Tomorrow October 16, 2023 at 5 p.m. in the Main Assembly Room of the Knoxville Knox County City County Building, the Knox County Commission will meet in Work Session, Item #15 here on the Education Consent is the Knox County Schools purchase of $4.89 million in property in the Town of Farragut for a school that the School Board doesn’t know what it wants to build. Let’s hope this non lame duck Commission asks some questions instead of what happened in August 2022 with the Scott Brothers/McFee Road Property. The actual vote by Knox County Commission will be on October 23, 2023 at the Commission meeting at 5 pm.
Let us review the minutes aka the words of everyone about the “Southwest Knox County Quadrant Solution.”
In the April 4, 2022 BOE Work Session here “Regarding item 10B, Mr. Watson asked if any short falls or issues in future land acquisition needs were anticipated with the transfer of this $2 million dollars from the Land Acquisition account for this Title IX case at West High School. Mr. McPherson stated there was $5 million dollars in the account and at the present time, the only purchase of property being considered was for a new elementary school in the Farragut area. He said based on current property prices, KCS would still be in good shape with what was remaining in the account for future property acquisition and what would come through future capital plans. Mr. McPherson said this transfer was needed to execute the West High School project.”
May 11, 2022 Joint Education Committee here, The attendance at this meeting were Susan Horn, Co-Chair, School Board, District 5; Randy Smith Co-Chair County Commission, District 3; Virginia Babb, School Board, District 4, Carson Dailey, County Commission, District 9, Courtney Durrett, County Commission, District 2, Betsy Henderson, School Board, District 6, Dr. Dasha Lundy, County Commission District 1. Absent Daniel Watson, School Board, District 3.
“Information regarding the Capital Improvement Plan FY23 budget of $48 million included $9 million in funding for the new northwest sector elementary school, $4.6 million for the new Adrian Burnett Elementary School, $3 million for the Sterchi Elementary School remodel, $3 million for design work on a new elementary school in Farragut, and $11 million for a 32 classroom addition at Hardin Valley Academy. It was noted that only $40 million of the Capital budget would be debt with the remaining $8 million coming from the fund balance.”
“Mr. Smith asked for clarification on information about the Farragut elementary project and the Hardin Valley Academy projects. Chief Operating Officer Russ Oaks reported that an RFQ had been drafted for architects on several projects and they would be ready to go as soon as the FY23 budget was approved. He stated once designs were available they would be presented to the Board and Commission during the fall with ambitions of starting the projects in spring 2023. Mr. Oaks said the Farragut project would most likely be based on an enrollment of 1,200 students and the HVA addition would be designed for 800 students. He also reported that 25 acres of land in the Farragut area was currently being considered as a site for the new elementary school.”
So the enrollment for the Farragut aka “Southwest County Quadrant Solution” has been established and spoken into existence. Can the administration and Board change it? YES, But the minutes are the minutes. Promises have been made to the “Southwest County Quadrant aka Farragut. Can Promises be kept? YES Can Promises be Broken? It is a Government Legislative Body or Two, so YES!
In the August 1, 2022 Work Session here Regular Agenda “Ms. Babb disclosed that she knew one of the property owners involved with the property purchase agreement for land in the Farragut area for a new elementary school and stated that she may recuse herself from voting on this item. Mr. Watson asked if KCS facility experts felt this purchase was a good deal. Assistant Superintendent of Operations Dr. Garfield Adams reported that this property was the best deal out of the three properties considered as a future school site. Facilities Director Doug Shover concurred and said the properties looked at were not good for school sites. Mr. Shover said he could share a copy of the property appraisal from Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) prior to the Board’s voting meeting on August 3. Dr. Adams shared his hope that the cost trends for property would go down.“
“Ms. Babb recalled the road issues with the property purchased as the future site of a new northwest sector elementary school and asked if there were any road issues with this proposed property. Mr. Shover said he had extensive meetings with the property owners and reported that the building road from McPhee (sp) Road to the school would become a Farragut city street. He also noted a traffic impact study would be completed.”
“Mr. Dupler asked Ms. Babb if she could share additional information regarding her relationship with the property owner. Ms. Babb confirmed that she was only friends with Mr. Scott and that she was not involved in any business with him.“
“Superintendent Rysewyk and Assistant Superintendent of Academics Dr. Keith Wilson took a moment to introduce new staff member Dr. Erin Phillips, who had recently been selected as the district’s Executive Director of Learning and Literacy. Dr. Phillips said it was her pleasure to be on staff with Knox County Schools.“
So, Dr. Adams said this was the best of three considered, hoped cost trends would go down. Knox Schools knew based on Doug Shover that the road would be a Town of Farragut road, thus the cost for the road would be $3 million.
In the meeting on October 4, 2023 Board Member Daniel Watson was trying to place the blame on the previous administration. When in fact the current administration was knee deep in the Scott Brothers / McFee Road Property and the Town of Farragut boulevard to be built by Knox County.
