Coppinger: Hamilton County can fund just three of six new school projects

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

photo Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger

Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger said the county has enough funds to complete three of six proposed new school projects - but he won't say how much the county has to work with or which schools he thinks should be built.

But he will meet with commissioners privately to discuss the projects outside of public view.

School Superintendent Rick Smith presented the six projects to commissioners today during a recessed session.

The projects include an elementary school to replace Ganns Middle Valley Elementary and Falling Water Elementary; a replacement and expansion of Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts; additions to Sale Creek Middle-High and Nolan and Wolftever Creek elementaries; and a new middle school in the East Hamilton area.

Coppinger told Commission Chairman Fred Skillern he was prepared to share the three projects he thought should be built, but Skillern instructed him to meet with commissioners individually.