By KATIE HURST/ Staff Writer

HELENA — Several Helena residents were surprised to recently see a Helena high school listed on the capital plan for Shelby County on the State of Alabama Department of Education’s website.

Tom Ferguson, assistant superintendent of operations for Shelby County Schools, said the listing is a five-year plan and indicates that the Board of Education would like to complete the project in the next five years. The plan lists the project’s funding year as 2011.

“The state requires us to put together a five year capitol plan,” Ferguson said.“When funding becomes available, the idea is that we’ll have a plan.”

Ferguson said projects are listed on the plan regardless of if they are currently funded. Funding is not yet available for a Helena high school, he said. The plan lists the required budget for the school as $30,000,000.

“Even though they are things we want to do, we may not have the funding,” Ferguson said. “Helena High School is an example.”

Other new schools listed on the five-year plan include a 4-5 Chelsea elementary school, Alabaster elementary school and Calera middle school.

“It’s something we want to do along with several other schools, but we’ve got to have the funding first,” he said. “It is not unusual for projects that are not funded to be extended out further. But it does show and indicate that it is something we want to accomplish.”