Hamilton County leaders unveil plans for future schools

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – In the spring, Hamilton County Schools unveiled their plan for 2030. 

On Thursday, they discussed a huge part of that future.

The School Facilities Working Group, comprised of Hamilton County School Board members and commissioners, released their recommendations for future school projects Thursday morning.

Leaders, including Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp and Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson, say this plan is needed to advance HCS into the future.

Hamilton County leaders holding a presentation on the future of county schools at DuPont Elementary School in Hixson on Thursday morning.

Dr. Robertson said, “In 1997 when these two school systems consolidated, one of the major concerns that was presented, came out in the report, one of the major concerns was facilities. Here in 2023, one of the major concerns still is facilities.”

The school system is targeting several areas across the county for new schools.

One of these would be a new Soddy-Daisy Middle School next to the high school and Daisy Elementary.

Another potential school is a combined Brainerd Middle and High School, bringing Dalewood Middle’s student body onto the same campus as Brainerd High School.

One of the main recommendations of this new plan is a world class elementary school on the site of DuPont Elementary School. 

The new Hixson Elementary School would consolidate three smaller schools: DuPont, Rivermont and Alpine Crest Elementary Schools, into one.

Mayor Wamp explained, “What doesn’t make any sense from a taxpayer standpoint and often it doesn’t really make sense from an operational level at a single school is to have so many small schools. We have a lot of schools that are under capacity, and the schools that are under capacity get a lot more attention.”

This plan is still in its infancy.

The School Facilities Group will be taking feedback in the coming months.

Mayor Wamp says he will release a funding plan for these new facilities later this fall.

Hamilton County School Board for District 5, Karitsa Mosley-Jones, who is also heading up the School Facilities Group, said, “It is my desire as I lead, we are going to ensure opportunities for everyone, that we are including every child, and ensuring that they belong and have a safe space and healthy place to learn.”

You can take a look at the detailed plan here.