CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Asbestos has been removed from the tornado-stricken Blue Springs Elementary School building and now the Bradley County School Board will be seeking bids for demolition of the building.
Architect Angie Lyon of Kaatz Binkley Jones & Morris Inc. told the school board Thursday that bid packages for the demolition will go out Feb. 28.
After the work starts, "It could only take a week or two," Lyon said.
The board will vote on the bids on March 8.
The school was demolished during the April 27, 2011, tornadoes.
Meanwhile, the quest for a Federal Emergency Management Administration grant to be used toward a new school is being made, Lyon said.
When a contract is awarded, the school system will have three years to complete the new school, Lyon said, plus two one-year extensions for a total of five years.
And at tornado-damaged Michigan Avenue Elementary, "The steel has been set. The roof is on. We are dry and enclosed," said Casson Conn of Tri-Conn Construction. Brick masonry is about a week away from completion, he said.
Director of Schools Johnny McDaniel said he has met with the Salvation Army and the Long Term Recovery Project about some funds available for Michigan Avenue "and when we rebuild Blue Springs."
"We will be grateful to receive whatever they deem appropriate," McDaniel said.
Randall Higgins covers news in Cleveland, Tenn., for the Times Free Press. He started work with the Chattanooga Times in 1977 and joined the staff of the Chattanooga Times Free Press when the Free Press and Times merged in 1999. Randall has covered Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia and Alabama. He now covers Cleveland and Bradley County and the neighboring region. Randall is a Cleveland native. He has bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Technological University. His awards ...
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