Reporter’s Note
Are you a teacher at a school that MGT recommends closing? Are you a parent worried about the conditions of your child’s classrooms? We want to hear from you. Email mmangrum@timesfreepress.com or call 423-757-6592 and let us know your thoughts and questions on Hamilton County Schools’ recently released preliminary facilities plan.
– Meghan
THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION NEWS
Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts scored a 63. Woodmore Elementary scored a 68. Rivermont Elementary scored a 55. Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences scored a 60.
It might be impractical to expect all of Hamilton County Schools’ 700 million-plus-square-foot facilities to be in great condition, but almost half of the district’s schools scored average or below on a recently released facilities assessment by the consulting group MGT.
The total cost of deferred maintenance? A staggering $1.36 billion.
But district leaders shouldn’t be surprised. History shows that maintenance has been a growing problem since at least the 1990’s, and some say it was a problem well before the merger of the city and county school systems.
Though the district is nowhere close to adopting a 10-year facilities plan, according to administrators and school board members, many in the community are already troubled by the renovations and school closures that the report recommends.
To search by individual school and see where it fits into the overall recommended plan, click here.