Supt. Rick Smith told members of the school board's facilities committee on Tuesday he feels that a new building is the way to go for Sale Creek School.
He noted that the school is on a small campus and is landlocked. All the middle school students are in portable buildings.
The superintendent noted that Ron Cox recently was hired to launch a football program for Sale Creek.
Board members were told that the new Ooltewah Elementary School, which was started recently, should have over 700 students when it opens due to "exploding" growth in that part of the county. It is designed for 1,100 students.
The new East Brainerd Elementary at the David Brainerd School campus will likely be full when it opens, the board was told.
Supt. Smith said Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts remains on the drawing board for a new K-12 school building. He said it is a popular school that draws students from all nine districts.
Officials said Nolan Elementary on Signal Mountain is full with the arts and music rooms having been taken for classrooms.
Property is being assembled for a replacement school for Ganns-Middle Valley to the rear of the current school. Falling Water students will go to that new school.
Supt. Smith said Mowbray Mountain students would go to Soddy Elementary, which has space. Board member Rhonda Thurman said she would like to see those students have a choice on which school in the valley to attend.
The superintendent said East Hamilton Middle/High got to above 2,000 students. He said, if not for rezoning, it would be topping 2,100 this year. He said it may yet grow to that level.
Board Chairman Mike Evatt said he wants the board and County Commission to "take a pro-active approach" to try to stay ahead of urgent school building needs.
Gary Waters, who oversees buildings and grounds, reminded the board that, in addition to the need for new schools and additions, the schools have millions of dollars of maintenance needs.