As one of the remaining Special Purpose Local Sales Tax (SPLOST) V projects, the status of the Clarke Middle School construction effort has become an issue of discussion in the community.

In November 2018, Dr. Demond Means met privately with the then-principal of Clarke Middle School and the Clarke Middle School Local School Governance Team to discuss the status of the building project. It was determined that the $10,000,000 originally budgeted for CMS renovations would not be sufficient to address all the facility needs at the school. Additionally, it was noted that similar renovation projects at Coile and Burney-Harris-Lyons cost, on average, about $15,000,000 each.

Major areas of consideration for deciding whether to renovate the existing property or build a new structure include HVAC systems, electrical, plumbing, roofing, and interior finishes, along with current classroom spaces and the request for a new gymnasium. With funds generated from SPLOST III, CMS received renovations that resulted in the installation of an HVAC system that now requires significant attention for optimal functioning. In addition, innovations in instructional space design have evolved since SPLOST III. We believe CMS would benefit from exploring new learning environment options that cannot be achieved through a renovation approach.

Financial limitations concerning the cash flow of SPLOST V require the district to only engage in pay-as-we-go projects from this point forward. We are required to have the full amount of funds collected before commencing a project. We anticipate a new CMS would cost between $25,000,000 to $28,000,0000. We do not believe there will be sufficient funds collected for the remainder of SPLOST V for a project of this size.

The Division of Operations and Special Purpose Local Sales Tax Department recognizes the need for a new CMS facility and is committed to ensuring it is included as a top priority in SPLOST VI. Once an architectural firm is approved by the Board of Education, the department will begin a school- and community-wide engagement process to allow CMS stakeholders to start the planning exercise of determining the project scope for the CMS campus. The engagement process could begin as soon as December 2019.

Our goal is to ensure the CMS community is well served and that all parties will be involved in the planning process. If there are any questions, please contact Dexter Fisher, Chief of Operations.