Schools
$195M Forsyth Education Bond Expected on May Ballot
School officials say the 2014 referendum would address four areas: growth, improvements to existing schools, safety and security, and technology.
Forsyth County Schools will be asking voters to back a $195 million education bond during the May 20 election.
As NorthFulton.com reports, the bond will help increase security, technology infrastructure and address school overcrowding by updating and adding new classrooms.
The system has grown to about 40,668 students, hundreds more than administrators had expected for the 2013-2014 school year. By the 2017-2018 school year, officials anticipate Forsyth Schools will accommodate nearly 47,000 students.
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Forsyth is seventh-fastest growing county in the nation, according to Forbes.
According to the Fulton county news outlet, Forsyth ranks 175 out of 185 for total per pupil expenditures in the state and the lowest in metro Atlanta at $7,249. The school district had the highest graduation rate among the state's 20 largest systems.
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Voters in 2011 approved the continuation of a 1-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for five years to make payments on 2005 and 2007 bonds. Those bonds were used in part to construct nine new schools.
If the bond is approved, funds would be available this fall and project work would continue until 2018.
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