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Since new consolidation proposals, primarily involving K-8 schools in Murphy, are being presented across Cherokee County, it would be instructive to take a look at what local taxpayers have already paid for on this subject.
In 2017, the architectural firm LS3P Associates Ltd. presented a school facilities study as requested by the Cherokee County Board of Education. In order to make sure virtually every possibility was discussed, nine options were presented along with estimated costs. These options were presented in a series of public meetings over the next few years, so none of this was a surprise to readers of the Cherokee Scout.
To save you a lot of reading time, here’s a brief recap of what LS3P shared with school board members. Keep in mind that this study was compiled six years ago, so all of the costs would be even higher today.
- Option 1: Renovate every school in the county. Cost: $79,252,537.
- Option 2: Three new K-12 schools in Andrews, Hiwassee Dam and Murphy; new building for Tri-County Early College. Cost: $173,146,715.
- Option 3: Two new K-12 schools for all communities to share; new building for Tri-County Early College. Cost: $150,226,523.
- Option 4: Three new 6-12 schools in Andrews, Hiwassee Dam and Murphy; elementary school renovations, new building for Tri-County Early College. Cost: $159,908,863.
- Option 5: Two new 6-12 schools for communities to share; new building for Tri-County Early College. Cost: $149,712,522.
- Option 6: No. 1 priority items renovated at $15,635,119; No. 2 priority items renovated at $7,610,149. Cost: $23,245,268.
- Option 7: One new 6-12 school for Andrews and Murphy; new building for Tri-County Early College and The Oaks Academy; new construction at $94,705,000; renovations at $17,569,782. Cost: $112,274,782.
- Option 8: New pre-K through grade 5 school, new 6-8 school and new 9-12 school for all communities to share; new building for Tri-County Early College and The Oaks Academy; new construction at $130,255,000; renovations at $23,972,880. Cost: $154,227,880.
- Option 9: New pre-K through grade 5 school, new 6-8 school and new 9-12 school for all communities to share; new building for Tri-County Early College and The Oaks Academy; new construction at $130,255,000; more renovations than Option 8 at $28,398,131. Cost: $158,653.131.
As you consider those remarkably high numbers, remember that this is all without grant money from the state. While some new construction dollars are available, especially when consolidating schools, no money is available for repairs, renovations or to build a new school to replace one that’s not growing. That means replacing some buildings would actually cost local taxpayers less than just repairing them.
The proposed K-8 scenarios do not address the biggest need, which is Murphy High School, the oldest one in the county. The engineers established that there would be no way to perform cost-effective repairs, so a new building is definitely needed.
Consider, too, that K-8 students would not benefit from being next door to the Schools of Innovation and Tri-County Community College. If officials don’t want a consolidated high school, then at least save that land for a new Murphy High so more students can enjoy it.
Some residents were against the proposed consolidated high school last year in part because they were concerned that local taxpayers would be on the hook for $10 million or more after the $50 million state grant was spent. However, even $20 million or more would seem cheap compared to what it would cost us to replace all three community high schools without grant money.
None of the nine options are perfect, of course, but they do give us a sense of what kind of dollars it would take to give our teachers and students the best possible learning environment. They deserve nothing less than that.
David Brown is publisher of the Cherokee Scout. You can reach him by phone, 837-5122; email, dbrown@cherokeescout.com; or on Twitter @daviddBstroh.