County school board members on Thursday night expressed a number of concerns about a proposed $500,000 new track under consideration for funding by the County Commission at Central High School. The vote was 9-0 to table a motion to accept the money (if offered).
Karitsa Mosley-Jones said, "We've got students at schools on a high priority list and you're going to give me a track?"
She said, "I could not in good conscience accept it when we have all these other needs. That is a need, but we have greater needs."
Rhonda Thurman said she was "very, very concerned" that Soddy Daisy boosters had been working for years to raise money for a track and were still short of the goal, while a new track was being offered Central.
She said since word of the possible gift that some potential donors to the Soddy Daisy track had pulled back, saying, "Why should I give money if the County Commission is going to pay for it?"
The county, after cutting out $900,000 in commissioner "discretionary" money, this year set up $900,000 in money from a future bond issue for funding school projects. Some $200,000 went to the Red Bank High track and Chairman Chester Bankston wanted another $500,000 for the Central track. The majority of the commission tabled the Central funding, saying there needed to be more equitable use of the money.
Ms. Thurman said, "I really don't like spending bond money like that."
Tiffanie Robinson said the money would be welcomed for more pressing needs.
Chairman Steve Highlander said he had been asked by commission members for a list of county school priority needs.
David Testerman responded, "They have the list." He said he had been carrying it around in the back of his car since 2011 "with phase 1, phase 2 and phase 3. And it hasn't changed."
He added, "They can't remember getting the list, but everyone else has it."
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