Bond referendum will be held

In a historic decision Tuesday, the nine Aiken County Board of Education members unanimously agreed to call for a $236 million bond referendum that would target six schools for new construction off-site or for rebuilding onsite.

The bond election will be held Tuesday, May 25 - the first referendum in more than 30 years. That successful election more than 30 years ago led to the construction of Silver Bluff, South Aiken and Midland Valley High schools.

The new proposal calls for a focus on six schools - Aiken High School, North Augusta High, Leavelle McCampbell Middle School, Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary/Middle, Jackson Middle School and the Aiken County Career and Technology Center. The new construction would come at a cost to taxpayers - about an $118 increase in property taxes annually per $100,000 value of an owner-occupied residence.

Actually, three additional schools would be impacted by a successful bond referendum.

The board agreed to seek a total of $9 million for additions to the Career Center and $3 million each for career-based improvements to Wagener-Salley and Ridge Spring-Monetta High. RS-M High also would become part of a K-12 campus with the move of RS-M Elementary/Middle School to the high school site.

The board members disagreed on the facility choices only regarding Jackson Middle School. The majority agreed with a district administration recommendation, voting 6-2 to move both Jackson and New Ellenton Middle Schools to a new site on the Silver Bluff High School campus.

Board member Levi Green, who represents much of Area 5 and those schools, abstained from voting on that specific issue.

Jackson Mayor Todd Etheredge had urged board members to keep the community's only school. He expressed disappointment at the board's decision and thanked board members Wesley Hightower and Richard Hazen for supporting the town's position.

However, New Ellenton Mayor Vernon Dunbar and other residents were pleased by the action to build a new school next to Silver Bluff. He acknowledged that New Ellenton Middle School is likely to be closed eventually because of shrinking enrollment.

"We want be sure our students get the fairest chance of success," Dunbar said.

Aiken High would be mostly rebuilt onsite, while North Augusta High would get a new school at a site to be determined. Leavelle McCampbell would also will get a new school next to the new Byrd Elementary School.

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.