Although final decisions will not be made until Jan. 23 on proposed recommendations of rezoning and construction of new schools in Aiken County, the Board of Education heard from school and community leaders Saturday to learn more about the plans.
Rezoning would affect students at Byrd Elementary, Leavelle McCampbell Middle, Midland Valley, Oakwood-Windsor Elementary, Aiken Middle, Aiken High and Chukker Creek Elementary. If approved, the changes would take effect in the fall. Parents with students currently attending the schools could choose to be “grandfathered in” and remain at the school where they are enrolled, but they would be responsible for securing transportation for their child.
During the winter break, King Laurence, the school system’s chief officer of administration, and district employees compiled the 2017 development information for Aiken County and the city of Aiken. In area three, 713 units are projected to be built. Most of those will be in the Bettis Academy Road area where Byrd Elementary is already at 118 percent utilization. This was the first time the development information had been shared in a public forum.
“This is a game shifter for our discussion,” District 3 representative Wesley Hightower said.
“This is a tangible thing that we have to react to,” District 5 representative Jeremy Mace added.
Recommendations also include additions to Midland Valley High and Millbrook, Belvedere and Hammond Hill elementary schools, which are all at more than 100 percent utilization. Construction recommendations also include two new schools in North Augusta parallel to Palmetto Parkway near Ascauga Lake Road and Edgefield Road.
That’s where Joel Presley, owner of Presley Realty, has a client in final discussions with the school district to donate 80 acres for a new elementary and middle school. That land is just a portion of the 1,400 acres that is preparing for residential and retail development.
“The owner of this property is a good person of high integrity, a lot of experience, and we are working with him to master plan and bring this property to market in a way that makes sense of where the market is today,” Presley said.
Presley said the property is not on the market yet but already has 300 acres committed for various forms of residential development.
Concluding the 5½-hour meeting, Superintendent Sean Alford reminded the board of the purpose for the meeting.
“Today was a learning day,” he said. “Today we took time to make an informed decision.”
The next board of education meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the district office. The board will take questions and comments about the proposed changes at that meeting. Community members can also contact their area representatives via phone or email. Contact information can be found at acpsd.net.
Article by Amanda King, The Augusta Chronicle
January 6, 2018