Lake Forest Middle School students change classes in the afternoon. While many walkways are covered between pod buildings on the campus, faculty members said several metal overhangs are prone to leaking during wet weather.CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Bradley County is expected to form a special committee to address funding options for a requested $14 million in renovations to Lake Forest Middle School and a recurring $750,000 technology budget to replace outdated school computers.
On Wednesday, the Bradley County Finance Committee voted 3-2 to request that County Commission Chairman Louie Alford appoint the ad hoc panel, which will be comprised of county commissioners, school officials and a representative of the Bradley County mayor’s office.
The group has been tasked with presenting funding options to the Finance Committee by early May.
Commissioner Mel Griffith recommended a July deadline, saying the May deadline could interfere with the workload of the annual budgeting process. He was joined in opposing the May deadline by Finance Committee Chairman Ed Elkins. Commissioners Adam Lowe, Jeff Morelock and Bill Ledford carried the vote in favor of the proposed deadline.
“Please remember that Lake Forest was in bad shape two years ago,” said Bradley school board member Christy Critchfield, who attended the meeting with fellow board member Troy Weathers. “So every day that you wait is more money we are going to put into Lake Forest because my child is there and the children of the constituents of the 6th and 4th Districts are there. We will take care of that school at a cost to the taxpayer.”