King Says Partnership Funding Will Dictate Start of Gym

After voters in the Cleveland County School District (CCSD) overwhelming approved a 6-mill tax increase on Tuesday to support the construction of a new gym at the Rison School, Superintendent Davy King said the timeline for starting the project will be dictated by the potential state partnership money the district could receive for the project. Earlier this year, the state approved CCSD to receive  $2,707,532.36 in partnership funding to help pay for the new gym estimated to cost about $12 million. However, that funding has yet to be awarded.  King said Thursday that if the district were to start construction before receiving the partnership money, the district would forfeit the funding. King said the Rison gym project is the next in line to be offered partnership by the state. Still, he said the district will begin finalizing the gym plans and pursuing the construction bonds as it awaits word on the partnership funding.