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TODAY IS ELECTION DAY! PLEASE BE SURE TO VOTE!
Polls are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on election day. To find your voting location, please visit www.scvotes.org.
For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.
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ON ELECTION DAY (TOMORROW, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5), AIKEN COUNTY VOTERS WILL SEE TWO QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOT FOR THE EDUCATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS SALES AND USE TAX.
One asks voters if they are in favor of the renewal of the tax and lists the projects and contingency projects that a renewal would directly benefit.
The other is only valid only if the sales tax is approved and asks voters if they are in favor of authorizing the district to bond part of the projected revenue to jump start the projects and begin improvements right away (instead of waiting for one cent sales tax funds to accumulate before beginning improvements).
For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.
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IF THE ONE CENT SALES TAX IS NOT VOTER-APPROVED IN 2024, IT WILL BE TWO YEARS BEFORE THE ONE CENT SALES TAX CAN APPEAR AGAIN ON THE BALLOT.
The Sales Tax question may only appear on the ballot in a general election.
Should the tax not pass by majority vote in 2024, it will be November 2026 before the One Cent Sales Tax appears again on the ballot. If the tax were renewed, over those two years $75 million in funding would have been dedicated to school facilities.
For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.
This week's Bulldog Pledge Leaders are Britain, TreDarius, and Angie! Ms. Templeton nominated these students because they are so responsible each morning in saying the pledges!
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IF RENEWED, THE ONE CENT IN 2024 IS PROJECTED TO AMASS $398 MILLION OVER ITS 10-YEAR COLLECTION PERIOD.
In Aiken County, 90% of sales tax funds are dedicated to school projects and 10% to property tax relief, which totals an estimated $358M to the school facility projects.
If approved by voters, up to $285M of the projected revenue could be bonded to advance or “jump start” the projects (instead of waiting for taxes to accumulate before improvements begin).
For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.
Busbee Week of November 4:
-No school Monday-Tuesday
-Last week for Golden Harvest Food Drive! Please bring canned/boxed goods.
-Picture Day--Thursday Nov. 7
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A THIRD OF THE ONE CENT SALES TAX IS ESTIMATED TO BE GENERATED BY NON-RESIDENTS.
When individuals visit Aiken County and make purchases, their contribution to overall sales tax revenues is estimated to generate around a third of the total collected. If approved, visitors to the county contribute to Aiken County’s school facility improvements, as well as a property tax reduction for Aiken County homeowners.
For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.
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UNPREPARED FOODS, GAS, AND MOST MEDICATIONS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE ONE CENT SALES TAX.
If renewed by voters on November 5, the One Cent Educational Capital Sales and Use Tax would result in a continuation of the One Percent Sales Tax on most purchases (one cent/dollar) in Aiken County. There are numerous exemptions to the tax, which are listed include in South Carolina’s Code of Laws, Section 12-36-2120. Among the exemptions are unprepared foods, gasoline, and most medications.
For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.
We have a few Busbee Spooky-to-be-Hungry Barrels that need a little help! This canned food drive is for Golden Harvest Food Bank, which provides over 40 free "snack sacks" to Busbee. These "snack sacks" go home each weekend for students who have food insecurity.
We are so thankful for all that Golden Harvest does for our students, and we like to show our appreciation by being the TOP giving elementary school in Aiken county each year!
If you have a few cans/boxed items in your pantry that you aren't using, please consider sending them in! The drive runs until November 8.
Busbee Picture Day will be on Thursday, November 7. All students in grades 5k-5th will take a picture and proofs/order forms will be sent home in a few weeks. Students in 4k will be on a field trip and will take pictures on make-up picture day at a later date.
Our original picture day was when we were out for Hurricane Helene, and we appreciate everyone being patient with us while we rescheduled!
Parents and Guardians: Please note that there is no school for students Monday, November 4, due to a District Professional Development Day for teachers.
Tuesday, November 5, is Election Day and all ACPSD schools and offices will be closed. We hope that everyone eligible to vote will exercise their right on Tuesday. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. As a reminder, the One Cent Sales Tax benefitting our public school facilities will be on the ballot. For additional information on the Sales Tax and the school facility improvements that a renewal of the tax would directly benefit, please visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.
Don't forget daylight saving time ends this weekend., and we'll "fall back" an hour on Sunday, November 3.
Wishing everyone a great long weekend as we look forward to welcoming students back to school on Wednesday, November 6.
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IF THE ONE CENT SALES TAX IS VOTER-APPROVED FOR A RENEWAL, A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WILL BE BUILT IN AREA THREE.
Space for elementary school students in Area Three, the fastest-growing area of our county, is limited. Many students in Midland Valley and Graniteville schools are already in portable classrooms.
To accommodate this growth, a new elementary school in Area Three is among the list of projects that a 2024 One Cent Sales Tax renewal would support.
For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.
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CONTINGENCY PROJECTS WILL ALSO APPEAR ON THE BALLOT AND INCLUDE ROOFING, SECURITY VESTIBULES AND DOOR LOCK UPGRADES AT SCHOOLS ACROSS THE DISTRICT, CLASSROOM ADDITIONS AT BYRD AND GLOVERVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND REPLACEMENT OF GREENDALE ELEMENTARY.
In addition to the five primary projects voters will see on their ballot, several contingency projects are also listed that will be undertaken once primary projects are completed (or if all funding necessary for completion of the primary projects has been provided) and if additional tax revenue is available. Sales Tax funding is limited to the projects specified on the ballot and approved by voters. 2024 contingencies represent additional projects that are high priority
For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.
We had a great day at Busbee! We will post pictures of students this afternoon and tomorrow, but until then look at some of our great adult costumes! We also want to thank everyone who brought in candy and to our PTO who made sure that we had plenty of treats on our Busbee BOOlevard this afternoon 💙🐾
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NORTH AUGUSTA MIDDLE (NAMS), CONSTRUCTED IN 1954, IS THE OLDEST SCHOOL AMONG THE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT A 2024 RENEWAL OF THE ONE CENT SALES WOULD BENEFIT.
Window air conditioning and heating units and metal-lined walls make indoor temperature control of this 1950s-era school (built without central heating and air) a challenge. At NAMS, the roof is leaking, doors are no longer fully shutting, and walkways and entrances to areas of the school built below grade flood on rainy days..
Part of the school was renovated previously and includes the cafeteria, science and music wing. If approved by voters, the recently updated areas are all that would remain. The original 1954 structure would be demolished, and a new, secure entryway, admin and classroom wing, media center, and gymnasium would be constructed.
For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.
Busbee has the best staff in the world! Ms. Suzanne spent her morning painting everyone's faces. She's so talented and we are so thankful for her 💙🐾🧡🖤
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FIVE OF EIGHT OF THE COUNTY’S HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN RECENTLY UPDATED OR REBUILT, A SALES TAX RENEWAL IN 2024 WOULD ADDRESS THE REMAINING THREE.
South Aiken High, Silver Bluff High, and Midland Valley High were each built in 1980. At the time of the One Cent Sales Tax in 2014, they were referred to as the district’s “new” high schools.
Improvements at those campuses, if approved by voters, include secure, welcoming entrances, updated athletic facilities, purpose-built classrooms for culinary arts and other CTE courses, and more.
For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.
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THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL HOST A LIVE INFORMATIONAL MEETING ABOUT THE SALES TAX ON OCTOBER 29 AT 6PM.
ACPSD has engaged in an effort to educate the community about the One Cent Sales Tax, and has shared information in a series of meetings held throughout the county over several months.
A virtual meeting will be held this evening, Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 6PM.
Join at www.acpsd.net/OneCent.
Quick reminder for Holiday Pictures tomorrow--if you are wanting your child to take pictures with their siblings, please send in a note with each child.
Only students who bring money with a completed form tomorrow or have pre-paid online will take pictures. If you need a form, they are available in the front office ❄️☃️
These are not make-up pictures. More information about make-up pictures to be shared shortly! We are working on the date with our photographers 📸
Our Busbee Barrels are filling up! Busbee Elementary is always one of the top collectors for the annual Golden Harvest Food Bank food drive, and we are on track to do that again this year! And look how super cute our teachers have made our barrels!
We will be collecting canned goods until November 8th! If you have extra at home, please consider sending some in with your students!
