A Changing Tide?

The County Commission's Budget Committee met last night and approved a bond issue for new school building projects, including classrooms at GHS and HHS and a new elementary school (Burris Elementary) to be built on the campus of Knox Doss at Drakes Creek Middle School. 

The funding comes roughly one year ahead of the 2014 County Commission primary elections and follows months of tense meetings over proper funding for schools.  Some speculate the Commission is providing these funds to help quell public anger over the body's historic lack of support for schools just in time for the upcoming elections. 

In other meeting news, the County Commission's sometimes secret committee on school safety was disbanded.  Commissioners agreed that the School Board and Sheriff's office could handle the proposals for SROs (School Resource Officers) and that the Board's proposals for physical upgrades to facilities to enhance safety would go through the normal Commission committee channels. 

Perhaps this is the beginning of an increased level of cooperation between the Board and Commission.  As the school system's budget shapes up, we'll see if the peace lasts or is only temporary.