FACTS: NOT EMOTIONS OR FAKE NEWS

 FACTS: NOT EMOTIONS OR FAKE NEWS

We all recognize that schools are a core part of our communities and our lives. Which schools our children attend has a profound impact on everything from our daily lives to their future. 

While the past is not a perfect guide to the present or the future, it is one of the few we have. A society that does not know where it has been cannot know where it is. It is like an individual suffering amnesia - disoriented. 

Within the first few months after I was first elected to the Sullivan County Board of Education in August 2012, I heard two recurring statements from fellow BOE members and others.

1. “The Commission expects us to close more underutilized schools.”

2. “We never see any savings when schools are closed.”

In the Spring of 2013, I decided to research the facts and here are some of the important findings.

A quick review of where we have been will help clarify the current and future needs.

1980

·  In 1980, rural school bonds were issued to construct North and South High Schools as well as the Holston Complex. 

· Renovations bonds at Sullivan Elementary, Miller Perry, Emmett and Bluff City Elementary addition.  

2001

·  In April 2001, the Sullivan County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to issue rural school bonds not to exceed $24.2 million (ESG) for the purpose of renovating and improving school facilities and pledging state sales tax received by the Sullivan County Board of Education for the annual payments of and interest on the rural bonds until fully paid.” ”The provisions of this Resolution shall constitute a contract between the Sullivan county Board of Education  and the Board of Commissioners of Sullivan County.”

·  The annual payment is $1.9 million with $400,000 coming from renovation funds. The $1.5 million comes from General Purpose Fund that has already been split with the cities.

2007-2008

·  In January 2007, the commission voted in favor of the $50 million bond issue, at least in concept. The issue was championed by the late Commissioner Ralph Harr. That vote included no time frame for when the bonds would be issued. The  County Commission agreed to spend up to $132,000 for both phases of the facilities study.

·  It was called a “Partnership for Educational Facilities Assessment,” (PEFA) prepared as a joint effort of the Knox County Public Building Authority and the Knoxville Metropolitan Planning Commission.

· The Partnership for Education Facilities Assessment — a combined effort of the Knox County/Knoxville Public Housing Authority and Knoxville/Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission — was hired by the Sullivan County Commission to do an analysis of the school system.

· The PEFA study that was done in 2008 primarily addressed the conditions of the facilities and possible impacts of annexation.  

· Phase one was enrollment projections, while phase two assessed the condition of the buildings.

·  Director of Schools Jack Barnes said the proposed closures and rezonings are really a stopgap measure, and the school board needs to start planning a long-term construction and renovation plan, including possible consolidations of existing schools.

· After the PEFA Study no bonds were issued for improving school facilities. 

 2009

· On August 17, 2009,  when the LEA requested approval of a loan for school renovations, the County Commission approved a resolution with the following statement, “the LEA has committed that if these projects are approved it will initiate the first phase of a school closing and consolidation program for Sullivan County Schools as supported by the School Study funded by the Sullivan County Board of County Commissioners in 2008.”  

· Quote from October 28, 2009 Times-News article: “The Sullivan County Board of Education went on record Wednesday that it plans to close Kingsley, Cedar Grove and Akard elementary schools and will consider closing Brookside Elementary. BOE Chairman Ron Smith said the vote — 6-0 with member Jerry Greene absent — was in response to questions and concerns from county commissioners about the funding source for repaying more than $15.4 million in low-interest Qualified School Construction Bonds to fund a renovation and expansion of Ketron Intermediate School in the Bloomingdale community.

·  “They’re looking to us for some assurance that’s going to happen,” Smith, of the Blountville/Piney Flats area, said of school closures that could help fund estimated bond repayments to start at about $1 million over 15 years.”

·  In June 2010, when the LEA requested approval of a $5.3 M loan for additional renovations,  the County Commission approved  a resolution with the following statement, “the LEA has committed that if these projects are approved it will initiate the first phase of a school closing and consolidation program for Sullivan County Schools as supported by the School Study funded by the Sullivan County Board of County Commissioners in 2008.”

·  The combined payment from savings for this loan is $1,782,475.

·  Annual DEBT SERVICE paid by the Sullivan County Schools budget is $3,282,475 plus an additional $400,000 from renovation funds.

2013-2019 

In order to make the best decisions for all students in the county and after listening to the comments and suggestions from many community members, the Sullivan County Board of Education voted to hire an outside organization to assist with facilities issues.

The purpose of this group was to study all of our buildings and attendance zones. This group was responsible for making recommendations to outline future needs relating to both new facilities and current facilities. This total proposal included options for building renovations as well as proposed new buildings in areas identified by this group. This study involved all stakeholders, students, teachers, parents and community members. 

· In early 2013, the Sullivan County Board of Education held community meetings to discuss various proposals concerning re-zoning and school facilities. 

· The decision was made to do a Facilities Study and after much discussion and public input DeJONG-RICHTER was contracted to complete the study.

·  The study began in May 2014 with a Futures Conference held jointly with Kingsport City Schools.

·  The process was completed in May 2015 when a formal report along with an executive summary and recommendations from the Director of Schools were accepted by the Sullivan County Board of Education. 

· On August 3, 2015, the Sullivan County Board of Education adopted the two high school proposal and timeline as outlined by Dr. Yennie on May 21, 2015.

· Phase I consists of building one new high school and one new middle school.

·  On November 2, 2015, the Sullivan County Board of Education approved a RESOLUTION requesting Sullivan County Commissioners to Authorize Preliminary Planning for Phase I of the Renovation and Construction Plan for Sullivan County Schools.

·   On January 19, 2016, the Sullivan County Commissioners approved the amended Resolution authorizing the Sullivan County Schools to hire Architects and start the search for a middle school site in the East area and a high school in the West area.

Results

 Since 2001, the Sullivan County Board of Education has closed 18 schools. 

1. Weaver Elementary School
2. Holston Valley Middle 
3. Valley Pike Elementary
4. Kingsley Elementary 
5. Akard Elementary
6.  Brookside Elementary
7.  Kingsley Elementary
8. Bluff City Middle School
9.  Cedar Grove Elementary 
10.  North High/Middle School (sold)
11.  Mary Hughes Middle
12. East Cherokee Elementary
13.  Lynn View Middle
14. Gravely Elementary
15. Blountville Elementary
16. Blountville Middle School
17. Colonial Heights Middle School
18. Sullivan Middle School

·  Since 2001, the total paid by the Sullivan County School System for Debt Service is approximately 59 million dollars paid primarily from state sales tax in the General Purpose School Fund.

·   Since 2001, enrollment has declined from 12,844 to 8,849 as of May, 2020.

·  On December 10, 2016, the BOE selected building sites for the new middle and high school.

·  On December 12, 2016, the Sullivan County Commission approved a $140 million school bond to construct Sullivan East  Middle School and West Ridge High School

·    Renovated Ketron, added on to Emmett and reroofed the Holston Complex – Debt service paid by Sullivan County School System.  

· Re-roofed East High School in 2015- Debt Service paid by School System. 

· In 2015 the Sullivan County Board of Education adopted the two high school proposal as the best long-term solution.

·  Phase I of the long-term plan consisted of building a new high school (West Ridge High School) in the western portion of the county and a new middle school (Sullivan East Middle School) in the eastern portion of the county,

·  In January, 2016, the Sullivan County Commission authorized preliminary planning for “Phase 1” of a long term renovation and construction plan for Sullivan County Schools.

· In January, 2020, Sullivan East Middle School was opened for students.

· West Ridge High School is scheduled to be completed and opened by August 2021.

    Concluding Facts

The locations of middle and high schools based on the number and location of non-city students were the most critical decisions in the planning process. The correct locations allow for future growth and changes even though we have three school systems in Sullivan County which makes the entire process more difficult. It was very important that the schools be located where non-city Sullivan County students are concentrated and plan for the future in a way that will meet the needs of our students for many years and help us become the premier system in this area. It is critical that teacher salaries be upgraded and additional renovations be completed for our schools.