FDB – Long-Range Needs Determination

Descriptor Code: FDB
Long-Range Needs Determination

I. LONG-RANGE FACILITY PLANNING
The Cherokee County Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent of Schools to gather information as to long-range facility needs of the School District. The Superintendent may utilize the services of those consultants, such as city, county or regional planners, as deemed necessary. The Superintendent’s report should take into consideration location of student population and the population trends of the School District.

II. NEW SCHOOL SITE SELECTION 
The School Board, by virtue of the Constitution of the State of Georgia and Georgia Law, has the authority to operate, control and supervise all public schools within the School District and may exercise any power except as expressly prohibited by the Federal Constitution, the Georgia Constitution or general law. The location of future school sites will be in accordance with Georgia Law, Georgia administrative rules and with this Policy. Concurrent with decisions to propose and/or build additional new schools and prioritize such schools on the basis of criteria in this Policy, the Superintendent will analyze and consider the need and opportunity to upgrade, renovate and expand existing schools to assure equitable opportunity for quality education and full capacity utilization of existing schools prior to making a recommendation to the School Board for its consideration and final action. The adherence to this provision in no way is intended to avoid the construction of new schools when such upgrading, renovating and expansion of existing schools would be inadequate to meet overcrowding pressures and educational objectives that may be better met by constructing new and/or replacement schools.

Standards for New School Site Selection

New schools, special centers or other school facilities will be located so as to serve the intended population in accordance with the following:
A. Proposed new schools will be prioritized based upon student need (current and projected student growth), remedies needed to equalize facilities and the School District’s budget.
B. After the need for a new or replacement school, center or facility has been established, based upon current and projected student growth along with other needs, potential sites for the facility will be identified. A confidential inventory of the vacant sites, which meet the size and configuration requirements, will be compiled.
C. The School District, whenever possible, will strive to locate new schools and to purchase school sites in areas which offer, because of their location, the opportunity to achieve diversity.
D. Studies that may be included in the process of school site selection may include the following: wetlands study, soil analysis, acceptance by health department if necessary, availability of adequate public water and sewer, archeological study, traffic study and acceptance by the State Department of Education. Nothing herein will require or limit staff from thoroughly investigating potential real estate acquisitions.

ADOPTED: August 2, 2001       REVISED: July 16, 2020