New Cherokee County Schools

Earlier this month, Cherokee County Board of Education unanimously approved a bond resolution for a Qualified School Construction Bond to be issued. These low interest bonds, made available to the Cherokee County School District via federal stimulus funds, will save taxpayers about $16 million in school building financing costs.

The plan was for 4 schools to be added  – two middle schools and two elementary schools – but School Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo said most likely it will just be the two middle schools that are able to be built with the available money. The new schools in Cherokee County that are currently under construction will not be affected by the new plan. The low interest funds will become available early-to-mid 2010, and will be used for the replacement of E.T. Booth Middle School, as well as Teasley Middle School. The new schools will have capacity for grades 6-8, whereas the schools currently only house grades 7 and 8. The addition of the new schools will relieve some of the population in the feeder elementary schools. The schools being built under the bond issuance must be completed by December of 2010.

Cherokee County expects to see several new schools next year: River Ridge High School, Univeter Road Elementary, Hunt Road Elementary, and Ball Ground Elementary are all currently under construction, with the promise of the two new middle schools as well.