Hamilton County Commission tells school board to consider rezoning

The Hamilton County Commission
The Hamilton County Commission

Hamilton County school board’s priority list for new construction:

1. Harrison Elementary — $35 million2. Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts — $64 million3. East Hamilton Middle — $45 millionHamilton County school board’s priority list for building additions:1. Snow Hill Elementary — $7 million2. Howard Middle (renovation) — $6 million3. Spring Creek Elementary — $7 million4. Lookout Valley Middle/High gym addition — $6 million5. Central High gym addition — $6 million6. Hixson High gym addition — $6 millionSource: Hamilton County Department of Education

The Hamilton County Commission on Wednesday discussed the need to merge and rezone schools, but plans to fund any new school construction projects this year were not mentioned, despite being presented a list of the county school board's construction priorities.

For about 40 minutes, commissioners questioned whether Hamilton County Schools is looking at every possible option to address school overcrowding and how the district accumulated more than $200 million in deferred maintenance.

"I don't know where to begin. There are so many questions," said Commissioner Warren Mackey. "How many empty classrooms do you have?"

Justin Witt, director of maintenance and operation for the school district, said he could not guess at that number off the top of his head. But said he could get the commission that number and have it broken down by school.

Mackey and Commissioners Joe Graham and Greg Martin asked why the district wanted to build new schools when it had empty classrooms in some schools across the county.

Martin, who served on the school board until being elected to the commission late last year, said the school district needs to take a serious look at rezoning.

"I think that the most difficult thing that the school board ever does, probably, is rezone students," Martin said. "The most difficult thing this body does is raise taxes."

Hamilton County Schools Interim Superintendent Kirk Kelly told the commission the district is willing to wrestle with the hard questions and provide the commission with capacity levels at schools.

"Rezoning is not going to solve all of our problems," Kelly added. "We still need these new additions."

Kelly said the board's top construction priority is to build a new Harrison Elementary, then Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts and East Hamilton Middle. He said additions at Snow Hill Elementary, Howard Middle and Spring Creek Elementary are also needed to help with overcrowding.

Addressing the large amount of deferred maintenance, Kelly noted that the average age of the county's schools is about 40 years old.

Commissioner Sabrena Smedley announced that she and school board chairman Steve Highlander have planned a meeting for the two bodies to discuss the district facilities needs on March 14 at 6 p.m.

Contact staff writer Kendi A. Rainwater at krainwater@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @kendi_and.

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