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School System Posts Q&A about J.C. Booth Construction Options

Staff Report From Newnan CEO

Monday, March 11th, 2019

  1. Why is the school system considering constructing a new middle school or a major addition/renovation to the existing J.C. Booth Middle School?

  • ANSWER: The school has outgrown the core facility. The size of the classrooms, hallways, cafeteria and gym are no longer adequate for the over 1,200 students who attend J.C. Booth Middle School.

  1. Where would a new middle school be located?

  • ANSWER: The Board of Education has recently purchased 37 acres of land on Stagecoach Road, which connects to Robinson Road on the eastern side of Peachtree City.  It is approximately 1.5 miles from the existing J.C. Booth Middle School.  The Board of Education also purchased 3.79 acres of land on Carriage Lane, which is adjacent to the Stagecoach Road property.  This will provide a second access to the school site from Carriage Lane which connects to Highway 54.

  1. How large is the existing J.C. Booth Middle School site?

  • ANSWER: The existing J.C. Booth Middle School site is 21 acres.

  1. If a new middle school is constructed, how would the existing J.C. Booth Middle School be utilized?

  • ANSWER: The facility can be surplused, leased to a post secondary educational institution, repurposed as an elementary school, or utilized as a Center of Innovation.

  1. Would renovating the existing J.C. Booth Middle School cause any disruption for students, parents and staff?

  • ANSWER:   A major renovation will cause considerable disruption for the students, parents and staff during the 27-month long renovation period.  Construction of a new middle school will not cause disruption for students, parents and staff.

  1. Will golf carts have access to the new middle school site?

  • ANSWER: The new middle school site will be connected to the Peachtree City golf cart path system.

  1. How will the new middle school site be accessed?

  • ANSWER: The new middle school site will be accessible from Stagecoach Road, which connects to Robinson Road, and from Carriage Lane, which connects to Highway 54 at Walt Banks Road.

  1. Will renovating J.C. Booth Middle School improve traffic flow on site?

  • ANSWER:   A new entrance drive will be constructed, and the student drop off lane will be lengthened to improve traffic flow.

  1. What would be the capacity of a new middle school or a renovated J.C. Booth Middle School?

  • ANSWER: Both options will have a core infrastructure and classroom capacity to accommodate up to 1,400 students.

  1. Will the classrooms be larger at a new middle school or a renovated J.C. Booth Middle School?

  • ANSWER: In either option, classroom size will meet or exceed state standards.

  1. Will current safety features be incorporated into the design of a new middle school or renovated J.C. Booth Middle School?

  • ANSWER:   Both options will incorporate enhanced safety features, including a secured entry vestibule.  Both options will have safety features that are being implemented in schools throughout the system.

  1. Will there be any large common spaces for students in the new middle school or renovated J.C. Booth middle school?

  • ANSWER:   Both options will have large common spaces for students to interact.

  1. Will the hallways be wider in a new middle school or renovated J.C. Booth Middle School?

  • ANSWER: Both options include wider hallways than the current J.C. Booth Middle School.

  1. Will the capacity of the cafeteria, gym, and fine arts be increased with a new middle school or renovated J.C. Booth Middle School?

  • ANSWER:   In both options, these spaces will be enlarged to support a 1,400 FTE student body.

  1. What is the projected cost to renovate the existing J.C. Booth Middle School?

  • ANSWER: The projected cost to renovate and improve J.C. Booth Middle School is $30,000,000 with $7,600,000 in state funding and $22,400,000 in local funding.

  1. What is the projected cost to construct a new middle school?

  • ANSWER: The projected cost to construct a new middle school is $40,000,000 with $3,300,000 in state funding and $36,700,000 in local funding.

  1. What is the projected start date for the construction of a new middle school or renovation of the existing J.C. Booth Middle School?

  • ANSWER: Approximately June 1, 2019 for either option.

  1. What is the expected completion date for the construction of a new middle school or renovation of the existing J.C. Booth Middle School?

  • ANSWER: The projected completion date for a new middle school is spring 2021.  The project completion date for renovation of the existing J.C. Booth Middle School is August 2021.

Other Considerations to Note:

  1. If the Board of Education chooses to build a new middle school, the existing J.C. Booth Middle School, appraised at $12,500,000 in 2018, will be available for other uses.

  2. Due to recent and projected growth in student population, it will be necessary to reopen Tyrone Elementary and Fayetteville Intermediate Elementary School in the near future.

  3. The Center of Innovation will have to be relocated to another location in order to renovate Fayetteville Intermediate Elementary.