Developers

of a new office and shopping center across from the Starr's Mill school

complex on Ga. Highway 74 have promised to donate $150,000 to improve

the schools over the next ten years.

Of that, $100,000

will be made available immediately: $50,000 to kick off construction of

a field house at Starr's Mill High School, and $50,000 for landscaping

at the three schools.

Starr's Mill

LLC has further committed to provide $5,000 a year for 10 years as part

of its desire to be a Partner in Education with the three schools.

The complex

includes Starr's Mill High School, Rising Star Middle School and Peeples

Elementary.

"This

was not solicited by us," said school Superintendent Dr. John DeCotis

as the Board of Education discussed the offer Monday night. The board

unanimously approved a memorandum of agreement to accept the donations.

Board member

Marion Key said she is concerned about how the shopping center will affect

traffic in the area. "We have 16-year-olds driving out there, and

that always concerns me," she said.

But the shopping

center has already been approved by the County Commission, and the developers'

goodwill gesture is appreciated, board members said, adding that they

hope other developers will be inspired to take the same sort of action.

The company

also donated more than 50 acres of its 80-acre site to Fayette County

for green space, using 28 acres for the shopping center.