Schools
Cartersville Schools Eye Transportation Training Facility
At its Thursday work session, the board of education discussed the pre-design of a training area at the bus barn.
Stemming from a recent involving a Cartersville youngster, the Cartersville Board of Education is working on creating a new training facility for transportation.
Superintendent Howard Hinesley said during the work session Thursday the new facility, which was proposed by the Building and Grounds Committee, would provide space for training as well as work space for the Transportation director.
Hinesley added that current have a similar training facility and the new location would be a small building to accompany the current mechanics’ shop in the city school bus barn.
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“After critiquing the recent accident that happened, we have decided to look at all the aspects of safety issues,” said Hinesley. “We believe a new training facility, away from the shop as a suitable area for training and space to meet with the director, would be best.”
Ken Topham, secretary and chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee, recommended that there be an approval for the proposal for new architectural designs from CGLS Architects of Atlanta, in the amount of $25,000, plus expenses for the new training facility.
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Hinesley said that board plans on verbally approving an “engaging with an architect” during Monday’s business meeting, as well as further discuss funding for the building.
Discussion of the new facility stem from the March accident in which 8-year-old Garrett Black was hit by a bus and killed at the city schools bus barn. The student, whose mother works at the facility, was dropped off by a bus when a second bus struck him. Black was pronounced dead on the scene.
In addition to transportation, the Finance Committee reported the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax collection for month of March was the highest ever at $522,835.44.
“Well, apparently we had a large St. Patrick’s Day celebration because our SPLOST check for March…was the largest one ever,” said Kelley Dial, vice president and Finance Committee chair. “We are happy. That’s way above any monthly average we’ve predicted. ”
See the full agenda of Thursday’s work session attached to this article. The business meeting is set for Monday at 6 p.m.
