
Henry County voters will consider the renewal of education SPLOST in March 2021. District staff presented the proposed projects on December 14. Board members must approve the E-SPLOST VI project list in January.
Education SPLOST is a one-cent sales tax collected in Henry County. Collections fund capital projects within the school system. Voters last approved the program in March 2016.
E-SPLOST VI includes upgrades to school buildings, such as access control at all schools, and technology upgrades.
School Facilities
This article lists projects I grouped under school facilities and technology upgrades. Projects to build new classrooms are in school expansion.
A new access control system will be installed at all schools. HCS tested the new system at McDonough High and Middle School when the schools opened. The access control system provides electronic locks on all exterior building doors. The system enables remote monitoring for added security. Staff inside the front office can screen visitors prior to admitting them into the building.
Another project are new electronic message boards to replace the existing boards. The project includes all schools. The first sign is under construction at the Academy for Advanced Studies. Installing the new signs is a two-year project beginning in 2022 lasting until 2024.
Fairview Elementary School will receive exterior modifications. The work is scheduled in 2021.
School building work also includes:
- Roof replacement – 9 schools
- HVAC replacement – 8 schools
- Fire Alarm upgrades – 14 schools
- Intercom replacement – 23 schools
Technology Upgrades
Another major project area includes $70 million dollars worth of technology upgrades. The upgrades include seven annual groups from 2021 to 2027.
Projects include replacing student and teacher devices. For example, the district will upgrade the 1:1 student Chromebooks.
Other planned upgrades include:
- Data Center & Server upgrades
- Network support and security
- Data Center resilience & Cloud services
- School fiber expansion
- Wireless upgrades
- Software licensing
- School telephones
Although many technology upgrades occur behind the scenes, they are vital in the modern classroom. Without a doubt, the 1:1 devices made a difference in the transition to virtual learning this spring.
Check out the school expansion projects. The growth projects include a new STEM high school.
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