By Tom Davis and Kimberly McMillian
Correspondents
DAYTON, Tenn. – Rhea County Finance Committee members on Wednesday narrowed the list of potential construction managers for a new high school from seven to three.
They are Dillard Construction Inc., Hewlett-Spencer LLC of Nashville and Merit Construction of Knoxville.
Finance members said Wednesday the next step is to get key players, including school board members and county commissioners, to meet and discuss where to go from here.
Rhea County commissioners appeared in a workshop session Tuesday to accept the school board’s request for a new high school and turn to the matter of paying for the project.
Commissioner Bill Hollin said the commission’s Education Committee agrees with the school board’s proposal and supports hiring a construction manager.
County Executive George Thacker said the owner of a local construction company has offered to consult at no cost to the county about selecting a construction manager or architect.
Commissioner Grover Parks added, “We have construction companies in the county capable of building a school. I like to do business in-house as we can.”
Director of Schools Jerry Levengood raised his recommendation from almost a year ago, to build a new high school and turn the present one into a middle school.
Since his earlier report, three new commissioners have been elected, including one who served the past four years on the school board.
“I’m not trying to push one plan through,” Levengood told commissioners. “I’ve put together a plan that is the most economical plan we can pursue. But I’m open to suggestions or other plans.”
He emphasized that the present high school “is not crumbling. It’s full – that’s the problem. We could move middle school students into the existing high school and not do anything if the funds are not there.”
Commissioner Jim Reed asked about the cost of a new school.
“I can give you a ballpark figure of $34.8 million,” Levengood answered. “I’ve been told we could do it between $27 million and $33 million.”