Glynn Ready to Put Tax to Work The School Board Says the First New School Construction Could Begin This Year.

BRUNSWICK – A day after voters approved Glynn County’s first ever 1-cent sales tax for school construction, Dave Smith, chairman of the school board, said construction on the first school could begin in five months.

When all the votes were tallied, 57 percent of the voters approved the tax, which is expected to generate $92.5 million.

Smith promised transparency as the school board goes forward to build four new schools and to expand and renovate others, Smith said.

“I believe this school board fully understands the responsibility the public has given us. We must perform and do exactly as we promised with no exception,” he said.

There will be an independent oversight board that will likely include appointees from other entities, including the PTA, school councils and perhaps the chamber of commerce and County Commission, Smith said.

The first school, Sterling Middle School, could be under construction in about five months, Smith said.

The school board will likely sell bonds in the coming weeks so that construction can begin before the tax revenue begins to arrive.

The school improvements will improve education, Smith said. He added he is hopeful that will become apparent to everyone, including those who opposed the tax.

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