August 8, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
Although the Board of Education months ago settled on the model for a new Pre-Kindergarten to 2nd grade school to replace Smithville Elementary it has not yet nailed down just where to build it.
Initial plans were to place the new 98,000 square foot school on the same property with Northside Elementary but the board’s architect, Upland Design Group suggested that it might be a tight fit unless adjacent land could be acquired and while the Director of Schools and Board members have had discussions with the neighboring landowner they have not come to terms with him.
The Board is now requesting any other landowner in Smithville to come forward with a proposal if he or she has property for sale.
During Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Board of Education, at the suggestion of the architect, voted to post notices requesting sealed proposals for the purchase of 25-30 acres of property in Smithville for a new elementary school once the general terms and the deadline for receiving bids are established.
Such proposals would not only have to be reviewed by the Board of Education but also by the County Commission’s Purchasing Committee.
Smithville Elementary School, originally built in 1958, now is 70,557 square feet in size, and has a current enrollment of 561 students. The proposed new school would accomodate 800 students. The cost to build a new school of this size is expected to be at least $19 million.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation also requires a traffic study be done anytime a new school is built near a state highway. Findings of that study as it relates to increased traffic flow and congestion is also a consideration.
Once the board finds a suitable site, it is expected to present a construction plan to the county commission for approval of funding through either a note or bond issue.