Holtville High

Cliff Williams / TPI Elmore County Schools have basic plans to construct a new Holtville High School. The old building would then be renovated to allow the middle school to move creating needed classroom space in the Holtville community. The system has plans to overhaul portions of Elmore County High School to replace the oldest sections of its building.

Building new school facilities is expensive. Just ask Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis. 

Over the last couple of years, the Elmore County Board of Education spent $51 million constructing and renovating several facilities across the county. The new Redland Middle School was $23.5 million. There were new roofs and new HVAC systems put in among other improvements.

“Our money went a long way,” Dennis said. “That was all before COVID.”

Prices have now gone up dramatically. Between increased costs and lack of funding, staff at Elmore County Schools are trying to figure how to make the next round of big projects happen. 

It all starts with a capital plan required by the Alabama State Department of Education. It lists major projects a school system wants to do, when and potential funding sources. The list is approved by the board of education and begins the groundwork for new construction and major renovations — if and when the funding is found.

Two of the projects at the top of the current list are a new security entrance at Wetumpka Elementary School and a diesel shop at the Elmore County Technical Center. Both projects are receiving $1 million in grant funding from the state and local funds will be used to finish out the funding. It will cost Elmore County about $1.5 million for $3.5 million in projects.

“At the moment we are in a position to do that,” Dennis said.

Other projects high on the list include a performing arts center at Wetumpka High School. Dennis current estimates place its cost between $5 and $10 million.

“Without a funding source, we can’t do it right now,” Dennis said. “To do it now we need a benefactor.”

Projects for Elmore County students have been funded by benefactors in recent years. The City of Wetumpka constructed the Wetumpka Sports Complex from city funds. Students are able to use the facility. 

In Millbrook, 17 Springs is under construction thanks to funding from the City of Millbrook, the Elmore County Commission and property from Grandview YMCA. The project allowed the creation of a tennis team at Stanhope Elmore and soon the football, softball and track teams will join soccer and tennis at the complex. Again, at no financial cost to the school board.

“It’s hard to say no in those instances,” Dennis said. 

The changing of lights at football fields at Holtville and Elmore County high schools and on baseball fields at all the county high schools to new LED lighting is already underway. The move should save the school system money on maintenance and utility bills.

Continued replacement of HVAC systems needs to be done to stay on a cycle of replacing units 10 years old or older. The process avoids costly repairs and puts more energy-efficient AC units in place. 

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The capital plan includes new athletic facilities at the high schools, additions to child development centers, additions to all the schools and a new bus shop for all county buses.

The biggest items on the list are new buildings for Elmore County and Holtville high schools.

In the case of Holtville, the old building will be preserved.

“It is on the historic register,” Dennis said.

Plans are to renovate it to accommodate a growing middle school student population in the Holtville area.

In Eclectic, a new high school would be built in phases on the current campus as the oldest parts of the building are torn down.

The plan puts estimates for a new school in Eclectic and Holtville at $50 million each.

“The costs are hard to fathom,” Dennis said. “These estimates are likely to be under when you look at other new schools across the state under construction. The new high school in Alex City is something like $93 million.”

Dennis said while the amount collected for each mil of property tax is going up, it doesn’t amount to more funding for Elmore County Schools. The 10 mils collected is used to match funds from the state foundation plan. It is money Dennis said goes mostly to salaries, operating and recurring costs.

The superintendent gave an example of how the match with the state works. 

“Let's say the state gives us $75 million to operate the system outside of facilities,” Dennis said. “If we get $10 million in 10 mils of property tax collection, we get $65 million from the state. If we get $12 million, we get $63 million from the state.”

The system pinches pennies where it can. It uses technology to save on utilities. It consolidates operations when possible if it saves money. Dennis said the tech center is a great example of this and being able to offer far more programs than if each high school had their own career tech centers.

The funding issue means large projects such as new schools are hard to get started unless there is an increase in funding locally or appropriations from the state.

“We never see the increase in property tax unless it gets above 10 mils,” Dennis said. “If we are talking about projects like Holtville High School, Elmore County High School and a Redland Middle School addition, we are talking about additional funding or waiting until we pay down debt.”