Horn, Schoonmaker, others voices approving purchase behind Ingles counter Owen alternate motion
KNOXVILLE — Despite the objection of one of its representatives, Knox County Board of Education voted 7-1-1 (one abstention) to purchase 41 acres of land behind Ingles in Farragut with the intention of building a new school at the Board’s monthly meeting Wednesday, Oct. 4. (See related story above)
The school district had been actively searching for land to build an elementary school to ease overcrowding issues at Farragut Primary and Intermediate schools. However, Farragut Middle School also is overcrowded, meaning the land could be home to a new middle school.
After much discussion, the board voted to buy the property located to the west along Boring Road just north of Kingston Pike, which is currently owned by Brenda and Doug Horne (the latter is owner of Republic Newspaper, Inc., parent company of farragutpress). The school district will purchase the 41-acre parcel for $4,892,500.
2nd District BOE representative Jennifer Owen (representing areas including portions of downtown Knoxville and Central and Fulton high schools) was the lone vote against, voicing her displeasure with the process and proposing a alternate motion delaying the vote 30 days.
Fourth District rep Katherine Bike (including Northshore, Bluegrass and Rocky Hill elementary schools) abstained on the vote to buy the property after abstaining on the alternate motion vote that would’ve postponed the vote until next month — although she seconded Owen’s alternate motion being presented. The alternate motion failed by a 7-1-1 vote.
The school board must now decide what to do with the land.
Owen said she felt the board was less than honest with the public by voting to buy the land. “... We had a plan to build an elementary school and now, we’re saying that it might be a middle school,” she said, also noting a kindergarten through fifth-grade elementary school on this property would be bigger than a middle school, enrollment-wise, and couldn’t be assumed to fit the property.
However, the Town currenlty has separate elementary schools: Farragut Primary (K through second grade) along North Campbell Station Road, and Farragut Intermediate (third through fifth) at West End Avenue, which is attached to Farragut Middle School.
“I’m also confused about why we’re making assumptions about what parents want for the zoning when we haven’t talked to parents at all,” Owen said. ”Everyone that I have heard from, with the notable exception of a person who works in tourism for Farragut government, has had serious concerns about the lack of communication both ways.”
Among Owen’s other points, she alluded to the possibility of eminent domain applying to this land situation, while saying there were possible “legal” issues without giving specifics.
Susan Horn, 5th District rep (which includes Farragut schools), answered Owen’s contention that sites outside of the Town of Farragut should be considered for the new school, saying the Horne property is a good location “because then you can actually alleviate the schools that are overcrowded” and that Farragut Primary or Intermediate children “could be zoned for an elementary school at this location.”
Other voices of support
Knox County Commissioner John Schoonmaker, who represents District 5 that includes Farragut, urged the board to purchase the property due to scarcity of land in the area.
“There’s nowhere to go. I’m here to support the superintendent and Ms. Horn.” Schoonmaker said. “... There’s no alternate site to go to.
“Land is so hard to come by in Farragut,” he added. “This land was originally zoned for residential (development), but it was too expensive, so now, it’s just sitting there. We’ll be getting a premiere piece of land under value. Nobody wanted it, but now that the schools want it, other people want it, too.”
“I want to commend Commissioner Schoonmaker on summing it up rather succinctly,” said 8th District rep Mike McMillian (north and northeast Knoxville including Gibbs and Carter schools) “Now, you may not have liked what he said. You may not agree with it. But he told it like it was. He’s been around a long time. He’s seen a lot of things happen and properties transfer. …”
Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk said the purchase was necessary even though the district has no specific plans for which school would call this area its new home
“There is no full-blown plan yet, but a middle school is under consideration,” he said. “We need to have the property so we can bring it back to you, the board, our bosses, and to the public, so we can get input as to what to do.”
Rysewyk also noted the board needed to act quickly before the price of the land increased. “You can’t show all of your cards,” Rysewyk said. “Because if you decide to build two buildings, an elementary school and a middle school, then the price goes up.
“We need to get our students out of the portables and better serve them,” he added.
9th District rep Kristi Kristy (including South-Doyle schools), said, “I did not feel like this has been rushed at all. I mean, I don’t know how many times we have tried to put property on an agenda and then they get pulled off for various reasons.”
However, “The only problem I had was ... from the Town of Farragut ... they claimed (the Horne property) would not be suitable because of (residential) zoning,” she added. “I do question that because it’s in a residential area. And in South Knoxville, most of our schools are in residential areas.
“It seems like that would be a great place for a school.”
3rd District rep Daniel Watson (including Bearden High and West Valley Middle schools) said, “regardless of what the solution is, though — whether it’s a middle school, a primary school, half a middle school and half a primary school-elementary school ... — we know there’s going to be some buildings. We’re going to have to have land to stick it on.”
