A $65 million

school bond issue was passed by Fayette County voters Tuesday with a vote

of 22,725 to 16,325.

According to

Fayette County School Superintendent, Dr. John DeCotis, it will take between

60 and 90 days to complete the entire process of selling the bonds.

The next major

hurdle facing the board is purchasing property for construction of the

new schools to be funded through the bonds. DeCotis said the board is

currently looking at potential sites.

"We hope

before the end of school to lock-in or purchase some property, but we

don't know exactly where that will be," DeCotis said, adding that

finding the appropriate land for the appropriate price is the board's

next concern.

Earlier discussion

on prospective elementary school locations pinpointed three high growth

areas: the Ga. Highway 54 corridor between Peachtree City and Tyrone;

the West Village in Peachtree City; and the area between Fayetteville

and Brooks. The high school site is likely to be south of Fayetteville.

DeCotis thanked

the voters for their support of the bond and the children of the county.

School Board member Mickey Littlefield also thanked the citizens, "for

their trust in us. It reflects the trust the county has in our superintendent,

Dr. John DeCotis."

The bond issue

will also cover renovations at older schools such as rewiring, relighting,

new ceilings and improvements in kitchens and restrooms.

The 10-year

bond will be added to the school bond tax starting with the 2001 tax bill.

The need for the bond came as the result of continued growth in the county

at a rate of 500 to 700 students per year and the state mandate to reduce

class sizes covered in the Governor's A-Plus Reform Act.