According to the contract listing, DMS is getting just the standard in terms of renovation: air conditioning, general maintenance, and energy efficiency upgrades. And this article has no mention of the Monarch School which serves children and adult with disabilities being converted into a Middle School (a charter GMGST). Can you provide the voters more details on the Monarch School ?

I will check Monday. It's not listed on the ESPLOST IV project list.

Thanks!

I'm confused, Duluth went through a very controversial redistricting in April that we were told fit with long term plans. We made open records requests for these "plans" but were told no documents satisfied our requests. So if ESPLOST passes, PR is getting an addition to the High School and a new middle school? Meanwhile, since the redistricting, Duluth Middle School is now overcapacity. Hull is still overcapacity. Berkeley Lake Elementary is still overcapacity. Mason & Chattahoochee Elementary schools are way under capacity. And Peachtree Ridge High School had an enrollment increase of 35 students AFTER redistricting. I for one am glad that "Kids Count" because somebody at the ISC doesn't seem to be very good at it. I'm voting no.

I am the Student Council President at Monarch school and I encourage people to vote “No” to business as usual. We must make the school board accountable to the citizens in Gwinnett County. There needs to be a process allowing more input on the planning and oversight on the implementation of SPLOST projects. Why are we planning to make drastic changes to the schools that are functioning great like Monarch? Why would we want our preschoolers to be placed in an elementary school environment? Where is the common sense? I am voting "No" on Tuesday! I hope you do the same.

Ms. Edmundson - one more question. I was reviewing the ESPLOST III 2010 Report and it identifies North Gwinnett High School Concession costing us $672,000 and that pitiful Duluth High School ticket stand as costing $34,000. Can you ask if that is the "concession stand" at NGH and whether or not that is the football ticket stand at DHS or maybe something else ?

J:

I have updated the story to clarify the Duluth MS renovation, which actually is renovation of Monarch School into a second Duluth Middle School.

J: Here is the GCPS response to your question about the concession stands from Sloan Roach, executive director of communication and media relations:
"The Duluth HS ticket booth was completed in 2008-09 at a cost of $34,490.
The North Gwinnett HS project was for a concessions stand which was
completed in 2009-10 at a cost of $672,059. Obviously, these are two very
different structures...one being a ticket booth and the other being a
building that houses the stadium's concession stand, restrooms, storage
area, and some bleacher seating. Both projects were bid, and the contracts
were awarded to the lowest responsible responsive bidders."

Ha! The Director of Communications missed the point. She has obviously never been to a game at Duluth. $34,000 for that structure is equivalent to the "Bridge to No Where".

I have obtained and added information on proposed facility improvements to Duluth Cluster schools.

The NG teachers,at least those that are not also coaches, would gladly provide both facts and their opinion about the concession stand, carpet, and other "educational" expenditures on their campus. As teachers, they've been dealing with the same budget cuts as at other schools including larger classes and resource shortages (paper, basic supplies, resources, etc.), while the money is spent outside the classrooms. They've also heard of, if not experienced first hand, the "bonuses" given to the coaches (by the boosters) while they've dealt with salary freezes, non-renewals, furlough days, etc. I hesitated discussing my concerns to my North Gwinnett teacher friends because the discrepancy between NG schools and Duluth. I was surprised to find that NG teachers feel just as strongly as I do that our school board is not being fiscally responsible stewards. It seems that when you are having lunch with your friends at the country club and discussing GCPS's most "pressing" needs, you come up a different list than one created by those dining in the school cafeteria. In the Duluth Cluster it has been very helpful to meet people with such "varied" ideas and experiences. I've met, listened, and heard these ideas and I have questioned my own values and priorities in the process. If SPLOST passes, I hope my school board will watch our pennies and enjoy some cafeteria lunches with some new friends.

Thank you to the Duluth Patch for following up on the Monarch School, Duluth second middle school, and the costs associated with the Duluth ticket booth.

The Monarch school does not need to be converted to a special Duluth area middle school! There was just a recent redistricting in the Duluth area and no mention of this "conversion" was ever made. Interesting to read the comments about Duluth High & NG High. There does seem to be some high spending - and the board just held a recently called special meeting to hire another curriculum specialist - there's another salary & set of benefits. Was that position truly necessary? Some decisons just cause some head-shaking; like the 2012/13 calendar which has teachers returning to school on July 30. Teachers have never had to return in July! DeKalb & Cobb are being more reasonable & teachers return the first Mon. in Aug. and the students return the following Monday. Too many questions; too many puzzles - will be interesting to see if this passes tomorrow.

Duluth is not getting another Middle School. Peachtree Ridge is. This Duluth resident is voting "NO!"

None of the E-SPLOST revenue is planned to give pay raises to the hard working teachers who have had none in 3 years. That's disgraceful.
Put PEOPLE first before upgrading equipment and facilities.