An ambitious two-phase, seven-year plan to revamp Hamilton County Schools facilities — at a rough cost of $200 million — aims to enhance student experiences, boost system competitiveness and future-proof the district.
Now, a lot of questions need to be answered and a lot has to happen before the plan, unveiled Thursday by Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp and schools Superintendent Justin Robertson at an event at DuPont Elementary School in Hixson, comes to fruition.
The facilities plan recommends the closure of six schools and the renovation or major expansion at seven others.
“One of the first conversations that Dr. Robertson and I had during my month of transition last year in August was about convening a group to do a deep dive exploring school facilities,” Wamp said.
The two created a seven-member working group that included them and Board of Education Chair Tiffanie Robinson, County Commissioner Lee Helton, Jay Price, former school board chair Kenny Smith and CPA Kyle Bryant.
A few main principles guided their conversations during twice-a-month meetings, Wamp said.
“We knew we wanted to modernize school facilities across the county in a way that would serve students and teachers well,” Wamp said during a meeting with Times Free Press editors and reporters on Wednesday. “We wanted to be efficient and wise in the way we use taxpayer dollars. At the end of the day, we want to be mindful of growth in the places where it is happening and the places where it isn’t happening and be proactive in planning for that.”
School facilities needs have been a chronic issue in the district dating back 25 years. Wamp and Robertson argue now is the time to make this investment, to rethink the system’s physical assets and to position the district for future needs.
What’s in the plan
There are 81 school facilities in Hamilton County.
“For our size, it’s clear that’s too many,” Robertson said.
› One recommendation is the closure of three of four elementary schools: Alpine Crest, Hixson and Rivermont, which will be consolidated into a large school on the current DuPont Elementary site on Hixson Pike. Going from a small, intimate learning community to a mega-school environment will be a major change for students and families loyal to their home schools.
› Clifton Hills Elementary would be closed with students going to one of two expanded schools: Eastside and East Lake elementaries.
› Dalewood Middle would be be closed and students moved to an expanded/renovated Brainerd High.
› Soddy-Daisy Middle would close with students attending an expanded Daisy Elementary, which would become a K-12 on the shared campus of Daisy elementary and Soddy-Daisy High.
› Building out the Golden Gateway property recently purchased by the county as a “flagship campus” for a magnet-type program is aimed at boosting career-technical education in the county.
› Expanding Thrasher Elementary on Signal Mountain to keep up with growth and renovating schools in Lookout Valley, another high-growth area.
Can Wamp and Robertson secure community support and approvals from the county commission and school board to move ahead quickly on this first phase? Plenty of questions arise, such as financing, scheduling the renovation/expansion work and future use of schools that could be closed. It might be time to think outside the box with facilities and consider whether the district can offer more after- school programming that could keep at-risk youths off the streets, or create tutoring hubs for students who have fallen behind.
Phase two of the plan calls for adding more magnet school seats that would allow parents more choices and help ensure everyone in the community has an opportunity at a great education.
Another area of focus is athletics. Schools across the county have less-than-desirable athletic resources. Wamp and Robertson are keenly aware that poor athletic facilities put the district at a competitive disadvantage. They want to fix that.
Leaving a legacy of prestigious public education
If this plan is executed properly, Wamp and Robertston believe it will raise the county’s public school system up a weight class — enough to compete with private schools in the area.
Wamp made education a main priority in his mayoral campaign and this plan clearly is a centerpiece.
But he cannot do it without the cooperation of county commissioners and school board. What will he do to get buy-in from them? He needs buy-in from parents. They will wonder if their children will be in the best school possible. They will need time to believe in this plan.
But overall Hamilton County is in exciting times. A new chapter could be beginning for our schools and the 45,000 students who will be affected by this plan.
Let’s see what unfolds.