Most area education officials say they’ll take the money generated by expanding gambling to replace schools in their districts if it is offered to them.

Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonburg, asked House members earlier this week to look at a bill that allows the placement of video slot machines at horse tracks with the bill passing Friday. The idea behind the bill is to use the proceeds from the video slot machines to fund the replacement of 16 or so category five schools statewide, which are deemed to be in the worst condition.

The replacement of the category five schools will cost the state $10.5 million a year in debt service.

Stumbo also gave House members a list of category four schools and said some of those might be moved into the category five division and funded as well.

If all are considered, Stumbo said, it would cost the state about $61 million in annual debt service, according to a Glasgow Daily Times article published earlier this week.

Among the category five schools which Stumbo’s plan for gambling revenues might replace with new schools are: North Metcalfe and Summer Shade Elementary schools in the Metcalfe County School District.

“I believe there needs to be a plan to replace category five schools that provides assistance from the state. In our situation, we have four out of five schools that need replacement. Our facility plan calls for the replacement of three,” said Pat Hurt, superintendent of Metcalfe County Schools. “At an estimated $40 million dollars, it will be a very long time before our district can save that kind of money and the need is staring us in the face today. I can simply say to you that help is desperately needed in our district to provide for the needs of our children. I am not sure it is wise to present it as an “either/or” or even a “both/and” in the same sentence with gaming and slots. These are two separate issues being bound together politically and I can only speak to our really grave need for school facility replacement and the needs for our children (which) is what my priorities are as superintendent of schools in Metcalfe County. It is my business to advocate for kids.”

Those that are considered to be category four schools that might be replaced with the funding from the video slot machines are Glasgow High School and Caverna Elementary.

Kathy Goff, superintendent of the Glasgow Independent School District, said she had not yet made up her mind on the issue.

“I have not taken a position on the expanded gambling issue nor have I discussed this issue with the Glasgow Board of Education,” she said. “I have not had any conversations with the community or parents about this issue to date. Obviously, we all want to build a new Glasgow High School, but I am not in position to speak for the board or parents at this time.”

Jerry Ream, chairman of the Glasgow Board of Education, did have an opinion on the matter.

“If the Glasgow Independent School district were to receive funding for a new high school from the proceeds of video slots, we would accept it,” he said. “If we didn’t accept it somebody else would. We have to consider our student body and the benefits it would bring to our school district.”

Sam Dick, superintendent of the Caverna Independent School District, said he was surprised to learn that one of the schools his district would qualify.

“When we did our facilities plan it had all of my schools as three and they listed us as a four,” he said. “Looks like if I had a building that was a four it would be the high school because the elementary is not as near as old.”

Dick said he believes the state needs to do something to help school districts fund the replacement of school buildings.

“I don’t necessarily know if this is going to be the answer,” he said. “Tough times call for tough decisions. That would be one way to alleviate that stress.”

He went on to say he has mixed feelings about the bill, and wonders if expanding gambling would cause additional hardships.

“That’s why we have our legislators to try to listen to the voices of the people,” he said. “That was a very strategic move on the part of the legislators, because it offers a way to (relieve) the stress. I think most people are convinced education should be a priority. There are several schools across the state we need to do something about.”

Rep. James Comer, R-Tompkinsville, who represents Metcalfe County, is opposed to the idea of using money generated from video slot machines to fund the construction of new schools.

“I think it’s unfortunate that’s the way the House Democrat leadership has decided to try to get the votes to expand gambling in Kentucky,” he said. “Last year when they tried to pass expanded gaming it was the answer to help the jail situation with all the counties. That is the biggest issue in Kentucky for fiscal courts. Initially that was going to help with that. Then it was going to help with the SEEK formula and with education funding. Then this year it started going to the horse industry to increase purses and now it’s going to build the schools.

“No one really knows how much expanded gaming would bring into the state, but they’ve already increased their projections on how much it’s going to bring into the state.”

Comer said it is probable that only half of the schools will be built if the expanded gaming bill passes.

In the regular session the House passed a bill that included funding for the construction of one school in Metcalfe County, but the measure died in the Senate.

“We’re going to get a school for Metcalfe County,” Comer said. “It may not be this special session, but in the very near future we will get a school for Metcalfe County.”

Comer said he intends to vote against the expanding gaming bill.