Dacula Students Would Benefit from Classroom Construction, Technology Upgrades if School Sales Tax is Extended

Students in the Dacula area will see some real improvements to their school buildings if voters on Nov. 8 approve the extension of the penny sales tax for education.

The construction program aims to keep pace with the area’s astounding growth rate.

More than 6,800 homes have been built in the past decade in the Dacula ZIP code, 30019, according to the demographic website www.citydata.com. More than 5,200 homes were occupied by married couples, and they care for more than 6,500 children.

The school system wants to address the needs of students in this growing community, said Sean Murphy, a Norcross business owner and father who’s serving as co-chair of the Gwinnett Kids County campaign.

“The school system is looking to build facilities in areas where they are absolutely critical,” Murphy said.

“The goal is to give kids a positive place to learn,” Murphy said.

Here’s a snapshot of the construction program that’s planned in the Dacula community if the sales tax for education is extended on Nov. 8:

• Dacula High – A/C in the gym; reroofing; energy efficiency upgrades.
• Dacula Middle – A/C in the gym and kitchen; energy efficiency upgrades.
• Alcova Elementary – 20 classroom addition; A/C in the gym and kitchen; HVAC improvements; energy efficiency upgrades.
• Dacula Elementary – A/C in the gym; energy efficiency upgrades.
• Mulberry Elementary – A/C in the gym.

Students who attend the Buice School also will benefit from construction upgrades if the sales tax is extended. These improvements are planned to the school in Sugar Hill that serves children with special needs in pre-K and kindergarten.

Here are the upgrades planned at Buice:

• A/C in the gym and kitchen; energy efficiency upgrades.

Murphy said the improvements to the actual school houses is important to him.

“As a father, I want to make sure the kids have access to the best learning environment,” Murphy said. “Look at the improvements being planned for the elementary schools, middle schools and high schools – getting air conditioning in the gyms and kitchens is a real need that we have.”

Sweeping improvements are planned to the technology program, if voters on Nov. 8 extend the sales tax for education.

A future column will look at those more closely. But for now, here’s a snapshot of the technology upgrade that’s envisioned for schools in the Dacula community and all of Gwinnett County.

The upgrades will vary by school and include:

• Teacher latops.
• Student research stations.
• Network printers, projectors, screens.
• Wireless notebook carts.
• Computer labs.
• Media center and school video broadcast equipment.
• Network infrastructure improvements.
• Increased wireless access.