Bibb Board of Education renames Promise Center, approves ESPLOST referendum
The Promise Center at Anthony Road will get a new name after a recommendation from the Bibb County school board Thursday night.
The board unanimously voted to accept Dr. Robert J. Williams Complex at Ballard Hudson as the new name.
Board member Lester Miller, who was head of the naming committee for the building, said they took input from the community and heard overwhelming support for the name.
Williams was a native of Macon, born in 1925, and grew up in the historic district of Pleasant Hill.
He was a World War II veteran and served in the school system when it operated as a dual system. Miller said that Williams played an indispensable role as a peacemaker during integration.
“I could go on and on about his achievements,” Miller said.
Another notable item was the appointment of a new assistant superintendent for human resources for the Bibb County school district.
Superintendent Curtis Jones recommended Paige Busbee, who is currently the director of personnel for Houston County schools.
Board members voted 6 to 1, with Tom Hudson voting against and Wanda West absent, to appoint Busbee to the position.
“I think the process was flawed and I can’t support this vote,” Hudson said.
Additionally, an item on the referendum for a new education sales tax, or ESPLOST, was a point of vigorous discussion among board members.
Based on a work session on June 9, charter schools were added to the ESPLOST referendum.
“Before we get to voting on this, I need to know what the law is,” said board member Daryl Morton.
Morton reiterated his concerns from the June 9 meeting that if ESPLOST funds were going to be used on projects for charter schools, then he wanted to make sure that money wouldn’t be lost should the school fail. Board President Thelma Dillard echoed those concerns.
Both the land and buildings of the school district’s charter schools -- Academy for Classical Education and Macon Charter Academy -- aren’t owned by the district.
“I think we need to decide whether we’re going to include them first,” Miller said. He added the board could approve or not approve individual charter school projects later.
After a long talk, Morton said, “I’m very uncomfortable with this, but I’m going to support the superintendent.”
The board voted unanimously to pass the referendum.
Jones said the public should know that the board showed “great forethought and due diligence” in this decision.
“I am comfortable there are opportunities in the future to validate any projects,” he said, adding that the board will have the option to approve or not approve those projects at that time.
The five-year ESPLOST referendum is now headed to the local Board of Elections to be put on a ballot for voters this fall.
To contact writer David Schick, call 744-4382.
This story was originally published June 18, 2015 at 10:14 PM with the headline "Bibb Board of Education renames Promise Center, approves ESPLOST referendum ."