In separate news releases on Tuesday, the Oconee County Board of Commissioners and the Oconee County Board of Education announced plans to transfer ownership of the Oconee County Civic Center from the county to Oconee County Schools.
If the plans are approved by both Boards, the county would transfer ownership of the nearly 30,000 square foot Civic Center, located at 2661 Hog Mountain Road, to Oconee County Schools and receive in return 42.7 acres of undeveloped land owned by the Board of Education on U.S. 441 north of Bishop.
Responsibility for operation of the Civic Center also would transfer from the county to Oconee County Schools.
Oconee County Schools would continue to allow for non-school use of the facility, similar to current practice, according to the two news releases, but the Civic Center would become daily instructional space for the schools, with nearby Oconee County High School making use of the facility theater for fine arts activities.
The Civic Center would operate under Oconee County Schools policy and applicable state and federal laws and would prohibit alcohol, tobacco, vaping, illegal drugs, weapons, firearms, and other restricted items, according to the news release by the county.
The news release from the Board of Education announced a joint meeting at the two Boards at 4 p.m. on July 6 at the Instructional Support Center, 71 North Main Street in Watkinsville, to discuss the proposed transfer of facilities and property between the two governing bodies.
The news release from the Board of Commissioners announced the July 6 joint meeting and said the commissioners also will discuss the proposed agreement at the Town Hall Meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. on June 16 at the Oconee County Administrative Building, 7635 Macon Highway, north of Watkinsville.
First Notice
The separate news releases, issued at 2 p.m. on Tuesday (June 9), were the first public indication of discussions of a change in ownership of the Civic Center.
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| Ransom 5/21/2026 |
The news releases went out under the names of Diane Baggett, Director of Communications for Oconee County, and Ryan White, Chief Operations Officer for Oconee County Schools. Steven Colquitt, Director of Communications for Oconee County Schools, is out of the office from June 5 to 15.
“This proposal reflects meaningful collaboration between Oconee County Schools and the Board of Commissioners to make the best use of public assets, avoid duplication of facilities, and provide lasting value for students, families, and the broader Oconee County community,” the news release from Baggett quotes School Superintendent Melissa Butler as saying.
"Working with the Board of Education, we have an opportunity to save 42 acres of land from development and set it aside for a future park,” Oconee County Commission Chairman John Daniell said, according to the news release by Baggett. “With Oconee County Schools being the largest user of the Civic Center, it is a great win-win situation for Oconee County," Daniell is quoted as adding.
“We appreciate the opportunity to work collaboratively with the Board of Commissioners on a plan that would benefit our students while ensuring the Civic Center remains an important resource for the entire community,” Board of Education Chair Michael Ransom is quoted as saying in the news release by White. “This is a thoughtful approach that supports responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and provides long-term value for Oconee County,” Ransom is quoted as adding.
White’s release includes the quote from Butler used by Baggett in her news release.
Civic Center Background
The Civic Center sits on 3.6 acres surrounded by 80.8 acres that make up the campus of Oconee County High School.
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| Daniell 3/31/2026 |
The Board of Education transferred ownership of the 3.6 acres to the county, and the two Boards built the Civic Center as a cooperative project. The building permit for the Center is dated 1992.
Operation of the Civic Center is governed by an Intergovernmental Agreement between the two Boards.
Under the current agreement, the Board of Commissioners manages facility operations, while the Board of Education covers 50 percent of maintenance costs and pays a portion of custodial services, according to the county news releases.
Whitney Sperlik, Director of the Civic Center, is a county employee.
Board of Education programs receive scheduling priority at the facility. Last year, school events accounted for approximately half of all Civic Center events, the news release from the county states.
The Civic Center underwent extensive remodeling in 2020. At present, its roof is being replaced.
Building plans for the 2020 remodeling show a building with two roughly equal parts, connected by a shared entrance way and an atrium.
The section of the building closest to Oconee County High School consists of a large auditorium facing a stage. Behind the state are women’s and men’s dressing rooms. A new storage mezzanine was added in the 2020 remodeling.
The section of the Civic Center closest to Butler’s Crossing consists of a banquet hall connected to a kitchen. Mechanical rooms are behind the kitchen.
Scheduling Priorities
At present, Oconee County Schools events have highest priority in scheduling, followed by Board of Commissioners events, and then nonprofit organizations, civic groups, and private individuals.
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| Butler 4/20/2026 |
The county news release says those priorities would continue under the new ownership.
The news release by the Board of Education says “the Civic Center theater would be used as a daily classroom space by Oconee County High School students and would significantly expand fine arts opportunities for students throughout the Oconee County High School cluster.”
“The facility would provide additional space for instruction, rehearsals, theatrical productions, concerts, and other school-related functions while helping create greater parity across the district’s fine arts programs,” White’s release states.
“The Civic Center would continue to serve as an important community resource,” the release continues. “Public access would remain available for voting operations, rentals, and other community uses, ensuring the facility remains accessible for local events and gatherings.”
The Civic Center is used by the county for voting for the largest of its precincts, Oconee Central.
The county has used the Civic Center ballroom for its annual State of the County event.
Friends of the Oconee County Library uses the ballroom for its book sales.
Advantages Of New Plans
Under the current agreement, the Board of Commissioners and Board of Education split equally maintenance and capital improvement costs of the Civic Center.
“Because the facility is not owned by the Board of Education,” White’s news release states, “these expenses must currently be paid from the district’s General Fund.”
“The proposed arrangement would allow Oconee County Schools to utilize Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) funds for eligible facility maintenance and capital improvements,” White wrote, “ reducing the need to rely on local property tax dollars for those expenses.”
The Board of Education in April rejected two offers it had received for the 42.7 acres on U.S. 441 north of Bishop, with Board Chair Ransom saying the offers did not reflect the value of the property.
The Board had purchased the acreage, which also fronts on Union Church Road, in 2007 for $1.1 million as a possible school site, but Ransom said the Board has no interest in using the 42.7 acre tract and it is now considered to be surplus property.
Baggett said, in her news release, that “The property would be held for a future park site.”
At present, the 42.7 acres are assessed at $1.5 million.
The Civic Center is assessed at $5.6 million.
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| Civic Center Plan From 2020 Building Permit (Click To Enlarge) |
2 comments:
I mistakenly published this comment. I do not use comments that do not contain a full, real name. I will gladly republish the comment if it submitted with a full name.
Thanks.
Lee
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