Suwanee Students Would Benefit from SPLOST

Students in the Suwanee area would see some real improvements to their school buildings if voters on Nov. 8 approve the extension of the one-cent sales tax for education.

The construction program aims to keep pace with the area’s astounding growth rate.

In the city of Suwanee alone, the population increased by 76 percent over the past decade, according to a report by the city. The city’s population was 15,355 in 2010, up from the 2000 Census count of 8,725 residents.

The community around Suwanee has grown as well. The community now includes nearly 35,000 persons in a three-mile radius, and almost 116,000 in a five-mile radius of the city limits.

The school system wants to address the needs of students in this growing community, said Sean Murphy, a Norcross business owner and father who’s serving as co-chair of the Gwinnett Kids County campaign.

“The school system is looking to build facilities in areas where they are absolutely critical,” Murphy said.

“The goal is to give kids a positive place to learn,” Murphy said.

Here’s a snapshot of the construction program that’s planned if the sales tax for education is extended on Nov. 8:

• North Gwinnett High – 10-classroom addition and major renovation; A/C in the gym; reroofing; energy efficient lighting; energy efficiency upgrades.
• North Gwinnett Middle – 15-classroom addition; A/C in the gym.
• Level Creek Elementary – A/C in the gym; energy efficiency upgrades.
• Riverside Elementary – A/C in the kitchen and gym; energy efficiency upgrades.
• Roberts Elementary – A/C in the gym.
• Suwanee Elementary – A/C in the kitchen and gym; improvements to the heating and air conditioning system; replace the fire alarm; energy efficiency upgrades.

The Buice School also is slated to receive construction upgrades if the sales tax is extended. These improvements are planned to the school in Sugar Hill that serves children with special needs in pre-K and kindergarten.

Here are the upgrades planned at Buice:

• A/C in the gym and kitchen; energy efficiency upgrades.

Murphy said the improvements to the actual school houses are important to him.

“As a father, I want to make sure the kids have access to the best learning environment,” Murphy said. “Look at the improvements being planned for the elementary schools, middle schools and high schools – getting air conditioning in the gyms and kitchens is a real need that we have.”

Sweeping improvements are planned to the technology program, if voters on Nov. 8 extend the sales tax for education.

A future column will look at those more closely. But for now, here’s a snapshot of the technology upgrade that’s envisioned for schools in the Suwanee community and all of Gwinnett County.

The upgrades will vary by school and include:

• Teacher laptops.
• Student research stations.
• Network printers, projectors, screens.
• Wireless notebook carts.
• Computer labs.
• Media center and school video broadcast equipment.
• Network infrastructure improvements.
• Increased wireless access.