By Gary Lloyd
Trussville City Schools Superintendent Pattie Neill on Wednesday spoke to the Trussville Rotary Club about plans for two new elementary schools.
Neill told the club that in coming months, the Trussville City Board of Education will share information about two new elementary schools proposed as a plan to remove the portable classrooms at the Paine campus.
The community schools will be located in the Magnolia Place area and in the Cahaba Project at the New Deal era school that has housed a high and middle school. Each school will accommodate 400 to 500 students.
A rendering of the elementary school that will be built in the Magnolia Place area
photo courtesy of Trussville City Schools
The timeline for opening of the two new schools is expected to be in 2015.
Neill discussed proposed funding for the two new schools, hardened area/safe rooms for all schools, startup costs for the new schools and school security.
Neill reviewed funding options discussed in a joint Trussville City Council and school board meeting. These options included increasing property taxes by seven mils, refinancing current bonds or earmarking sales tax. Seven mils in property taxes would cost Trussville residents:
- $70 per year on $100,000 of the homes appraised value ($5.83 per month)
- $140 per year on $200,000 of the homes appraised value ($11.66 per month)
- $210 per year on $300,000 of the homes appraised value ($17.50 per month)
A rendering of what the elementary school in the Cahaba Project will look like, as seen from where Jack Wood Stadium currently stands
photo courtesy of Trussville City Schools
The ad valorem referendum would be considered by the school board and the city council. Neill said the ad valorem increase would be earmarked for the four aforementioned school projects.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
