posted May 21, 2008
County Commissioner Curtis Adams said the decision on how big to build a new East Ridge Elementary School is now up to the County School Board.
Commissioner Adams said he continues to favor building the new school large enough to accommodate students from both the current East Ridge Elementary and the nearby McBrien Elementary.
Some East Ridge residents are opposing closing McBrien School. Two recent citizen meetings were held on the issue.
Commissioner Adams said Don Wamp has been chosen as architect on the project, but he cannot move forward until the size of the school is established.
Commissioner Adams said, "It may be a long time before we have the opportunity to build a brand-new school in East Ridge. McBrien is 55 years old and has students in portables.
"I would think the students from both schools would want to be in a brand-new school."
East Ridge Elementary has 312 students and McBrien has 530 students.
Commissioner Adams said if McBrien closes, the school would revert to East Ridge. He said he does not know what the city would do with the property.
He noted it is adjacent to City Hall and a playground and community center. He said it might eventually be a park site.
Commissioner Adams said he does not know when the school board will discuss the issue.
He said it will take about two years to build the school.
Commissioner Adams said $16 million has been set aside for the new East Ridge school. He said if it is decided to build it for 850 students, the cost may be as much as $21 million. He said, if that is the route chosen, he would try to help procure the additional funds.
The site is to the rear of the current East Ridge Elementary.
Commissioner Adams said Hamilton County has 40,000 students in 78 buildings, while Shelby County has 45,000 students in 50 buildings. He said, "That's a problem."
Commissioner Fred Skillern said, "Commissioner Adams is 100 percent right on the new school. We've been closing old schools for many years."
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