Growth driving new high school

As the plan for a new high school in north Loudon County moves forward, some taxpayers and elected officials want to understand why the school is needed.

“I still have more questions than answers,” Rosemary Quillen, county commissioner from district 2, said.

A full understanding of the plan requires an examination of the strong growth in students and lack of available space at schools across the district, Mike Garren, director of Loudon County Schools, said.

Loudon County Board of Education reviews a five-year strategic plan every year and determines needs across the district relative to academics, fiscal priorities and facilities, Garren said.

“We have been monitoring our physical capacity for several years and in the 2021-22 school year the district saw an increase of 106 students, which is an increase of 2.2%,” he said.

The increase is significant because under new TISA funding that goes into place next year, districts that grow more than 2% are considered fast-growing districts, Garren said.

The growth trend is gathering momentum, he said.

In the 2022-23 school year, the district added 196 students, which is an increase of 4.1%. The current enrollment of the district is 4,989 students compared to 4,687 a couple of years ago.

Loudon Elementary School has seen the most dramatic growth with a current enrollment of 650 students, an increase of 76 students or 13.1%, over the last two years.

In 2013-14, the new Fort Loudoun Middle School was built and the current Loudon Elementary and old Fort Loudoun Middle School combined to accommodate future growth. Two to six available classrooms remain in those facilities.

Loudon High School currently has 734 students, which is an increase of 72 students or 10.8%, over the last two years. The district still has three open classrooms for growth at LHS thanks to an addition in 2017.

Increased demand for career and technical classes is driving the need for additional space at LHS, Garren said.

Greenback School began using a new facility in 2013 and current enrollment is 669 students, which is an increase of 36 students or 5.7%. The Greenback facility still has four classrooms to accommodate future growth.

“Considering this data in conjunction with projected development in the north end of the county, there will be a significant need for growing capacity in the schools,” Garren said.

He said the BOE has been proactive and thoughtful in planning for growth.

“These discussions have increased in frequency of late due to the actual increases realized at various schools across the district compared to our capacity and anticipated growth within the community due to increased housing availability,” he said.

Garren said the district doesn’t want to get into the position of having to place less-secure portable buildings on campuses already overcrowded and experiencing traffic issues, so they are acting upon the information available.

“Based upon this actual increase in students and the significant increase in proposed housing developments in our area, last fall the board directed the district to look at options for expanding our facilities at Philadelphia, Eaton, North Middle and CTE programming at Loudon High,” he said.

Although growth is happening across the entire county, the situation in the north seems to be the most critical where growth is combined with a shortage of classroom space.

Eaton Elementary School currently has 674 students and no open classrooms available. North Middle School has 780 students, which is an increase of 52 students, or 7.1%, over the last two years, and no open classrooms.

As part of an expansion plan at Eaton and North, Garren said the team analyzing growth determined the best solution would be a new school on the north end of the county. Restructuring grade levels at Eaton and North would also be needed.

The plan would be to change Eaton from a K-4 school to a K-3 school, freeing up seven or eight classrooms for 160-200 students. North would be restructured from a 5-8 school to a 4-6 school, freeing up seven or eight classrooms for growth of 200-240 students.

Highland Park Elementary School has 397 students, which is an increase of 28 students, or 7%, over the last two years, and one open classroom available since a building addition in 2017.

In addition to crunching numbers, Garren said the district solicited parental input.

“During board discussions last fall, it was proposed to gauge interest from parents of North Middle students in attending a county-operated high school since we were going to have to build some type of facility on that end of the county,” he said.

BOE Chairman Bobby Johnson Jr. said there has been interest for years from parents in districts 5 and 6 to have a county high school option on the north end. A survey was administered a year ago, and 70% of parents were interested in sending their kids to a county-operated high school.

“That percentage shows the support for opportunities this school could bring to students,” Melissa Browder, BOE member for district 5, said.

Because the site costs would be about the same for a middle or middle/high school, it was economically feasible to add an upper floor to the building to be able to accommodate grades 7-12.

Browder said she has spoken with parents in her district and they seem excited about a new 7-12 school.

Zack Cusick, BOE member from district 6, said he has received positive feedback from parents. He said it was necessary to take action soon to eliminate the overcrowding already experienced in elementary and middle schools.

Feedback from parents gave impetus to the BOE’s desire to build on the north end of the county, Garren said.

“The board then asked the director to locate suitable property on the north end of the county to accommodate a 7-12 school,” Garren said. “This would accommodate growth for our elementary and middle grades on the north end of the county and also give county parents a high school option for their students.”

Garren said he evaluated several properties either purchased too quickly for the BOE to pursue or not viable options for a school.

Several sites were considered until the district approached First Baptist Church in Lenoir City, which is located between Simpson Road and Highway 11. The church-owned property is near the feeder schools of Highland Park, Eaton and North, has utilities in close proximity and is accessible by major roadways.

The BOE determined last month to pursue purchase of the FBC property. Buying land and building a new school is a lengthy process, Garren said.

“The land acquisition is nearing a year and half,” he said. “Once the land is acquired, then the design phase could take up to a year and construction up to two years.”

Growth on the south end of the county is also being addressed.

The BOE requested Cope Architecture determine the feasibility of an expansion of Philadelphia Elementary School on the current site. The school has 511 students, which is an increase of 34 students or 7.1% over the last two years, and no open classrooms to accommodate growth. Cope presented a schematic plan to show an expansion on the current site is a viable option.

The architect also presented a plan for expansion of the CTE building at LHS to accommodate increasing student participation in automotive and welding classes. Garren said the new high school will also offer CTE programs.