CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The Cleveland City Schools system needs administrative office space, so the school board has begun thinking long term about the day it can find space and bring all its staff together.
That need was the topic of discussion for the board’s site committee meeting on Wednesday.
“We are thinking long term,” Director Rick Denning said. “There is no money for anything like that now.”
But it’s never too early to begin looking, said committee members, who gave Dr. Denning the approval to start.
“We want to look at the cost and the space we need,” said Dr. Murl Dirksen, site committee chairman.
An early estimate is that the school system needs space for 35 people.
The committee asked its staff Wednesday to come up with more exact figures, including floor space, storage space and meeting space.
Dr. Dirksen reminded the group that consolidating the space needs of the system’s technology department, including storage space, should be considered, too.
School system staff members now are divided between the Star Center on North Lee Highway and the administrative office building on Mouse Creek Road.
New computers are stored in the hallway at the Star Center.
Staff at both locations double up on office space.
Dr. Denning said the current focus for the system is finishing the new science wing at Cleveland High School.
“We know we will have to get through the science wing before we do anything,” he said.
Gene Bishop, who monitors current construction projects for the school system, said work on the science wing is progressing well.
The school system’s growth demands more space for administration, Dr. Denning has said.
At a recent school board meeting, he pointed out that, over the years, local school districts have increased their programs — many created by state and federal governments.
A new program usually creates another position needed by the local district, he said.
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