It’s interesting to watch our neighbors to the west.
Danville Public Schools recently held two groundbreaking ceremonies on March 16 and March 22 to mark the start of renovations and construction at John M. Langston School and George Washington High School.
Galileo Magnet High School is moving into the former John M. Langston High School, and the facility will also hold Danville Public Schools’ central office.
It is an expected $30 million renovation, according to a press release issued by Danville Public Schools’ public information officer.
“The renovated facility will include a STEM and Career Academy for all students division-wide and gymnasium and auditorium spaces that will be available for community use. In addition, there will be a dedicated space to honor the legacy of the Langston campus, which dates back to 1957 as the city’s black high school during segregation. With a goal to start renovations by fall 2022, renovations are expected to be complete in 2024,” their release states.
An “anticipated $80 million dollar campus-wide renovation” is expected at GWHS, with renovations expected to begin in fall 2022.
At GWHS, “Planned renovations include improvements to the Career and Technical Education building to allow for new programs, such as culinary arts, hospitality, and skilled trades, as well as updated spaces for existing programs. This building also houses the nearly complete Piedmont Access to Health Services (PATHS) school-based health clinic. A new, larger performance gym is planned to be accessible by students and the community. Improved spaces for performing and visual arts programs, an updated media center, renovated classrooms, and a hall of fame to honor GW alumni will also be included.”
Renovations to the track and field are expected to be completed by September.
GWHS, Galileo Magnet High School and Averett University students will have the opportunity to use the track.
These groundbreakings came just four months after Danville voters approved the referendum for their 1% sales tax.
Earlier in March, Danville City Council approved the sales tax and issuance of bonds for school renovations, and anticipates $129 million in bonds to be available around the end of April.
In 2019, Halifax County leaders convinced lawmakers to allow local voters to choose whether or not local leaders could impose a 1-cent sales tax increase to pay for needed school construction.
Since then, Danville City was one of eight localities that followed in Halifax County’s footsteps with the 1% sales tax referendum, but they seem to be hitting the gas a little bit harder.
Danville leaders partnered up with other counties’ leaders in the region to approach the General Assembly in the 2020 session asking to pass HB 486, which just as HB 1634 granted for Halifax, would allow for a 1% sales tax increase if initiated by a resolution of the local governing body and approved by the voters at a referendum.
Unlike Halifax, it took Danville City leaders only four months to approve the issuance of bonds. It took Halifax leaders two years and four months to do the same.
Availability of updated information on school construction projects is another difference between the two localities.
A quick look at the facility study tab on the Halifax County Public Schools’ website shows information from 2019 about town hall meetings that were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and never rescheduled.
There’s no information on the school system’s website about the Powell property that is being purchased for the Halifax County High School project, the architect that was selected as a finalist or the firm that was tapped for the project, pending legal review.
On the Danville Public Schools’ website, there is a “sales tax” tab that provides information on projects, answers to frequently asked questions, next steps, a cost tracker and updates.
On their website, one can find renderings of the proposed new GWHS school entry, it’s proposed floor plan and more.
There’s also a project manual available online from Dewberry Engineers that outlines the bid requirements for Danville Public Schools, George Washington High School and track renovations.
It seems it has taken Danville City mere months to do what Halifax has done in more than two years while our sales tax monies sit and collect.
I do believe that Halifax County has made some progress on their school construction projects, and I don’t think they’re intentionally leaving the public in the dark. But I do believe Halifax is behind the times.
Halifax County School Board is the only local governing body that broadcasts its meetings. And, let’s be real, not everyone is going to come out to governing meetings in person.
Not everyone is going to read or watch any type of media to keep up with what the school system or any local governing body is doing either.
I think governing bodies should provide up-to-date information online in addition to in person.
Danville City websites seem to be good examples of that, whereas Halifax’s websites can barely provide access to information. One needs a discontinued web browser to download most documents.
It’s just interesting to me to see the accelerated timeline between the two localities when it comes to their schools construction projects.
I know Halifax was the first locality to pass the 1% sales tax referendum, but are we leading the way?
