just try to make it to base, one hit at a time. Sure, it is not as glamorous as a $50 million dollar building program. But sometimes slow and steady wins the race. Let’s face it. Considering recent history, if the floor isn’t flooded and the roof is still intact, it is all gravy. Everyone in the South knows that gravy is really, really good.
