How Hillsborough School District Plans To Spend Referendum Funds

TAMPA, FL -- It's a problem that the Hillsborough County School Board doesn't mind having. Now that Hillsborough County voters have approved a half-cent sales tax for public school improvements, school officials have to decide how best to spend the $131 million a year generated by the tax over the next 10 years.

On Friday, members of the Citizen Oversight Committee charged with reviewing improvement projects rolled up their sleeves and got down to business in anticipation of the school district receiving the first proceeds from the tax in February.

Following an unusually hot fall when many of the schools' aging air conditioners were on the fritz, new air-conditioning units top the list of projects. And it will take more than chump change to remedy the problem.

The average cost to replace an air conditioner is $3 million for an elementary school, $5 million for a middle school and $7 to $12 million for a high school.

The school district is currently in the design phase to replace air conditioners at Crestwood, Cypress Creek, Lee, Morgan Woods and B.T. Washington elementary schools and Williams Middle School at a cost of about $20 million.

However, since the beginning of the school year, 159 schools have submitted maintenance requests for air conditioning.

School staff have complained of students becoming overcome by the heat in their classrooms, food in the cafeteria getting spoiled and leaky air ducts growing mold.

Sales tax funds cannot be used for recurring operating expenses such as teacher pay, school bus fuel and utility bills. They must be spent on capital expenses including improvements to buildings or the purchase of equipment. Items on the school district's wish list include:

• Air conditioning replacements and overhauls
• Maintenance and renovation projects
• Safety and security improvements
• Technology upgrades
• New construction to relieve overcrowding

The Citizen Oversight Committee members, all unpaid and independent of the school district and contractors involved in bidding for referendum projects, include former Florida Sen. and former USF President Betty Castor, who will serve as chairwoman of the committee; Hillsborough County Chad Chronister, retired Superintendent of Schools and former Supervisor of Elections Earl Lennard, former Hillsborough Community College CFO Bonnie Carr, former state Rep. Ed Narain, former president of the Tampa Chamber of Commerce Jose Valiente and former Strawberry Crest High School Principal Ed Brown.

The first wave of major projects, including up to 20 air conditioner replacements and millions of dollars in roof repairs, will begin over the summer when students and staff are off campus.

The first phase of projects such as fire alarm replacements, school repainting and elevator upgrades will begin in March and April.

A detailed list of the 1,785 school improvement projects planned over the next 10 years is available by clicking here.

Video via Hillsborough School District

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