School officials throughout Jefferson County are dusting off tucked-away plans for spending their share of $1 billion in bonds.

The Alabama Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that distribution of the bond money is legal.

Most school systems plan to build new schools, renovate existing facilities and pay off debt. Construction would be paid for with the bond money, and a 1 cent sales tax passed in 2004 will pay off the bonds.

Plans for some of the school systems are indefinite because the money has been held in escrow because of a legal challenge. Sam Pointer, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said Thursday he has not decided whether to ask for a rehearing. Pointer said he has 14 days to apply for a rehearing and will decide next week.

Here's how the school districts plan to spend their shares of the bond money.

The Bessemer school district is slated to receive about $39 million. Board members want to build a new high school to replace Jess Lanier High.

"It will take all that money and then some to do what we want," said board member Ralph Hodge. "The property on Lakeshore we looked at was $2 (million) to $3 million. That's a good price from USX for 65 acres. But we haven't approved any site. Other locations were more expensive and needed more excavation work."

The board wants the new campus to include a football stadium, baseball field, track-and-field facilities and a 1,600-seat auditorium. The board even talked about a swimming pool. Board members invited several architects to present plans including those amenities, Hodge said.

The Birmingham school board two years ago developed a plan to build 12 schools, renovate 28 and add to five. Birmingham's share is estimated at $350 million.

Birmingham school board President Odessa Ashley said rising costs will require the board to review the list.

Homewood has plans to use its $31.2 million to pay down its debt from building the new Homewood Middle School and buying back the old Homewood Middle from the city of Homewood. It also wants an alternative school that's not inside Homewood High, and either a new central office or renovations to the current one.

Hoover schools will receive about $80 million from the county bond issue.

"We're glad it came into focus this way because we can have more concrete information to formulate our long-range plans," said Interim Superintendent Andy Craig. He said specific uses for the money will be determined as the system continues to develop its long-range plan for growth.

Fairfield school board member Vera Penny was chairwoman of a subcommittee to study possible uses for the money when the tax was passed. The committee anticipated somewhere between $23 million and $26 million. At that time, it was thought the money could be used only for new construction.

"We did not go as far as putting a budget together, but one of the primary things we discussed was a new fine arts building at the high school," she said. "We had estimated that to be between $200,000 and $300,000."

The system needs to replace Forest Hills Middle School. School officials are looking at land adjacent to the current school and elsewhere in the city as a site for the school. They also want to reroof all school buildings and replace all air-conditioning units.

Jefferson County, which stands to get $375 million, minus an undetermined portion that will go to Trussville, has 15 projects specifically identified for the tax money, including six new high schools, two new middle schools, two new elementary schools and a new community school, along with some renovations and additions to existing schools.

"If we have the site in hand, or we're close to having a site that we can recommend purchasing, then obviously those projects can start faster, more quickly, than if we do not know quite yet where a school would go," Jefferson County Superintendent Phil Hammonds said.

Leeds Superintendent Billy Pack said his system expects about $1.2 million, based on 2003-04 enrollment.

Leeds has planned to use the money for a proposed new Leeds High School off Interstate 20. The money would go exclusively toward the project, which is in the land-acquisition stage. The current facility is more than 50 years old and needs repairs.

Mountain Brook expects about $38 million, although that's a broad estimate. The system plans to address a variety of remodeling needs at Mountain Brook Junior High and Mountain Brook High. At the junior high school, officials want to create more space for the band, chorus and physical education programs. At the high school, additional space is needed for the band and theater programs, and art rooms could be relocated to free up space for regular classrooms. There are no firm plans or cost estimates yet. The money also may be used to work on the high school roof, estimated at more than $1 million.

The remainder will go to retire as much as possible of more than $40 million in existing debt, including a $23 million bond issue from this spring.

"If we can address most of our facility needs and come out without a significant increase in our debt, that's a pretty good deal," said Superintendent Charles Mason. "If you can add onto your house significantly and have your house payment not go up, that's a pretty good deal."

Midfield Superintendent Donnie Breaseale estimated the system's $11.3 million share would go for 10 projects, including a 12- to 14-classroom addition at Midfield Elementary and a competition gym and band room at Midfield High.

Tarrant, which will receive $13.8 million, probably will build a middle school and high school combination, according to Superintendent Marti Rizzuto.

Trussville has a share to be determined later. The school system opened for classes in 2005, after the bonds were issued. Trussville plans to use its money toward a new high school and to renovate its existing high and middle schools.

Vestavia Hills school officials planned to complete 30 construction projects regardless of whether they received the district's $51.4 million share of the bond issue. The only difference, Superintendent Jamie Blair said, is that the bond money is likely to move projects along faster.

Among the first priorities for new construction are adding six classrooms to Vestavia Hills Elementary West, adding an undetermined number of classrooms to Vestavia Hills High, and making systemwide improvements and renovations at three other elementary schools and Pizitz Middle, Blair said.

News staff writers Kim Bryan, Anita Debro, Troy Goodman, Laura McAlister, Bill Plott, William C. Singleton III, Erin Stock, William Thornton and Hannah Wolfson contributed to this report.

Friday, August 18, 2006