Henry County Schools Close-Out its Education SPLOST V Program

Henry County Schools has closed-out the education SPLOST V program as of August 2024. This means they have spent all funds collected during the program.

Voters approved the E-SPLOST V program in 2016. The program spanned collections from 2018 to 2022.

E-SPLOST V Close-Out

The Henry County E-SPLOST V program had an overall budget of $381 million. A few highlights during the program was the following:

• the new McDonough High School and McDonough Middle School opened in fall 2019 at a cost of $84.6 million,
• E-SPLOST V completed school renovations at 35 schools for $131.6 million,
• the Fairview Performing Arts Center opened in 2020 and cost $20.8 million to build,
• the district invested $74.4 million in technology, to include the inaugural purchase of student laptops, and
• area high schools saw the addition of a second multi-purpose gymnasium at each high school, turf football fields and field lighting upgrades totaling $30.7 million.

At the August 2024 board meeting, Henry County Schools Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay presented the close-out report. As of the end of July, there was $1,094 remaining in the technology expense account. This is a result of interest earnings. She expressed the remaining funds would be spent on a corresponding technology purchase in August. This will close-out the E-SPLOST V program.

Work Continues in E-SPLOST VI

E-SPLOST V is now closed, but Henry County Schools is well-underway with projects in education SPLOST VI to further improve the district. This month, the school board approved the construction bid for the all-new STEM high school in Stockbridge. This will be the district’s first STEM school. The new school will open for students in August 2027.

Also happening in August, the district opened its newest elementary school. Birch Creek Elementary in McDonough is the district’s 29th elementary school. A second new elementary school in Locust Grove will start construction in 2026.

As of August 2024, the district has spent $149 million out of E-SPLOST VI. There remains $239 million in future projects. For the latest project updates, visit our posts archive here.

Featured image shows McDonough High School under construction in 2018. MEJA Construction, Inc. photo.