Three options for a new Farragut school
Three meetings with parents, educators and other constituents of Farragut’s kindergarten through 12-grade schools, to get feedback on which of three generic plans — costing from $42.6 to $66.8 million — is their choice for the direction of a new Farragut school, are scheduled in November.
While each plan has one or two particular schools receiving the most benefit, all three will be presented for feedback beginning at 5:30 p.m. on each of these days and locations: Tuesday, Nov. 28, at Farragut High School; Thursday, Nov. 30, at Farragut Primary School; and Tuesday, Dec. 5, at Farragut Middle School.
That was announced by Dr. Garfield Adams, Knox County Schools assistant superintendant of operations, during a Knox County Board of Education workshop Thursday evening, Oct. 26.
Outlining the issues, goals
Adams’ outline noted overcrowding was worst “in elementary and high school,” while also taking into account the traffic impact of a new school. “That’s a complaint we’ve received ... from all campuses,” Adams said.
By January 2024, “we will bring back some solutions for the Board to vote on,” Adams told the Board.
Plans to possibly begin construction during the 2025-26 school year and be ready to open the new school to begin the 2026-2027 school year “are tentative ... that is a very ambitious timeline,” Adam said.
The site of the new school is set: on roughly 41 acres along Boring Road behind Ingles shopping center, which local developer Doug Horne has agreed to sell to KCS for $4,892,500 (Horne owns Republic Newspapers, Inc., parent company of farragutpress).
“It gives us lots of room,” Adams said about the property that is close to Kingston Pike, which he said was another location advantage.
Option I
• Build a new kindergarten through fifth-grade elementary school (1,200 capacity) while keeping all four Farragut schools as they are — not incorporating Farragut Primary into the new school.
At a cost of $42.6 million, the least expensive option, this would greatly relieve overcrowing at FPS and FIS.
However, disadvantages listed were not addressing overcrowding at Farragut Middle and Farragut High schools, nor would it address traffic concerns at those two schools.
It also would require “rezoning elementary schools.”
Option 2
Build a new middle school and establish a freshman academy.
FPS would be converted into a K-through-fifth-grade school; the existing intermediate school and two-thirds of existing FMS building would be expanded into a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade elementary school.
The remaining one-third of that building would house the new freshman academy, meaning FHS would now be 10th through 12th-grade.
While easing high school and middle school traffic and providing “a long-term, comprehensive solution for all four schools, there were cons:
Cost would rise to $66.8 million and the entire construction process would be longer.
Traffic-wise, it would “increase the number of students arriving and departing from FIS from 1,000 to 1,400 — also making this the largest elementary school in Knox County.
This also would involve rezoning Farragut’s elementary schools.
Option 3
• Build a new kindergarten through fifth-grade elementary school (1,200 capacity) while converting FPS into an elementary school.
The existing FIS building would house the freshmen academy; FMS would be unchanged while FHS would become 10th-through-12th grade.
At a cost of $48.3 million, this option “provides a long-term, comprehensive solution for elementary and high schools,” in terms of advantages, while creating “room for growth in four separate schools” and give the freshmen academy “a dedicated space.
The cons listed include a longer construction process, does not address traffic concerns at FHS or FMS; does not add capacity at FMS; and would involve rezoning the elementary schools.
Kristy, Horn, Adams
“If anyone out there is listening and planning to buy a home in Farragut, just know that we cannot guarantee school zones with the way growth is county wide,” said Kristi Kristy, 9th District representative. “... We did hear a lot about that” with the new Mill Creek Elementary School.
“Thank you for very creative solutions,” said Susan Horn, 5th District representative (including Farragut schools).
Horn asked Adams about renovation possibilities with the Farragut schools not directly affected with whatever option is chosen.
Adams said he believed such renovations “would vary significantly with each option,” adding the Board may wish to “secure an architect to look at all three options.”
Retaining an architect, he added, also would give KCS and the Board a more accurate construction timeline.
Before beginning his presentation, “We appreciate you voting on (buying) that property for some much-needed land,” Adams said to the Board about its purchase decision Wednesday, Oct. 4.. Dr. Jon Rysewyk, KCS superintendant, also echoed Adams’ sentiments.
