[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6195905,"mediaKeyId","3858885-b499f7163e2da3f78f6a7a634de52d83","parentId",3858885,"title","Forsyth County board approves SPLOST 7 referendum to ask voters for nearly $400 million","audioSeconds",1465,"startMs",1045000,"endMs",2510000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3858885-b499f7163e2da3f78f6a7a634de52d83&start=1045&end=2510","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3858885-b499f7163e2da3f78f6a7a634de52d83/thumbnail_1045000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6195905/Georgia/Forsyth-County-board-approves-SPLOST-7-referendum-to-ask-voters-for-nearly-400-million","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195905-aba67067574dcb9a5b2b6d4c8048ab52/orig.mp4?Expires=1773579515&Signature=PlerIYL8NwOarLZ0b5oEdnGeEFcntOqU28OnBPYJEtU9Utv09LWYzsFYPlF2a47C8TGi2UqKJzISjm918XhffKwCxTREVMbuneuAgv1icDYX6HFRKgPV7FSs6KeBVR3zoVFZrhaPR1XhBx53DjsEOcM-49SF~XzR83-I4xTymW2t5-eowLGOcfwOUfPLFqTqxjXLb1YAzv85kh3gimw9EIOK2rv9efi855hk5vCyHEBqTCVDuNa6DJJwztEpkK4WniLpU8D8JbecAf2njKp3IJHqvxFjPznY866PMLHvUVm~6Lh8AKBZlDMNxIg43igmzYAOhAQTX~L~IEKLP8QG7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-18T11:50:05Z","article","The Forsyth County Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution to place a proposed Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST 7) referendum before voters on Nov. 4, 2025.

The measure as presented would authorize just under $400 million over five years for capital projects the district categorized into three priority bands: red (critical), blue (high priority) and gold (contingent on revenue). Administration said the plan emphasizes pay‑as‑you‑go financing rather than issuing bonds and would fund new and expanded school facilities, infrastructure updates, safety projects and site improvements.

District staff and board members said SPLOST proceeds are restricted to capital projects, not salaries or operating costs, and that the district has used the sales tax previously to finance construction, life‑cycle maintenance and equipment. Matt Wark, the staff presenter on SPLOST planning, told the board the list includes a new elementary school and additions at several middle and high schools to relieve enrollment pressures; district planners also proposed turfing high‑school baseball/softball fields and practice football fields and allocating funds for elementary playground turf. Wark said many projects on the gold list would be funded only if collections remain strong over the five‑year period.

Board discussion emphasized three priorities: safety spending, HVAC and infrastructure life‑cycle work, and avoiding long‑term debt. Superintendent Mitch Young recommended the resolution to the board after Wark’s presentation. Board member Michael Grimes moved adoption; board member William Usherwood seconded, and the vote was unanimous.

Key figures and details presented by staff included: a planning authorization just under $400 million for five years (the current SPLOST 6 authorization is about $300 million), an average monthly SPLOST inflow of roughly $5 million, and an approach to stagger projects so the district can “pay as it goes” rather than issue bonds. Wark said the red category lists projects the administration is confident it can complete regardless of revenue volatility; blue projects are high priority and likely fundable; and gold projects would proceed only if revenue permits. The presentation also named types of projects expected to be funded: safety and security allocations (to be prioritized by the safety department), HVAC and electrical upgrades, classroom and fine‑arts expansions, transportation (bus purchases), furniture/fixtures/equipment, and capital maintenance.

Board members and staff highlighted pressure points in the northwest portion of the county, where several elementary schools already use multiple classroom trailers. In the presentation and follow‑up discussion staff reported that Pools Mill would have 10 trailers at the start of the school year after adding two more, that another elementary also had 10 trailers, and that Sawney Elementary had 12 trailers. Board members said additions funded by SPLOST could reduce the need for redistricting and are less expensive per student than building brand‑new schools.

Wark also described an initiative to turf high‑school baseball and softball fields and provide practice turf fields at schools that lack them, arguing turf increases multiuse capacity, reduces weather‑related cancellations and supports rentals and community partnerships. He proposed a district allocation for elementary playground turf (roughly 12,000 square feet per site, estimated at about $100,000 today per allocation) and said some schools have already contributed fundraising toward turf projects.

If the referendum passes, staff said they will return to the board with detailed implementation steps, design schedules and sequencing plans so projects can begin as revenue accumulates. Several board members noted that because projects are “pay as you go” and front‑loaded, the district will need to accumulate funds before starting some larger items.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution to put the SPLOST 7 referendum before voters on Nov. 4, 2025. The motion was made by Michael Grimes and seconded by William Usherwood.

The resolution vote concluded the SPLOST portion of the meeting; staff said they will provide additional design and sequencing discussions to the board should the referendum pass.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Forsyth County Schools | Board of Education Regular Meeting | June 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Forsyth County Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution to place a proposed Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST 7) referendum on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot, authorizing just under $400 million over five years for capital projects.","taxTitle","Forsyth County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",15379,"location","Georgia","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6195896,"Forsyth County Schools finance director reviews May 2025 statements; staff adds new graphs for board",534,524000,1058000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3858885-b499f7163e2da3f78f6a7a634de52d83&start=524&end=1058","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3858885-b499f7163e2da3f78f6a7a634de52d83/thumbnail_524000.jpg","/articles/6195896/Georgia/Forsyth-County-Schools-finance-director-reviews-May-2025-statements-staff-adds-new-graphs-for-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195896-62e0101e344d9b1961f9c20467bf6dd2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773579515&Signature=o3mNR~hM4iYzSKcwuF1cjWiazKpG3lT1jHgUENk6as3u5yewWdiC9AEB0a~jMMoA5omMwqTndjoq5S0zowTtYbnDy3ET7bQiqjQnO6wNp28xesD01FkXFhyxFPufBmNgO9g7OEiUMe3fDVY-k1dKYuwi7iGQIEUJua18VB4YGL1vyZauVz3YJyRe3KCkQ4LMAeMD2Aj3VfTzJSiR~zBGVsua8hwmTJGCU4WX6E4F7U2NQ4bGnkfin8ZFOwXb0M~~6VE51S41Z4dCLXd41LN9oV2fLQi072AraJaPWOorJA7Vu28XF4YoMLMqYkzRYW3wDLycxvih~TQzfR5guAndeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Larry Hammel, the district’s finance presenter, reviewed the May 2025 financial statements and introduced new graphical displays intended to make cash‑flow and budget comparisons clearer for board members and the public.

Hammel said the district began May with roughly $236 million in cash equivalents and presented month‑by‑month cash and fund‑balance trends that generally decline in summer months before property tax receipts arrive in the fall. He said the district is tracking revenue collections at about 94.99% of the revised budget and reported $601 million in cumulative collections against a revised budget figure of $717 million. On expenses, he said the district had spent roughly 91.19% of budgeted amounts through May and noted that payroll is the dominant monthly expense.

Hammel reviewed capital and special‑revenue fund balances: he said the district reported about $25 million in total capital projects this year versus about $15 million at the same time last year, and school nutrition balances were about $21.5 million compared with $23.8 million last year. He reported an “investment summary” figure of about $134 million held in the general fund and flagged that the district typically moves $26–30 million monthly from investments into operations as the new fiscal year approaches.

Hammel told the board that collections year‑to‑date were roughly $187 million compared with about $179 million at the same point last year, and that current trends put the district only about $900,000 ahead of schedule for the last quarter. He said small changes in late‑year collections could change how many months the district is able to prepay ahead for next year’s obligations.

Board members thanked Hammel for the graphs and said the visuals help the public understand timing issues tied to tax receipts and payroll. Hammel said his cash‑flow model uses 10 years of historical monthly data to smooth highs and lows when projecting collections by month.

The financial presentation was informational; no board action was required.","Finance director Larry Hammel presented May 2025 financial statements, showed new visual graphs, and said the district’s collections and expenses are generally tracking near budget; staff noted cash, investments and capital project balances and explained seasonal cash flows tied to tax collections.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6195901,"Forsyth County Board adopts distraction‑free device policy; updates 2025–26 code of conduct",790,2626000,3416000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3858885-b499f7163e2da3f78f6a7a634de52d83&start=2626&end=3416","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3858885-b499f7163e2da3f78f6a7a634de52d83/thumbnail_2626000.jpg","/articles/6195901/Georgia/Forsyth-County-Board-adopts-distractionfree-device-policy-updates-202526-code-of-conduct","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195901-aeb2e9469bfa3ea08a1b8b6db5b9d487/orig.mp4?Expires=1773579515&Signature=P-zN5ZgP3asHBz5f6MlcVjMTSKB01BwYoXix4UXEtIs7Lz~ovoukw8vESeMcHii1fl8cdx0O7WFtZSq7Zb0vH-2CFICXAkrJiuoPF7vDfJnvjtEWZF8-tWNIVAdWEctViHzOpiVn7V7Sb2FDexQ2RzgjjL8V9yu6zcn9JLHS6x1usxAdVP8nYVZt1G6VRL-QB6gEH2l4jlu3Fshogmot~n2dYfytQl5rG5ECmmbGRuP2VX9D6MtTviFSrT4UuR4ql-T-nU1P9NZSJXRv9xQOONzuj7iIw1rOxxFQwRe6A0lXBLL3snMRk8M9iWoa4vItv34mb7Mv7VQFjSYNhjuDPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Forsyth County Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously adopted a proposed policy to limit student use of personal electronic devices during the school day and approved matching changes to the district’s 2025–26 code of conduct.

Board members said the policy implements Georgia’s Distraction‑Free Education law (House Bill 340) and extends consistent school‑day restrictions across the district. District staff told the board they gathered extensive stakeholder feedback, including a town hall and thousands of survey responses, and will publish regulations and staff guidance to clarify enforcement and exceptions.

Dr. Amy Bartlett, who led the policy presentation, told the board the district gathered more than 3,700 survey responses before the board first reviewed the recommendation, and an additional 298 responses during the 30‑day posting period. She said responses showed broad support for limiting cell phones in schools, but that respondents asked for consistent enforcement, clear communications and clarity about exceptions. Bartlett said the district will develop the regulation language that clarifies what “turned off and stored away” means in practice and will update employee handbooks, the student code of conduct and family communications as part of implementation.

Under the adopted policy — presented as board policy JCDAF — electronic devices and personal communication devices must be turned off and stored away Bell‑to‑Bell for elementary and middle grades in alignment with House Bill 340. At the high‑school level the policy allows students to access devices only during assigned lunch periods; buses and school grounds before and after the school day are excluded. The policy includes a section describing accommodations for students with Individualized Education Programs, 504 plans or medical needs.

The adopted policy also added a GSBA (Georgia School Boards Association) exemplar statement that the district or individual schools will not assume responsibility or liability for theft, loss or damage to a personal electronic device.

Todd Shirley presented the updated code of conduct for 2025–26 and said the section on electronic entertainment was rewritten to mirror the new board policy so schools have clearer enforcement authority. The code of conduct also reiterates that students are prohibited from using devices to record other students or staff without prior approval.

Superintendent Mitch Young and several board members thanked staff for what they described as a lengthy stakeholder process. Board member William Usherwood moved to adopt proposed policy JCDAF; Michael Grimes seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Later in the meeting the board voted unanimously to adopt the amended 2025–26 code of conduct; that motion was made by Christopher McCall and seconded by William Usherwood.

Staff said next steps include drafting the board regulation that defines storage and enforcement details, updating the employee handbook and student/family communications, producing staff training materials, and coordinating code‑of‑conduct implementation across schools.","The board unanimously approved proposed board policy JCDAF to limit student use of personal electronic devices during school hours, aligned with state House Bill 340; it also approved corresponding code of conduct changes to give the policy enforcement mechanisms.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Forsyth County board approves SPLOST 7 referendum to ask voters for nearly $400 million

Forsyth County Schools finance director reviews May 2025 statements; staff adds new graphs for board

Forsyth County Board adopts distraction‑free device policy; updates 2025–26 code of conduct