What is E-SPLOST?
The DeKalb County E-SPLOST (Education – Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) is a one-cent sales tax that provides funding exclusively for capital projects – roads, buildings, vehicles and major equipment, and other long-lived improvements. E-SPLOST projects are proposed and voted on every 5 years. Projects from the the 2016 E-SPLOST V are now running over budget. DCSD is holding a series of public meetings in an effort to balance the E-SPLOST V budget.
What is the Arts School?
The Arts School was approved as part of E-SPLOST IV (2011) as a comprehensive K-12 arts school located at Avondale Middle School for $3.9M. Today, the project is budgeted at $15M for “the addition of a theater and minor interior renovations at Avondale MS.” (Note: Avondale MS has housed DeKalb Elementary School for the Arts – K-7 – since 2016.)
What are the current plans for the Arts School?
DCSD has provided a rendering for the Arts School at Avondale MS and it may be found here. Parent leadership is not aware of programatic plans or integration of DESA and DSA plans at this time.
Is the Arts School the same as the Arts Magnet?
No. The Arts School is the K-12 arts school at Avondale MS. The arts magnet programs are currently DESA (K-7) and DSA (8-12). The Arts School may change how the current arts magnet programs operate, but an arts magnet would still exist. What a combined K-12 arts school magnet program would look like is not yet defined.
Why are we talking about the Arts School during E-SPLOST V if it was approved in E-SPLOST IV?
The E-SPLOST IV plan is $5 million over budget and three projects are uncompleted, with the Arts School having the largest price tag of the three. The district needs to decide how to address these projects, while balancing the E-SPLOST V budget. The district can decide to move the Arts School at Avondale MS into E-SPLOST V (which is currently over budget), move the Arts School at Avondale MS to a General Obligation (GO) Bond option (GO Bond is a tax bond that needs DeKalb County voter approval), or vote the current Arts School at Avondale MS infeasible and cancel the Arts School at Avondale MS project. DCSD could also move towards a larger arts school/performing arts center option in a future E-SPLOST. For more information about these options, see the districts public comment presentation slide deck here.
Why can’t the district just renovate DSA at its current Avondale HS location?
The DCSD BOE can vote to fund repairs/renovations to the current DSA site if and when the current Arts School at Avondale MS project is deemed infeasible. Currently all DSA capital/renovation funds are tied to the Arts School at Avondale MS. If the district votes on September 19 that the Arts School plan is infeasible, DSA stakeholders could advocate for capital/renovation funds.
Is there a public meeting about the Arts School?
There is! The district will hold a public meeting about the Arts School on Thursday, September 19 at 7PM at AIC. The district operations team will make recommendations to the BOE regarding future funding at a later meeting. This meeting is public input only and very important.
Tell me more about the possible larger K-12 Arts School with performing arts center option…..
The district is open to a larger-scale K-12 Arts School option that includes a performing arts center. This idea comes from a school tour junket that occurred in 2017 and included members of the district and school board members as well as DSA and DESA leadership. This project is estimated to cost more than $70m and would be funded in a future E-SPLOST. This option will not be voted on during the September 19 meeting.
Where would this larger scale school/PAC be located?
A location has not been determined. If this plan moves forward, Arts School stakeholders would need to advocate for location.
This can take years. What about the state of DSA facilities now?
During the July, 2019 DCSD BOE meeting, the district acknowledged that if the Arts School at Avondale MS was deemed infeasible, money would be needed to repair/renovate DSA in the short term. DSA stakeholders would need to advocate for these funds ASAP.
What are next steps?
- TAKE THE DSA STAKEHOLDER SURVEY! DSA parent leadership needs to hear from DSA stakeholders. Please take a few minutes to fill out this DSA stakeholder survey. Please complete the survey by Sept. 3. An action plan will be presented by September 6.
2. Attend the DSA PTSA meeting on September 17 at 6PM at the Kyle Theatre.
3. Take the DCSD online SPLOST survey.
4. MOST IMPORTANT: Attend the Arts School Public Input Meeting on Thursday, September 19 at 7PM at the DeKalb County AIC, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083 (additional general SPLOST-V public meetings are taking place at on Sept. 4 at 7PM (Columbia HS) and on September 10 at 7PM at Lakeside HS)
Does DSA have a BOE rep?
Yes! Dr. Michael Erwin is DSA’s board rep. Contact information for the DCSD BOE may be found here.
How do I learn more about E-SPLOST and GO Bond options?
Glad you asked! DCSD has an entire section of their website devoted to subject. Check it out here and here. Knowledge is power!