Murphy – One high school.
After discussing questions and concerns brought forth during a public hearing on May 20, the Cherokee County Board of Education decided Thursday night to approve a long-range plan merging Andrews, Hiwassee Dam and Murphy high schools into one.
The plan has three phases. Phase 2, which merges the high schools, is expected to be complete by fall 2025.
The new high school is proposed to be built on the same campus as the future Schools of Innovation career academy, adjacent to Tri-County Community College in Peachtree. As more high school students seek earning associate’s degrees before graduating, the proximity to the college is expected to benefit those students.
By 2025, total high school enrollment in the county – including the Schools of Innovation – is expected to be at 964 students. The Schools of Innovation project is Phase 1 of the plan, which is already in progress.
The school board acquired a $15 million grant from the state Department of Public Construction to place Tri-County Early College High School, the Oaks Academy alternative school and the career academy on one campus. The total estimated cost of Phase 1 is $23-26 million, while the estimated cost of Phase 2 is $36 million.
Phase 3 would further consolidate the county’s elementary and middle schools, creating three kindergarten through eighth grade schools in the county by fall 2028. The plan is flexible if school-age population trends change by the time Phase 3 is reached.
Board members Keisha Curtis and Joe Wood voted against the plan. Both said they heard more support for a two-high school plan and would prefer a more central location.
Most of the concerns and questions addressed from the May 20 public hearing were about sports, transportation and the location of the campus.
For sports, Superintendent Jeana Conley said there are “serious discrepancies” between the schools’ athletic programs. For example, Hiwassee Dam does not have a football team, and band members march with the Murphy band. The county could avoid Title IX lawsuits under the opportunities a single high school could provide.
Board member Jeff Martin said a bigger school could provide opportunities for more sports, like lacrosse and tennis. It could also add junior varsity team opportunities for all sports.
“Overall, I think opportunities will be there for them,” Martin said.
Chairman Jeff Tatham added that some school teams have trouble filling positions, and some students are strongly encouraged to play to help their friends continue to have a team. Combining the schools would help prevent that pressure.
Conley added that if the board choose to have two high schools, there would continue to be disparity. Some programs, like ROTC, can only be in one school in the county.
Transportation director Justin Clapsaddle said based on a consolidation model, bus rides are actually shorter in both the eastern and western ends of the county. He said the earliest pickup would change from 5:40 a.m. to 6 a.m., and no students would be dropped off after 5 p.m.
Clapsaddle anticipated having to add only one bus route. He said some Murphy districts routes would be negatively affected by a 15-minute difference.
The transportation plan would continue to use transfer buses, as the Early College and Oaks Academy use, to shuttle students to and from the school in the home district. Those buses are in addition to the buses that take them to and from their district school and the bus stop. The transfer buses do not stop, and as a result only add about 20 minutes of time aboard.
Tatham said he mapped the distance from the Peachtree campus to both Andrews and Hiwassee Dam school. Both distances were near even at just over 20 miles.
Combining both sports and transportation issues, Conley said she would like to see the district provide transportation that gives more students opportunities to participate in sports and other after-school activities without having to worry about rides home, regardless if the plan passed.
“We need today something so all students can participate,” she said.
The Schools of Innovation project allows space for a high school to be placed on the property, but there were concerns if students would have to go off campus for athletic fields. Martin heard there might be other properties adjacent or across the road from the campus, and Conley agreed that she had been approached by property owners interested in offering land for the project.
Curtis addressed concerns that the Peachtree campus was not centrally located. Tatham didn’t understand complaints that Peachtree was close to Clay County, as he called it an easy drive.
“It’s still Cherokee County,” Tatham said. “I don’t get it.”
Conley said in talks with community leaders, there’s also interest in Peachtree being a medical/education hub, like Duke. Those leaders said it could raise property values.
Martin addressed the timing of the hearing and decision, saying “it wasn’t optimal.” Conley agreed.
Conley and Chief Financial Officer Stephanie Hass explained that the county had just completed property revaluations, and they need the support of commissioners before they set the millage rate. That rate can only be set once a year, by July 1.
Conley addressed the push for a referendum on merging schools. She said she’s always in favor of letting people speak, however, it’s not legal to address consolidation on a ballot. A bond referendum would be legal.
The board will meet at 5:30 p.m. today for a budget workshop. The next regular meeting is set for at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11, at Cherokee County Schools Central Office on Andrews Road.