The Community

Coalition for Fayette Schools, a political action committee co-chaired

the community on the $66 million bond issue for new school construction

on the Nov. 7 General Election ballot.

Burch, who

is an appraiser and 1976 Fayette County High School graduate, said the

group, which currently numbers about 15 volunteers, will be addressing

civic organizations, senior citizen groups and retired teachers about

the overcrowding issue facing the school system.

If the 10-year

bond referendum is passed, the Fayette County Board of Education will

build three new elementary schools, a new high school and make renovations

at older existing schools.

Berry has served

for years as an active participant in local parent teacher and student

oriented organizations.

"Our school

system has grown at an annual rate of 500 to 700 students per year the

equivalent of one elementary school per year," Berry said. "Schools

in most parts of the county are becoming overcrowded and the board has

been forced to buy trailers to absorb the overflow from the classrooms.

In addition to these pressures, the governor and state legislature have

mandated a program to reduce classroom sizes throughout Georgia, and this

will also have an effect on the facility needs of our school system in

the very near future."

The proposed

bond issue is the end result of months of community roundtable discussions

and the findings of the board-appointed Facilities Use Committee, which

came up with the recommendation for a bond. Previous efforts, as late

as last September, to deal with the issue of providing additional space

in the schools through a special local option sales tax were defeated.

"We find

support for both the five-year facilities plan and the bond referendum

to be very high within the community. Many people credit the school system

for actively seeking the community's input, and for offering solutions

that directly responded to major concerns many people expressed,"

Burch said.

The coalition

also plans to put together a brochure highlighting the need for bond passage

and hopes to get some financial support as well.

"We're

also trying to get support from the municipalities in the form of a resolution

in support of the bond," Burch added.

One thing that

concerns the coalition is the placement of the bond question on the two-page

General Election ballot.

"It's

the last question on page two. Voters are going to have to stick with

the ballot," Burch said.

Not one to

attract personal publicity, Burch added, "My children and Trina's

children are almost grown. But we feel a debt to the parents and grandparents,

the teachers and citizens who worked so hard for so many years to build

a superb school system for our children. And we feel a sense of responsibility

to the youngsters who come after them. We can't drop the ball on their

educational opportunities and their future."

Civic club

leaders that would like to a schedule a speaker from the coalition are

asked to phone 770-632-9260. Additional information about the bond referendum

and the five-year facilities plan for the school system is available at

the Fayette County Board of Education's web site, www.fcboe.org .

The Community

Coalition for Fayette Schools is registered with the Georgia Secretary

of State's Office. Contributions can be forwarded to Community Coalition

for Fayette Schools c/o 125 Merlin Court, Fayetteville 30214.