The federal bailout vote could impact improvement plans for Houston County schools.

A rough economy, overcrowding and safety issues are creating tough choices for the Houston County Board of Education. The school system has a list of building projects that total $33 million, yet they have only $5 million to finance them.

Tim Pitchford, the Superintendent of Houston County Schools, says, “We're projecting such a large growth in several areas of our county we've got to be prepared for it. If we've got safety issues that are putting the safety of children in jeopardy you can't put a price tag on it.”

Rehobeth Schools are one example where increased student population has lead to a need for expansion and a need for a resolution to safety issues. Currently students have to travel back and forth from the high school to the football field and music room located at the middle school to attend classes. Administrators say this is not a safe situation. The middle school is anticipating at least 25 more students next year.

The middle school is out of real estate and the only way they can expand is to tear out this football field to add additional class rooms.

To do that they need to move the football field and band facility to 33 available acres of land by the high school. Those projects alone cost around three million dollars which doesn't leave much money for the rest of the list.

Johnny Dixon, the Principal of Rehobeth Middle School, says, “If we don't get to expand and we do continue to fill up we'll have too many students in each classroom. You can add desks but there's only so much room.”

Passage of the federal bailout plan could have an impact on how much money board members have to spend. They may not be able to get the financing.

Bobby Harrell, of the Houston County School Board, says, “If we don't get any money and the economy does not turn around some of the programs that we just put into effect in the last two years gonna have to be eliminated or cut back on drastically.”

On October 13th, the school board will hear from their financial adviser about their borrowing power.