Staff Writer

JONESVILLE - To enable it to open on time in 2009, the Jonesville-Lockhart Charter School will be built in Jonesville, not Kelly-Kelton, according to school officials.

Vice chairman Mark Sanders said plans are to locate the school in Jonesville between the town's water tank and Oakbrook Community Church on Alman Street. The school was originally to be located on a 60-acre site at the corner of Kelly-Pinckney Road and S.C. 9 near Kelly One Stop. In January, the board took out a 90-day option - with a 30-day extension if needed - on the site. Delays in securing funding caused the school to lose its option, though Sanders said supporters of the school are still working to obtain funding to purchase land in Kelly-Kelton.

Chairman Shirley Cromer said that while Kelly-Kelton remains the ideal, practicality dictates the Jonesville location if the school is to open on schedule in August 2009. The school's opening has already been delayed one year because of a loss of construction funding.

“Our goal has always been to have a school in Kelly-Kelton,” she said. “It remains a goal, but we need a larger amount of money to make that happen for 2009 and soon. We also believe we must open in 2009 so we can have options later. We have always done our best to provide a choice for the parents.”

The school, which would consist of 24 modular units in two buildings with a total space of 25,000 square feet, would be built on land purchased from the town. Sanders said construction of the facility is projected to cost approximately $1.6 million. He said that half the funds have already been pledged.

Sanders said the Jonesville location will enable the school to make use of existing buildings, facilities and infrastructure, reducing construction costs. Under the proposed plan the school will lease the old National Guard armory on Gilead Street. He said the school will renovate the armory to serve as both its gym and as a community center for the town.

“The armory has room for a high school league gym; two kitchens, one of which can be turned into a concession stand; bathrooms, showers, office space, storage space, a weight room and parking,” he said. “The materials to renovate the building will cost an estimated $60,000. We hope we can get volunteers to supply the labor.”

The school would also lease the Mac Cunningham Sports Complex on Alman Street from the town. Sanders said the complex already has two ball fields, a concession stand and 50 parking spaces. He said the complex sits on approximately 30 acres of land, leaving plenty of room for the construction of a football field.

Oakbrook's leaders have agreed to allow the school to use its auditorium and its two parking areas totaling 58 spaces. Sanders said the school would build a loop around the back of the building linking the church's parking areas to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

“All the utilities are already in place and there's a fire hydrant across the street,” he said. “There's existing parking space so the only paving we'd have to do is the loop. At the Kelly-Kelton site we'd have had to build all these things.”

The Kelly-Kelton site was originally chosen because of its central location between Jonesville and Lockhart. While they would still build a campus there if money became available, this is not the only option for the school, Sanders said. If interest in the charter school grows it's possible that additional campuses could be built in Lockhart and other areas of the county. He said it will all depend on community support and student enrollment.

Charter schools receive state and federal funding for operations based on student enrollment. Sanders said that for the Jonesville school to be viable, at least 400 students will have to be enrolled. He said approximately 250 students are already enrolled.

Jonesville Town Council passed a resolution in 2007 saying it would support the charter school in any way possible. Sanders said he spoke to town officials and was told they would honor that commitment. He said the school's governing board will go before council and make formal presentation of its proposal.