Growth committee predicts school overcrowding by 2022
MADISON – Dr. Terri Johnson and Mike Potter, co-chairs of Madison Schools Growth Impact Committee, reported its latest findings to Madison City Council on Dec. 18.
The school growth committee’s purpose is to formulate a plan to secure Madison City Schools as the best value for education of grades K-12 in Alabama by understanding the impact of city growth and the school district’s needs for the next 10 to 20 years.
The committee dealt with ‘architectural capacity,’ as opposed to ‘functional capacity.’ Functional capacity is the absolute maximum student population that a building can accommodate, which exceeds architectural capacity, which is the intended population for a building’s design.
“Our school system has an unbelievable effect on the price of homes. Having a good school system drives home values (up). When you look at the real estate market, two-thirds of sales in the market were existing homes — not the new homes in town,” Potter said.
“We know the system is going to break in 2022 — and no doubt will break in 2024 (due to overcrowding),” Potter said. In January 2018, MCS Superintendent Robby Parker and Madison Board of Education will release a recommendation on ways that the district can handle needed classroom space.
Mayor Paul Finley presented the annual appropriation of $10,000 to Land Trust of North Alabama. Marie Bostic, the land trust’s executive director, discussed the organization’s work on hike schedules, trail repair and signage for Rainbow Mountain. The land trusts plans to conduct an environmental education program in summer 2018 at Rainbow Elementary School.
Finley introduced former city councilman Marc Jacobson, who has accepted the position of City Administrator. Jacobson is replacing Taylor Edge, who has resigned to pursue other career interests.
Regular and periodic bills included only two payments:
* Madison Utilities — Downtown irrigation for Downtown Streetscape Phase III, $2,184.
* Pearce Construction Company — Construction costs for Madison Public Library, $167,522.
This month, the city is mailing license renewals to businesses. City Attorney Megan Zingarelli said the city can consider revocation, non-renewal or placing improvement conditions after the licenses are reviewed in January 2018. Certain scenarios could require a public hearing, Zingarelli said.
District 1 Councilwoman Maura Wroblewski said the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration are assisting Madison Police Department in conducting an opium addiction summit in March 2018. Bob Jones High School will host the meeting.
Council President Tommy Overcash received approval for a job description for deputy building official/plans reviewer.
District 6 Councilman Gerald Clark said voting will end on Dec. 28 for the public’s favorite entries in Christmas Card Lane. To vote, visit artsmadison.org.
Appointments to Madison Station Historic Preservation Commission included Larry Anderson, Place 4; Cindi Sanderson, Place 5; and Cindy Sensenberger, Place 6.
Corey Alford with Madison Parks and Recreation Department received approval to pay $36,000 to Four Our Sons for repairs to concession stands at Palmer Park.
Awards for the Christmas tree decorating contest on Main Street went to Madison Public Works, “Most Creative”; Madison Parks and Recreation, “Most Whimsical”; Good Samaritan Hospice, “Most Sophisticated”; and Posh Mommy and Baby, Too, “Most Creative”. Receiving honorable mention awards were Opie Balch Realty, STI Electronics and Cotton Candies Marching Crew.
Madison City Council will meet again on Jan. 8, 2018.
