Signal Mountain public schools are on the list for needed repairs and anticipated upgrades, but they are not at the top of the list.
“Nolan’s got the capacity to increase about 11 classrooms [in size],” District 2 School Board representative Chip Baker said. “The good thing is it’s not really, in the scheme of things, an expensive project. The bad thing is there are a lot of projects in front of it and they’re all in East Hamilton.”
That is the kind of trend that has Signal Mountain parents worried and upset. They made that message loud and clear at the local District 2 County Conversation last week.
“I think everyone thinks Signal Mountain will take care of itself so we can put them on the back burner, because when they want something bad enough they’ll do it themselves,” parent Lauren Howley told the panel, which included Baker, County Mayor Jim Coppinger and Commissioner Jim Fields. “I’m here to say on behalf of the Average Joe parents, we can’t do it anymore.”
The Nolan Elementary addition will cost between $2 million and $3 million, Baker estimated. Both Nolan and Thrasher Elementary are over capacity. Thrasher also has severe maintenance issues.