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The $457 million school construction bonds on the May 6 primary ballot come down to two questions, depending on which side you fall.

Can Guilford County support this spending now in a down economy?

Can Guilford County afford not to?

Connie Bruffey, a Kernodle Middle School parent, said this week that she was having an easier time choosing among presidential candidates.

"We're on the fence," Bruffey said. "We know we need the schools. On the other end of it, I don't know how much families can take."

What to do? Bruffey and others must decide between safeguarding their wallets or continuing the process started in 2000 of catching up on population growth and maintenance that was neglected for 20 years.

Taxpayers have approved two school bonds totaling $500 million over the past eight years, agreeing with the Guilford County Board of Education both times that the district's schools were crowded, outdated and ill-maintained.

The board presents the new bond construction plan with the expectation that still more borrowing could be needed to update existing facilities and accommodate a projected 7,400 more students over the next decade.

Voters will see two bonds on the ballot May 6:

* A $45 million bond would pay to rebuild Eastern Guilford High School in McLeansville, which was destroyed by fire in November 2006.

* A $412.3 million package would build five new schools and renovate 13.

School district and county officials admit they don't have a Plan B for fulfilling promises of building a new Jamestown Middle and Special Education Center West, and renovating Ragsdale High. Those three were listed on the 2003 bond, but the money was needed elsewhere.

"This really is the opportunity to get done what we need to get done," school board Chairman Alan Duncan told a elected officials April 11.

This board also has the opportunity to rebuild confidence among residents who have cried foul over how previous bond money was spent. Critics include minority contractors who have complained about unequal access to projects, as well as parents who say the district spent too much on Northern High School, which opened this year at a cost of almost $43 million.

In response, the district is working with parents, teachers and professionals on a set of guidelines that aims to keep new schools efficient and cost-effective.

The board also has worked to increase outreach to minority firms and instituted an advisory committee to evaluate construction projects.

School board member Darlene Garrett cited the committee as one reason she is supporting the bonds.

"We definitely need more schools," Garrett said.

School officials also say a softening economy could drive down the cost of materials and labor nationally, as well as provide jobs.

"We know that we're in a difficult economy, but there's a plus side to that," Duncan said. "We believe we can get a very good bang for our dollar and get a lot of work done."

Less certain is how the cost of busing students will be addressed. The district expects to spend $4.2 million on diesel fuel this academic year, 250 percent more than what was spent in 2003-04.

John Moore, a Guilford County resident, doubts taxpayers are in financial shape to handle an additional $412 million in debt. Moore said he is considering approving the Eastern bond but will oppose the larger package. Moore, a 60-year-old retired engineer, said his taxes would go up $200 a year if all the bonds on the ballot passed.

"I'm not sure at the end of the day if I can buy next week's gas," Moore said.

Moore is equally critical of the municipal and county economic development policies that don't charge developers — and therefore, newcomers — for the additional homes that are built.

"We're doing a lousy job today on a business model of equating the value of getting those new residents and these new jobs with the cost of having them," Moore said. "We don't need all this growth if we can't afford to pay for it."

Anita Bachmann argues that approving the bonds could help increase the tax base by attracting businesses. The Bonds for Schools committee that Bachmann coordinates estimates that the additional taxes for the owner of a $200,000 home amounts to one Big Mac a week.

"Our children are worth that much and more," Bachmann said.

School board member Amos Quick said he opposes the

$412 million bond package because of the price, as well as the location of the projects. Quick said he would have liked to see more work done in poorer areas of the county.

"We've been willing to redistrict those kids out of those communities and not put investment into those communities," Quick said.

Contact Morgan Josey Glover at 373-7078 or morgan.josey@news-record.com

AT THE SCHOOLS

(listed without inflation)

Alamance Elementary
Addition and renovations
$17 million

Allen Middle
Classrooms and auxiliary gym
$7.6 million

Allen Jay Middle
Renovation
$10.2 million

Dudley High
Renovation, upgrade athletics facilities
$5.6 million

Grimsley High
Cafeteria addition, renovations
to gym and stadium
$9.8 million

High Point Central High
Upgrade lighting and technology, renovate gym
$4.5 million

Jamestown Middle
Additional funding for new school
$28.1 million

McLeansville Elementary
Classroom addition, expansion
for media center
$5.3 million

Northwest High
Site and athletic facilities improvements
$3 million

Northwest Middle
New auxiliary gym, classroom addition
$6.5 million

Page High
Improve athletic facilities
$2 million

Ragsdale High
Expansion and renovations, autism wing
$28 million

Southeast High
Classrooms, media center
and gym additions
$28 million

Southeast Middle
Auxiliary gym, cafeteria classroom and media center expansions
$11 million

Southwest High
New classrooms and gym and media center expansions, $26.1 million

Summerfield Elementary
Classrooms, media center, cafeteria expansions
$15 million

NEW SCHOOLS

Airport area high
with autism wing
$63.7 million

Land for airport area middle
$1.8 million

Northern Greensboro elementary
$19.8 million

Southeast area elementary
with autism wing
$26.7 million

Special Education Center West
$6.8 million

ACROSS THE DISTRICT

Other projects districtwide, totaling $14.8 million:
* Athletics facilities improvements, $5 million
* Heating and cooling systems
and technology improvements, $7.8 million
* Move mobile classrooms, $2 million

— Compiled by Morgan Josey Glover