Knox school board to consider building new school

[Lola Alapo]

By Lola Alapo
Monday, June 15, 2009


Knox County school officials may build a new elementary school or perform major renovations at four existing schools to alleviate expected student growth in the county's southwest section.

The Knox County school board today will discuss both options during its 5 p.m. midmonth work session.

Superintendent Jim McIntyre has prepared an analysis comparing the benefits and costs associated with each scenario.

"What we know is we'll see substantial growth of 500 to 800 students in the western part of the county in the next five to seven years," he said.

Building a new elementary school would cost an estimated $19.8 million, including land purchase, construction and furniture, according to McIntyre's analysis. He and his staff have been in talks with the owner of Northshore Town Center near Pellissippi Parkway about purchasing land. No offers or deals have been made, McIntyre said.

The construction option also takes into account $5.5 million of additions and renovations to Ball Camp Elementary School. The money for Ball Camp was approved in last year's capital plan. Altogether, the plan would cost $25.3 million and provide a capacity for 1,050 students.

The second option calls for $24 million in renovations and additions at Ball Camp, Blue Grass and Hardin Valley elementary schools and Farragut Intermediate School, and provides capacity for 1,000 students.

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[Cathy McCaughan]

I know West Knox schools are completely over crowded, but let's be honest. Our schools are in better physical condition than anywhere else in Knoxville. Our West Knox PTA/PTO groups are thriving and parents are very involved in schools. The situation is quite different in other areas of town. West Knox is doing great, so let's encourage more people to gravitate their homes and businesses with new West Knox school facilities while the rest of our schools are subjected to benign neglect. Residents who are able, flee the neighborhoods with neglected schools and the communities surrounding the schools suffer. If we made a dedicated effort to revitalize schools in areas of town other than West Knoxville, wouldn't the rest of the city become revitalized as well? Aren't we just making things worse for ourselves when we put all our effort into school properties in West Knoxville?

[Debi]

Very true, we're preparing to flee our community as soon we can sell our house next spring. Our property value has not increased as West Knoxville has, we do not have community feeder schools, and I'm tired of fighting it.

[Jamey Dobbs]

Cathy, yes, that was my point actually. You helped clarify it. For the most part, schools are growth and redevelopment attractors. On the flip side, new residential subdivisions are attractors for schools. It works both ways. If we start thinking of schools in that way, development patterns begin to make sense. School location and investment decisions have big repercussions on communities and their futures!

[Debi]

When we started looking for a home 15 yrs ago, we wanted an older home because we wanted a larger yard and liked the quality/character of older built homes. I often wonder how we move public opinion back toward older neighborhoods. The 5th & Gill area seem to be making that happen. I personally love the Norwood area, it's quiet and the homes are nice. But when business after business move up the road because it's more "in" to shop there & are replaced with pawn shops, used car lots & check cashing places, it can sure turn a community quickly.

I asked an Earth Fare representative once why they would not come to the Powell/Clinton Hwy area as we have no good health food stores (we also have no secular book stores or other specialty shops) and he responded they would never move to our area. For some gluten-free, casein-free items I have to travel all the way to Turkey Creek or mail order. I am not alone. I know businesses often do studies about where to go, but I sure don't understand their findings. Knoxville Center Mall is a good example of a place I love to frequent for the convenience but we cannot seem to keep quality stores in the facility.

For those of us who prefer the Northern end of town it's frustrating to have to drive to West Knoxville for so many things. I don't understand why the city & county do not work more toward having closer shopping, would definitely cut down on traffic and air pollution issues.

[granma2]

I don't think Fulton and Austin-East have been subjected to benign neglect. They have more of the most up-to-date, state-of-the-art facilities and equipment than any other high school in Knox County, yet I don't see students flocking to those schools. Nor do I see results from the millions upon millions spent on things like Project Grad. Those schools have been revitalized as well as the middle and elementary feeder schools for them. Facilities don't make an impressive school. Parents who care about their child's education and have the perseverence and dedication to see that those children become educated is what makes successful schools.

[Cathy McCaughan]

Dear Knox County School Board,

In both School Matters and KNS comments, there exists a recurring theme that Austin East is the recipient of millions upon millions that other schools do not receive. Today, someone noted that AE has "more of the most up-to-date, state-of-the-art facilities and equipment than any other high school in Knox County." Personally, I haven't been inside AE for several years. Would it be possible for a small group from School Matters to visit AE? Band Camp begins at most schools in July. Perhaps we could visit then.

Cathy McCaughan

[Indya Kincannon]

Cathy,

I'm sure Benny Perry, the principal at Austin-East, would be happy to give a group from School Matters a tour of the school at a mutually agreeable time. I know from his tenure as principal at Whittle Springs Middle School that he welcomes interaction with parents and community members. Maybe after seeing the school first-hand some of you may even choose to send your own kids there!

Mr. Perry's email, as well as emails of all the administrators at the school, is on the school's website, which can be found by going to knoxschools.org, KCS District, schools, high schools. The school's main number is 594-3792, although I'm not sure how often it is answered during the summer.

It's true that Fulton and Austin-East received much-needed renovations in the mid 1990s, but it wasn't until the last year or so that the schools underwent substantive reforms in how to engage and effectively teach their students. Modern, safe and well-maintained facilities are a necessary, but certainly not sufficient, ingredient to a successful school.

I'm more familiar with Fulton as it's in my district, and have been quite impressed with the change in the school's climate. The staff and students seem totally focused on learning, engaged in their studies and committed to doing what it takes, not only to graduate, but also to get the tools they need to become successful in life. There was a column in the News Sentinel on 6/16 that profiled some of the immediate positive results, and I think we'll see more positive outcomes in the future.

Indya

[Ginevra]

I went to look at the Autism News site that Debi has linked in the past, and came across something interesting that would affect how schools are designed and constructed. It was an article about a Swedish study that has found a link between vinyl flooring, a chemical called "phthalates" and autism.

http://www.theautismnews.com/2009/06/19/how-vinyl-flooring-is-linke...

Ventilation, light (and also mold) have been issues in some of the schools that my kids attended. I didn't complain, but I thought there was room for improvement (and so have teachers I've spoken with, who wouldn't want to make waves... but someone should speak up for them. Some teachers are sick most of the year, possibly related to ventilation issues).

[Debi]

My kids are healthy as they can be during the summer time. But within a few weeks of school starting they fight respiratory stuff pretty much until school is out the following May. I get it that being around a lot of other little munchkins can spread germs, but it's not like we're in a vacuum when at home. We still go to Walmart, public pools, malls, movies, sporting events, etc. If it were simply from being around other people, they should still be sick relatively often. I cannot help but wonder if it's got to do with building conditions to some extent.

[granma2]

Ginerva, the most recent and impressive research on autism indicates that it is a result of miswiring of the brain in utero. Outside forces do not cause autism, and to continue to buy into articles like this only perpetuates the idiocy. If you want to see articles about autism, go to the sites of some of the universities doing research on it: UC Berkley, UC LosAngles, Oxford, Michigan State, and many others.

[Ginevra]

granma, your term "idiocy" sounds quite defensive.

"Miswiring of the brain in utero", by whatever name you wish to call it -- autism, or anything else -- is first of all an enormous challenge for children, parents, marriages and families who deal with it. Second, it is extremely expensive for our community, as Debi has often pointed out.

Since "miswiring of the brain in utero" -- or even during toddler ages, as many families have experienced it -- has tremendous importance for all of us, either directly or indirectly, I am interested in whatever research is available, either through universities or through the direct experience of families (which can be found on the autism website, or through conversations). I welcome whatever links you have on this topic, and whatever direct experiences real families have to offer as well (such as those found on the autism website, and the information Debi and others have been providing).

[Debi]

Ginevra, that sort of response is to be expected when one doesn't have anything to contribute. I'm sure parents who put mercury teething powder in their infants' gums prior to the 1930s thought everyone was crazy for suggesting babies developing acrodynia was anything more than "born that way" or something to explain away not having to devote energy. Or when the "born that way" spina bifida researchers found something as simple as prenatal folate could change the "born that way" outcome. It's easier to say kids like mine who got sick after a shot were really "born that way" but mysteriously never showed any of it until their bodies were bombarded with more immunological insults than they could handle. After all, a baby who slept through the night by a few weeks old, pulling up, babbling, laughing & within 2 weeks silent, laying on back, etc HAS to be a fluke of nature. And all the other thousands of us who witnessed similar stories, we're all making it up, too.

Next time someone gets a broken leg, tell them it was always broken, they just only realized it now. Then call 'em an idiot & tell them to read a university article to prove it.