Lake Forest Middle School in Cleveland, Tenn.Map
Lake Forest Middle School
CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Bradley County Commission is expected to vote today whether to recommit to a previously approved plan to fund up to $12 million for a major overhaul of Lake Forest Middle School in the 2016-17 fiscal year.
The renewed commitment is “conditional on the approval of the Bradley County Mayor and Finance Director at the time of funding,” states the resolution sponsored by Commissioner Johnny Mull, who is employed as energy management supervisor for Bradley County Schools. Lake Forest is in the Bradley County Schools system.
The plan, approved in an 8-6 vote in September 2013, includes a 57-classroom academic building that will replace about a dozen classroom pods on the school’s 75-acre campus. None of the money provided by the county may be allocated to furniture or equipment.
In a recent meeting, commissioners and Mayor D. Gary Davis reiterated concerns from a year ago about the proposed timetable, the costs and the revenue to pay for the project.
“According to the long-range plan, you don’t have the money to do it [in 2016-17],” Davis said. “That’s setting yourself up for a tax increase.”
He said he was not “arguing against the project,” but instead wanted to ensure the Bradley County Commission was aware of the fiscal repercussions of the proposed time line.
Commissioner Thomas Crye doesn’t want to put off the project again.
“We need to go ahead and build this building,” Crye said.
Commissioner Jeff Yarber, who voted for the plan in September 2013, said he’s OK with the proposed timetable but is concerned about having enough money.
“What I said when we voted back then is that we’re spreading pixie dust around, throwing it up in the air and hoping the money pops up for us,” Yarber said. “And that’s not the way to vote, but if we didn’t vote for it, it gets lost in translation.”
Commissioner Terry Caywood said not doing the project would be throwing good money after bad, given ongoing maintenance and repair costs associated with leaking roofs and mildew at Lake Forest Middle School.
“We’ve got antiquated buildings, some of which don’t even have restrooms for children, and that’s not right,” Caywood said. “We need to fix it, and it’s our job to figure out how to come up with the money to fix it.”
The academic building was estimated to cost $12 million three years ago and was intended to head off an estimated $6 million in roof, drainage and other structural repairs.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.