Cleveland and Bradley County school summit planned

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- As many as 35 elected officials could come together here soon to share ideas about Bradley County and Cleveland school needs and how to fund them.

The Bradley County Commission, Cleveland City Council and the Bradley and Cleveland school boards have been discussing the idea in their own meetings. It came up again recently when the council and commission met over lunch.

This month, the city council and school board discussed locations for the next city elementary school. On Monday, Councilman Bill Estes urged the county commission to consider a small property tax increase, rather than a wheel tax, to raise the money for construction.

Both school boards also took up the funding question during the week.

On Thursday night, the county school board weighed in.

"It's about education," board member Troy Weathers said of the proposed summit. "I think we have to be there."

Councilman Richard Banks said the city and county need to build new schools, and he asked,"What is Plan B?" if voters turn down the wheel tax.

Now the various groups must settle on a meeting date and time.

County board members agreed that with so many people needing time to voice opinions and share ideas, the meeting would require more time than a lunch hour.

The school boards and the Cleveland City Council each have seven members, and the Bradley County Commission has 14, for a total of 35 people if everyone attends.