Madison Schools requests $37M for proposal including year-round public pool, tennis courts

MARSHALL - In 2023, Madison County schools received $2.3 million for its stadium renovation project, as construction on the O.E. Roberts Stadium repairs began in November 2022.

But because the county's schools serve such an importance as community venues in Madison, the school system administration is swinging for the fences in the hopes the state will support additional projects, as it has applied for $37 million in grant funding through the state Department of Public Instruction's Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund.

The grant application was signed by both county Board of Education Chair Karen Blevins and commissioners Chair Matt Wechtel, said school system Superintendent Will Hoffman, who spoke with The News-Record Jan. 10.

According to Hoffman, the project would open up more opportunities for Madison County residents to enjoy school resources.

"Like many rural school systems in North Carolina, Madison County Schools' campuses, gymnasiums and facilities provide much needed infrastructure for the community both during school hours and after school hours," Hoffman said. "Our schools are used for community events, youth league, shelters, voting sites, public health fairs, faith-based activities and much more."

Specific school projects include:

• Adding new classrooms for regular education, Exceptional Children and the arts and a new gym floor at Hot Springs Elementary.

• A new public well that serves Madison Middle School and Brush Creek Elementary.

• Adding a cafeteria balcony at Madison High School.

• Replacing doors and windows at Mars Hill Elementary.

• Adding a swimming facility with a retractable roof that can serve Madison County Schools’ students as well as Madison County residents, particularly those with therapeutic needs, as well as two tennis courts.

• Construction of a new Birth to Kindergarten facility for the Marshall area.

The project will focus mainly on Madison High, Brush Creek Elementary, Mars Hill Elementary, Maddison Middle and Hot Springs Elementary schools, as Madison Early College High School is a more recent facility.

Hoffman said the project would also include replacing tile floors with new wax floors at each school, plumbing, guttering and drainage upgrades at each school, as well as replacing fire doors, changing boilers and chillers, converting oil to gas, fixing cracks and recoating parking lots and replacing sidewalks and curbs.

The $37 million figure was a result of a capital needs assessment performed by LSP3 Architects, an organization commissioned for the assessment by the Madison County Board of Education in a December 2023 meeting.

The superintendent said a grant of this amount would "have a positive impact on our students and families for generations to come."

"The collaboration between the Board of Education and the County Commission on projects like this is crucial," Hoffman said. "Together we are laying a foundation for a bright future for Madison County, where education and community development go hand in hand.

"This project will not only renovate our schools and add a new swimming pool and birth-to-kindergarten facility, but it will solidify some of the best infrastructure in Madison County for generations to come."

Hoffman said the school system administration hopes to hear back from the state about the grant in February.

Electric school buses

While the school system awaits word from the state on the capital needs assessment, the county school system received word it has been awarded funding from a separate grant.

Gov. Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina will receive nearly $27 million in federal funds to purchase 114 electric school buses as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Grant Program.

Two of those electric school buses will go to Madison County Schools, the superintendent announced Jan. 10.

Hoffman said the school system partnered with Carolina Thomas, a bus company dealer based in Greensboro, for the electric school buses grant program.

“New funding for electric school buses means protecting the health of children from harmful diesel fumes, cutting carbon emissions, saving money on bus maintenance for tight public school budgets, and creating good jobs in North Carolina,” Cooper said in a news release Jan. 9. “This investment is good for our students, schools, economy and planet and I appreciate the Biden Administration for investing in our communities across North Carolina.”

According to the release, the state Environmental Protection Agency prioritized school districts in low-income, rural, and/or tribal communities, serving more than 300,000 students across 13 counties.

In its award letter to the school system, Carolina Thomas said the electric school buses will bring significant benefits to Madison students, as well as the community and the environment as a whole, including through improved air quality.

"Electric buses eliminate tailpipe emissions, reducing exposure to harmful pollutants for over seven million students and community members nationwide," Carolina Thomas said in the release.

Due to the county's large geographical coverage area, securing an adequate workforce of bus drivers has sometimes presented challenges to Madison schools administration.

More: Hot Springs Elementary Garden Club Thinking outside the classroom: Hot Springs Elementary Garden Club holds outdoors classes

The two electric school buses will help fight against this barrier as Madison County Schools students can receive steadier and calmer transportation to school.

"Electric buses offer a smoother, quieter ride, creating a more peaceful and focused learning environment for students," Carolina Thomas said.

Carolina Thomas said Cherokee Boys Club became the first organization to receive an electric school bus in North Carolina in May 2022.

According to Hoffman, Deanna Ponder, the school system's transportation director, headed up the grant proposal for the school system.

“The Board of Education and I are very excited about the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program award for the purchase of two electric activity buses. We appreciate the work of our Transportation Director, Deanna Ponder, in securing these funds," Hoffman told The News-Record in an email.

"Activity buses are purchased with Local funds which creates an immediate savings, but this grant will also create an enormous long term benefit for our district and community through lower fuel costs, improved health outcomes, and better air quality.”

Johnny Casey has covered Madison County for The Citizen Times and The News-Record & Sentinel for nearly three years. He earned a first-place award in beat reporting in the 2023 North Carolina Press Association awards. He can be reached at 828-210-6074 or jcasey@newsrecordandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Madison Schools submits $37M request for year-round public access pool