While much of the recent news regarding the October county commissioner meeting focused on a number of issues like taxes, education remained a key for the county’s leaders.
Key news for parents was that the school construction and childcare plans advanced with the approval of an assessment to support funding for a new elementary school building and a childcare program, while confirming Franklin High School remains on schedule and within budget.
FHS construction and challenges
During the meeting, of course, the Franklin High construction project took center stage.
Josh Cochran, the assistant project manager for the Carroll Daniel company, opened his remarks on the FHS progress with a time-lapse construction video demonstrating two years of progress.
“Once we got that slope built and the weather was good to us, we were off to the races,” said Cochran. “One of my favorite things about the design of this high school is all the CTE [Career and Technical Education] labs. And I think that’s great for being able to set the students up for the next step in life. I mean, I believe in this school. You’ve got AG, you got automotive with lifts and tools, you got project management, all these other sorts of things that help the students succeed once they graduate from high school.”
County manager Warren Cabe agreed and was pleased with the company’s efforts to keep the project on time and on budget while acknowledging completing the job will not be easy.
“We’ve got some challenges ahead of us because we’re going to see a flurry of activity next summer,” he said. “We’re going to have a new school (building) opening, there’s going to be another school (building) to be demolished, and the parking lots going in.”
To manage the work, some classes will be released earlier in January to facilitate the next phase of movement, while also working with the Department of Transportation to best make changes to Panther Drive and Porter Street in order to redesign the intersection.
Additional steps are being taken to move agricultural classes to facilitate final construction activities.
“We hit a home run when we got Daniels to be our construction manager,” said Jim Breedlove, school board chairman. “Without them, I don’t know if we would be on budget and on schedule at this time. They’ve been tremendous to work with. But I also want to thank Warren (Cabe).”
School Superintendent Josh Lynch said the progress should be commended because school is still in session and learning is still occurring.
“That’s pretty impressive to have a project of this magnitude, and the educational piece not be interrupted or disruptive,” he said. “I think that impresses me the most that, you know, we’re all playing for the same team here and everyone’s outlook is the students. So, my hat goes off to everyone.”
East Franklin to attract construction grants
Commissioners then took on the challenge of what to do about the aging East Franklin Elementary School.
Tracy Tallent, the county’s operations manager, presented a design proposal from Master’s Architecture for an architectural and engineering building assessment of the school.
“The reason for this is to get on the list for the grant for $42 million to hopefully build a school,” Tallent said.
The firm gave the county two options – an extensive study that would cost $94,500 or an independent baseline assessment for $37,000 – to apply in the next cycle for a needs-based school capital fund.
He explained that having the county awarded a large grant would help avoid additional costs, address growing student populations and reduce costly maintenance issues on the 1950s-era building.
Based on estimated square footage and the number of students, the Board of Education planned to spend up to $40 million for the new school.
He said East Franklin was at capacity even before Cullasaja Elementary School joined the Macon County school system.
With a motion from Barry Breeden, commissioners unanimously approved the $37,000 option out of the contingency fund to complete the required assessment.
Bartram Academy building moves to Boys & Girls Club
The board also considered a request to lease part of the FHS building, formerly known as Bartram Academy, to the Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau.
Jennifer Love, director of After School Programs and Summer Programs, and Carmen Wade, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau, presented a resolution to declare The Peak, Bartram Academy’s newer name, a surplus property once FHS work is completed.
Love explained that if approved, the Macon County summer program and adventure camp would be dissolved. Students in those programs would be prioritized for free support through the Boys and Girls Club.
On a technical level, the resolution at hand would make the building surplus, but did not specify the exact plan of action being proposed. Wade said a memorandum with the Board of Education is being drawn up to work out the details.
While Chairman Josh Young said an agreement would be important to protect taxpayers from paying for major maintenance expenditures, he applauded the potential partnership as an opportunity for the community to provide free childcare.
Wade ensured the commission that exterior and interior maintenance as well as improvements would be undertaken by the Boys and Girls Club once a pre-inspection was completed.
“We’re good fundraisers. We’re good at writing grants. Boy and Girls Clubs have a good track record,” he said.
And with that, the commissioners chose to move ahead with providing the building for future afterschool and summer camp use.
