Stimulus helping Cleveland wing fly

Construction on a science wing for Cleveland High School received a boon recently in the form of a highly coveted low-interest loan, made possible by federal stimulus funds.

The Cleveland City Council already had approved a half-cent sales tax increase to help pay for the project, and Bradley County funds were pledged as well, when Tennessee education officials announced that Qualified School Construction Bonds would be available.

Of 145 building projects submitted, the state funded about 13. Cleveland City Schools is the only district in Southeast Tennessee to receive the loan. Hamilton County Schools also applied, but did not receive funding.

"We were just really fortunate. Timing is everything," said Brenda Carson, the Cleveland school system's business manager.

Construction on the 42,000 square-foot science wing should begin shortly after bids go out in November, Ms. Carson said.

The district also will find out in November whether the $4 million loan will come with zero interest or low interest, such as one-quarter of 1 percent. Either way, the money represents a significant savings on a project already in the works, she said.

"For a $4 million, 15-year loan, if you're looking at 5 percent interest, (we'd be spending) another $1.7 million," she said.

Cleveland High biology teacher Jeannie Long said the science wing makeover has been a long time coming.

Science teachers in the building share two dilapidated labs, complete with small, rusty sinks, leaky faucets, broken chairs and chipped tables, she said.

Sometimes the plumbing and the electricity work, sometimes they don't, she said.

"It's 40 years old and there's only so much you can do," she said.

Because science has such specialized needs, it's important to keep equipment updated, Ms. Long said. The fact that her students continue learning in the current environment is impressive, she added.

"It's really incredible they achieve as much as they do, considering what they have," she said. "You know they could do so much more."

Cleveland High sophomore Sandy Ha said she and her classmates are tired of working in the rundown labs and are looking forward to the new wing.

"We have a lot of different science classes that other schools don't have," she said, mentioning courses in aquatic biology and earth and space science.

"We have all the good teachers and students who want to take the classes, we just don't have any of the equipment or a place to do it," added senior Emily Johnson.