School spokesperson explains role of facility-needs study

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following letter is in regard to The Paper’s Aug. 15 article “Burke County Public Schools facility study projects $98.3M in renovations over the next decade.”

TO THE EDITOR:

The facility-needs study is required by the state every five years and is an important planning tool for school districts.

We use the information to identify facility needs, understand capacity, and help prioritize future capital projects. The study is not a capital improvement plan or a commitment to fund every need identified.

To clarify one point, BCPS does not currently have $105.9 million budgeted or committed for new school facilities.

We are preparing to break ground on a new elementary school in eastern Burke County, and are working to stay within a $55 million project estimate.

Of that amount, $42 million was awarded to Burke County through the state’s Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund, which is supported by lottery proceeds.

The $105.9 total is for two schools, but there are not immediate plans for a second school.

The facility-needs study also helps us evaluate the capacity and condition of our schools and other district facilities.

School capacity is tied primarily to instructional space and classroom configurations, while a school district also requires administrative and operational facilities to support the work happening in classrooms.

That is why the study considers both school facilities and other district-owned facilities.

Keeping our schools safe, comfortable, and operational is our top priority.

Our Auxiliary Services team does an excellent job maintaining our facilities and using routine maintenance and preventative care to extend the useful life of major building systems, including heating and air conditioning.

The needs assessment gives us another tool to look ahead, identify potential future needs, and make informed decisions about priorities and investments.

CHERYL SHUFFLER

BCPS Public Relations Officer