BCBE, county commission meet to discuss state of education

Baldwin County Board of Education members and the Baldwin County Commission sat down last Friday for a joint lunch meeting about the state of Baldwin County’s schools.

BCBE President Shannon Cauley said it had been at least two years since the two groups had met together and added she hoped it would help get both groups back on the same page.

Baldwin County Schools CFO John Wilson gave an updated presentation on the system’s finances and took board members and commissioners through projections and future plans for addressing the Baldwin Schools’ exponential levels of growth.

“In some ways, trying to figure out school growth is kind of like projecting a hurricane,” Wilson said. “When it’s way out there in the Atlantic, that cone can spread across the Gulf from Texas to Florida. As it gets closer, it’s easier to project.”

Wilson told the group those projections make it exceedingly clear that the system as a whole is projecting a growth of almost 4,000 additional students within a 10 year period, with every feeder pattern except North Baldwin posting increased enrollment.

“And that North Baldwin projection could easily change, too,” Wilson warned. “When some business comes into the Megasite, we could easily see that decline completely reverse.”

Wilson also gave an update on where the school system was on the six construction projects currently being undertaken to address pressing need for the system, including additions to Elberta Elementary that will eventually lead to the potential creation of a 7-12 high school for the town.

Commissioner Skip Gruber, who previously served as mayor of Elberta, said he had several problems with the school system’s plans for the town.

“This is going to be the only high school in Baldwin County that is 7 through 12,” Gruber said. “The campus there is not big enough for a high school. I’m all for a high school in Elberta, but I want it to be something these kids can be proud of – this is just a Band-Aid.”

School officials said while the 7 through 12 model might not be ideal, the move would help move up a timeline for Elberta to have its own high school and provide some much needed relief for the influx of students going into the Foley feeder pattern. Superintendent Eddie Tyler added that when the transition happened, the system would do the best they could in trying to meet the needs for students and parents in that community.

“We’re going to make whatever renovations we need as we expand out there,” Tyler said. “This isn’t something that’s going to be done poorly.”

The board also discussed the creation of special tax districts that could help provide the county’s seven existing feeder patterns with a much-needed influx of capital.

Cauley said while the tax districts would help bring in more money, it also shows the needs the system has for continuing existing tax revenues, especially the penny sales tax.

“We needed to show that we’re trying to be proactive,” Cauley said. “This is what we’re willing to do for municipalities to be able to provide extra, but it shows we still need this.”

Commissioner Chris Elliott said he agree that special tax districts might be the best way to help solve some of the system’s current funding issues.

“I think y’all are on the right track with special tax districts,” Elliott said. “The underlying goal there needs to be a sense of community. I think you’ll find people willing to spend more money if they know it’s going to their schools in their communities.”

Both board members and commissioners said they would continue to monitor the ongoing situations and continue their dialogues to work together for the good of all of the county’s residents.