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Bradley County board revs up school plan

By: Randall Higgins
(Contact)

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David Kelley

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Enthusiastic Bradley County school board members took steps to hire an architect for a new elementary school this week after two County Commission committees voted to support the project.

The Education and Finance committees agreed to recommend the full commission borrow $18 million. The full commission is expected to vote on the plan Oct. 20.

The county would use $12 million to build an elementary school on Minnis Road and expand and upgrade Valley View Elementary. The remaining $6 million would be given to the Cleveland City Schools.

“We are smiling,” county Schools Director Johnny McDaniel said.

On Thursday, school board members voted to hire an architect and named a search committee to find one.

Board member Troy Weathers said he wants to make sure the architect and construction manager are separate firms. He cited a $2 million cost overrun and lack of communication with the board on a previous school construction project where the two functions were merged.

“If someone wants to offer their serves as an architect with a construction manager, you better run,” Mr. Weathers said.

The school board also is looking for sites for another proposed elementary school:

* 20 acres at Old Federal Road at Blue Springs Road, identified as the Fred Clayton property;

* A site between Oak Grove School and Spring Place Road identified as the Frank Watson property;

* 40 acres at Henderson Farm at Lake Forest Middle School;

* Land on Dalton Pike between the National Guard Armory and Farmingdale Subdivision identified as the Ray Kerr property.

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