In Washington County, there has been a big fuss about the Potential 1% Sales Tax Referendum. This referendum would add a 1% Sales Tax for a 20 year time period. This tax would not apply to groceries or hygienic items. All the revenue from this tax would go directly to the school district for school improvements only.
The Washington County Public Schools Capital Improvement Plan Committee has announced that if the 1% Sales Tax Referendum passes there could be a potential Patrick Henry and Holston High School merger. This new school would be placed in the Glade Spring Area and feature brand new school facilities as well as a magnet school for construction trades. This merger would help the county be able to provide more services to the students at Patrick Henry and Holston. It would give the ability for more sports and higher level classes.
In the plan they also announced auxiliary gyms for Abingdon High School and Wallace Middle School to help improve the amount of practice facilities that can be used at those schools. Currently at Wallace Middle School the basketball/volleyball court is so small that if you attempted to shoot a corner three-pointer you would be out of bounds. This auxiliary gym at Wallace would be for John Battle as-well as Wallace to use for athletics.
They also announced a new EB Stanley Middle School Band Room. This band room is necessary as the band room currently at EB Stanley is not equipped for the current size of the band there. More than a fourth of the student population at EB Stanley Middle School is enrolled in the band, that is the largest band in the county, including high schools.