Walton Parents Plead for Renovations

On the same day they received detailed requests for construction and maintenance projects throughout the , the Cobb Board of Education heard Wednesday from  parents who made impassioned cases for a variety of capital improvements. 

Three parents -- two of whom have had children in Walton's orchestra program -- told the board during a public comment period that the 37-year-old East Cobb school requires a number of upgrades to meet present student needs.

"We're asking Cobb County, and hopefully SPLOST IV, to get us the facility we need," said Walton parent Pam Morgan, who cited the school's parking crunch as an example. 

Walton is arguably Cobb's most academically and athletically accomplished high school. It also is the county's largest high school, with more than 2,600 students. 

But the existing 650 student parking places are far less than the recommended 1,000 spaces, an improvement that is mentioned in a "wish list" of projects contained in a consultant's report the board received Wednesday. (See the accompanying PDF document.)

This fall, the board will consider whether to call a referendum early next year to continue the school system's penny sales tax for construction and maintenance.

SPLOST IV, as it is being called, would fund an estimated $717 million in Cobb school projects through 2018. 

Among the Walton projects earmarked in the SPLOST IV "notebook" is $9 million to replace the main gymnasium and another $2 million for a choral and orchestra "reconfiguration." 

Orchestra parents Walter Grantham and Mark Graves spoke in favor of vastly expanding the space for the Walton orchestra, which with more than 200 members is one of the largest in Cobb. 

"They work in a space [2,600 square feet] that's half the specification," said Graves, whose now-graduated son "took off and found himself" by belonging to the Walton orchestra. 

"The program attracts so many students. It would be wonderful to open the doors to more of them."

Grantham says the current orchestra space holds enough room for about 100 students. "They can't practice and rehearse all at the same time."

A total of 18 "potential individual school needs" for Walton has been outlined in the consultant's report (pages 206-207 of the PDF), including expanding the band, chorus and orchestra areas, enlarging the media center, constructing a drama room and teaching theater, adding parking spaces and making other improvements.

"We have watched the SPLOST III and seen it benefit so many schools across the county," Morgan said. "But we're losing our patience and we want to see some of these urgent needs met. 

"Think of how much more amazing Walton can be."

A to address SPLOST, budget and other school issues will be hosted at Walton next Thursday by Cobb school board chairman Scott Sweeney, who represents the Walton district.