Architects have been chosen on five major county school building projects, and design work will get underway soon.
The county is issuing almost $200 million in bonds, including $110 million for the school projects.
Franklin Architects will design a new Harrison Elementary School. It replaces a problem-riddled old school.
TWH Architects will draw up plans for a new East Hamilton Middle School. It is currently housed with East Hamilton High/Middle, but is overcrowded.
Derthick, Henley & Wilkerson was selected for the project to convert the current Tyner Middle School into the new home for Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts. The same firm will design spaces for Tyner High and Middle across the street at the current high school location.
Neuhoff Taylor Architects is in charge of work at Snow Hill Elementary School.
Barge Design will be responsible for a new track and stadium at Howard School.
County Mayor Jim Coppinger and School Supt. Bryan Johnson made the final selections after getting input from a design committee.
Albert Kiser, county finance director, said $55 million of the bonds will go toward paying off the debt on a line of credit. He said the county has no plans at this time to set up a new line of credit for various projects that come forward.
Another $20 million of the bonds will go toward upgrades at the workhouse at Silverdale. The county plans to gradually move prisoners away from the downtown jail and close it. Sheriff Jim Hammond said that process may take some five years.
Mr. Kiser said no bonds are to be issued for a proposed county sewage treatment plant by the Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority.
He said that project may be years down the road.
The finance official said officials are seeking a suitable site for the plant.