Red Bank leaders fight back against county’s school plan
UPDATE:
Hamilton County Schools released a statement about Red Bank’s proposed plan for school futures.
“Yesterday, School Board District 6 representative Ben Connor announced a new proposal concerning where to construct an elementary school to serve the Red Bank community.
Conversations about the district’s facilities plan are ongoing, and Mr. Connor’s latest proposal is one of three plans for this community that are currently under consideration. The Board of Education’s Facilities Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss these plans, and potentially other options, at a meeting on January 4. The Board plans to further discuss and potentially vote on and adopt a final facilities plan at its regular meeting on Thursday, January 18. Until such time as the Board votes on a plan, all options remain on the table for consideration.”
RED BANK, Tenn. (WDEF) – A new Red Bank elementary school could be going elsewhere. The plan presented by the Hamilton County Superintendent would combine Alpine Crest, Rivermont and Dupont Elementary.
Hamilton County Schools seeks to use the Red Bank Middle site as the proposed new location. However, they would need the approval from the city of Red Bank.
Commissioner David Sharpe and school board member Ben Conner presented a new plan Tuesday.
“Unlike the mayor’s scheme to remove all elementary schools from Red Bank, this proposal keeps our students and our educational opportunities within the city limits,” said Commissioner Sharpe. “This proposal addresses the concerns of the community and offers a quality, viable option that puts kids’ needs above everything else.”
The new plan seeks to add turf to the Red Bank football field. This would alleviate space for a new elementary school.
If the field receives a turf facelift, then extracurriculars such as football, soccer and band could use the field year-round.
Connor collaborated with the Red Bank community to find a solution that keeps students inside the city limits.
“Over the last several months, we have heard loud and clear the disapproval of any plan that would send Red Bank students outside of city limits for their elementary school experience,” said Connor. “As a father and an active parent, I’m troubled at the prospect of placing young kids into mega-schools, rather than a quality educational experience that gives them the support and attention they need to grow and thrive. This plan does that and then some.”
According to Connor, the plan would be more cost effective than the county’s plan.
Final costs and bidding could begin as soon as next year.
Red Bank Mayor Hollie Berry also attended the plan presentation.
She gave the school board a resolution that prevents the county from using the former Red Bank Middle site.
Berry is not opposed to building a school there. However, she wants to survey the community first.
That wouldn’t fit into the county’s timeline.
Berry was enthusiastic of the new plan.
“I am so grateful that the idea of co-locating an elementary school on the Red Bank High School and Middle campus that was presented to by city staff at a December 5th meeting has risen to the top as the most viable and mutually beneficial of many options explored,” said Mayor Berry. “This plan, which was supported in our resolution presented to the school board on December 13th, could provide numerous spin-off benefits and educational opportunities for our Red Bank students, as well as fulfill the several goals expressed by our residents of maintaining the Red Bank feeder pattern, consolidating only two of our current zone schools rather than three, and maintaining an elementary school in our city limits.”
The plan is still in early stages, and many questions are left unanswered.
Stay tuned to News 12 for continued updates.
