Sometimes a few facts are helpful in explaining decisions I make on the School Board. So, I will do my best to make a case for using “Rhonda logic” in not putting CSLA at the top of my priority list.
At Thursday’s Facilities Workshop, the School Board was presented a packet of facilities information. The packet included the age of each school building (and the dates of any additions), the acreage at each campus, the number of portables on each campus and each school’s utilities costs. However, the most distressing information contained in the packet was the Deferred Maintenance List. The Deferred Maintenance List is broken down by school and shows the estimated cost for each project at each school.The total for all projects totals over $126 million. This $126 million total does not include over $50 million in estimated athletic facilities repairs and upgrades.
Some of the things on the Deferred Maintenance list are: for Brainerd $2 million to replace water lines, $100,000 for air conditioning in gym, $10,000 for ADA compliance, $100,000 for chalk and tack boards and $150,000 for paving and driveway repairs. On Central’s list is a new gym with a stage, (Central currently does not have a stage for awards ceremonies or performances), estimated at $7.5 million and $150,000 in fire code upgrades. East Ridge High needs $450,000 in fire code upgrades and $3.5 million to replace HVAC in both gyms and $2.5 million for a kitchen and two cafeterias. Hixson High needs $650,000 in partial HVAC replacement, $550,000 in fire code upgrades, $450,000 to replace remainder of roof, gutters and downspouts. Lookout Valley needs $250,000 in fire code upgrades, $50,000 for ADA compliance and $2 million to replace HVAC system. Red Bank needs an ADA ramp for $35,000 and $4 million for HVAC. Sequoyah needs $200,000 for fire code upgrades and $400,000 for HVAC. Soddy Daisy needs $100,000 for HVAC for Commons area and $350,000 to upgrade unit ventilators in classrooms. Tyner needs $600,000 in fire code upgrades, $65,000 for ramps to bring them into ADA compliance, $2.5 million HVAC and $1.2 million for a roof. Ooltewah needs $900,000 for new media addition and $35,000 in fire code upgrades. Howard needs $200,000 to complete remaining HVAC $100,000 for ceiling replacement. CCA needs $6.5 million to replace HVAC and $120,000 in fire code upgrades. Hamilton County High School needs $325,000 in fire code upgrades and $100,000 for upgrades to HVAC.
This is by no means a complete list of all the needed maintenance costs at any of these high schools. The entire maintenance list for all of Hamilton County’s schools is 23 pages long.
As a school board member I have to ask myself if it is “logical” to vote for $50 million for CSLA a new K-12 school building to replace their current K-8 building when there are so many pressing needs in the schools we already have? The $50 million price tag only covers the cost of the building. It does not address the millions it would add to our budget year after year in faculty, staff and utility expenses.
Even though CSLA is in the East Brainerd area where most of the overcrowding is occurring, it is a magnet school and draws students from all over the county, so there is no guarantee it will help with the overcrowding in that area. CSLA currently has 287 enrolled in K-5 and 126 in 6-8. We are told there are over 1,000 on a waiting list. Again, CSLA is a magnet school and many of the students on the list do not live in the East Brainerd area.
At the facilities workshop I mentioned the fact that Tyner High School at one time had over 1,400 students and now has fewer than 600 and that the middle school currently has an enrollment of 469. I stated what a large campus Tyner has and that the current Tyner Middle and High magnet schools could combine and use the high school campus and that would free up the middle school building for a vocational school. Rick Smith said there is no waiting list for vocational education in Hamilton County. He is right only because years ago HCDE single-handedly started the destruction of vocational education when they implemented the single path diploma forcing all students into four-year college path. (The single path diploma is another discussion for another day.)
CSLA and Tyner campuses are very close. Why not house Tyner Middle and High in the high school building and let the Tyner Middle campus become CSLA? Then sell the 30 acre campus at CSLA and put that money toward renovation at Tyner Middle? This may not be the answer, but it should at least be a subject for discussion. After all, they are both magnet schools.
Each time I mention Tyner’s campus I get many letters telling me about the proud history of Tyner High School. I know the history of Tyner well having both a brother and sister who graduated from there. Besides, if a proud history means your campus is untouchable, explain why Falling Water Elementary with over 103 years of proud history, that was just named one of only six Blue Ribbon Schools in the state of Tennessee, will be closing next year.
I have made my case for not putting CSLA at the top of my priority list. If it is illogical to you, make your case. I rest mine.
Rhonda Thurman