Using

the formula: more students = more classrooms,

Fayette County school officials are now drafting

a new facilities plan to address the need.

In

a community roundtable session Thursday evening,

Dr. John DeCotis, Fayette County school

superintendent, and staff members outlined the

state requirements for seeking funding. "To

earn money from the state, you have to have a

facilities plan," DeCotis said.

facilities committee composed of six school

district employees is currently working with

state officials to put together a new five-year

plan. Mike Satterfield, facilities director for

the Fayette School District, told the group of

about 20 staffers and citizens gathered for the

session that the state population projections are

"less than what we feel it should be."

Local

predictions are for 4,500 or more additional

students over the next five years, with state

figures estimating 3,600 over the same time

period. "We have to use the state

predictions," Satterfield affirmed.

"We're now working on school size and

organization, where you need additional classes

or a new school built." Based on 20 students

per classroom, estimates indicate a need for

180-200 additional classrooms.

Satterfield

explained that the first task is looking at the

3,500 incoming students and seeing where they can

spread out into existing facilities. Anticipated

growth in Fayetteville could push the student

population at Fayette County High School up to

2,250 students.

The

school, which opened in fall 1997, was built to

accommodate 1,800 students and currently houses

1,916 students, based on 1999-2000 enrollment

figures as of Jan. 27. The situation is similar

across the county.

"Currently

in the county, if there were no more rezonings,

6,000 lots could get building permits tomorrow.

Those kids are already on the way,"

Satterfield said.

While

adding classrooms onto existing facilities can be

used as a stop-gap measure, Satterfield explained

that some schools cannot have additions because

their core facilities, such as hallways, media

centers, cafeterias, etc., cannot handle the

increased student load.

Kedron

and Spring Hill elementary schools exemplify the

situation with core facilities. Schools such as

Tyrone Elementary present different problems.

"We couldn't physically add on there,

because there is not enough property and there is

a sewage problem," Satterfield said.

"We

also have philosophical concerns about large

schools - of making schools too large where

students become numbers," DeCotis said.

Another

concern voiced by district staff is the time it

takes to develop a school from the plans to

completion, and the financial burden it incurs.

Satterfield estimated it takes four years to

build a high school, three-and-a-half years to

build a middle school and, because a prototype is

available, elementary schools can go up a little

faster, in about 18-20 months.

DeCotis

explained that state funding is based on the

number of instruction units, or designated

classrooms, formulated for a number of students.

"We are now using rooms for education we

shouldn't be," he added, noting the use of

storerooms or less than full-size classrooms.

The

school district must first apply for funding and

later sign a contract with the state locking it

in. "It's a two-step process," he said.

When Fayette declined elementary school funding

from the state last year due to budget

constraints, DeCotis explained that the district

lost not only the money, but the instructional

units as well.

"We're

trying to hold onto some money for the middle

school," he said, noting the present

application with the state for $5 million. A

local share is required for receiving the grant.

The

next community roundtable discussion will be in

April, on technology in the schools.

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