Guilford County Makes Plans For Funding School Building Needs

Guilford County officials are discussing building improvements that will have a major impact on the school district for years to come. A joint committee made up of school and county officials met Thursday to consider the proposed $2 billion facilities master plan.

More than 40 schools would be either rebuilt or fully renovated. The major overhaul would come in phases and take at least a decade to complete. The district says this allows time to move students as needed during the construction process and work on other projects.

The big question: where will the money come from? One idea is a measure proposed in the legislature that would allow local governments to raise the current sales tax from a quarter-cent to half-cent, as long as voters approve it. Guilford County Schools spokesman Janson Silvers says it would also let them use specific language on the ballot to let voters know the measure is for education.

“We believe there will have to be multiple avenues of funding for this project," says Silvers. "Two billion dollars is a big number. Even if it's a half-cent sales tax, that would not be enough to fund the full project.”

Silvers says there haven't been any decisions made on which schools would come first. But buildings in the poorest condition would be at the top of the list.

The plan calls for improvements that would touch every school in the district, which includes security and technology upgrades.

The joint capital facilities committee will revisit the issue when it meets in January.

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