Atlanta Public Schools is seeking up to $546 million from a proposed Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax renewal, a referendum that will be on the ballot during the General Primary Election, Tuesday, May 24. The initiative would renovate school buildings, provide state-of-the-art learning facilities for students, demolish dilapidated structures, relieve overcrowding in some schools, improve the district’s IT infrastructure, update its school bus fleet, and school security upgrades.

If renewed, the district plans major construction and renovation projects in seven of nine clusters. Additionally, APS has aligned the E-SPLOST budget to support academic program priorities and transformation of the district that include:

· $23.5 million for Connally/Venetian Hills Elementary School

· $18.5 million for Grove Park/Woodson Elementary School

· Approximately $10 million is allocated for renovations of the Kennedy Building, which will house a new pre-K-8 STEM academy.

· About $16.5 million for major renovations at Gideons Elementary School
 
Other school renovations include Jackson Cluster: Toomer ES $4M, DH Stanton ES $10M; Mays Cluster: West Manor ES $10M; South Atlanta HS: Forrest Hill Academy $8M; Grady Cluster: Morningside ES $20M, Grady HS $33M, Howard Building $47M; South Atlanta Cluster: Humphries ES $10M and Hutchinson ES $8M; and Washington Cluster: Kennedy Building $10M.
 
“To create a true transformation of education in Atlanta, we must do the same for the physical infrastructure of APS with better and safer learning and working facilities for our students and educators,” APS Superintendent Meria J. Carstarphen said. “But this is more than updating and maintaining buildings. This is about reinvesting in our kids and ensuring they study in environments conducive to learning and achievement.”
 
APS joins Decatur City Schools, DeKalb County Schools and Fulton County Schools on the May 24th E-SPLOST referenda. The expiring E-SPLOST, approved by Atlanta, Fulton and DeKalb voters in 2011, is projected to raise approximately $442 million for Atlanta Public Schools, resulting in the completion of major renovation projects in 16 schools, significant HVAC system upgrades in 17 facilities, and the outfitting of more than half of the district’s learning sites with wireless capability. If voters renew the measure, APS will continue with its aggressive approach toward upgrading, renovating and maintaining school facilities and systems.
 
For the past 20 years, many school systems in Georgia have placed E-SPLOST referendums before voters – giving them an option other than bond referendums and tax increases – as a means to fund capital improvements. By law, the sales tax cannot continue unless voters approve an extension.  With an E-SPLOST, anyone who makes a retail purchase in the city of Atlanta, from residents to non-residents to out-of-town visitors, helps pay for APS school improvements, taking much of the burden off local property owners.

Early voting is underway now and runs through May 20 at specific locations.