News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Jackson County needs more information before making any financial commitments with a potential new school.
County Mayor Randy Heady said while it could be financially possible with help from the state, it’s not something the county had planned on pursuing in the near future.
“As far as the county is being in a borrowing position, of course, we have a good bond rating, we have the potential to access the bonds,” Heady said. “So yes that potential is always there. We look forward to sitting back and seeing what happens.”
Heady said that he wants the community to know that at this time, there have been no decisions made about building a new school. He said that the governor’s budget proposal to help public schools in flood plains relocate still needs General Assembly approval.
“Of course, new schools are a part of what we have to do as years go by and our schools get out of shape,” Heady said. “And we need to either build onto them or remodel them or sometimes just tear them down and build news. And we know that’s coming at some point in the near future.”
Heady said that he’s grateful to the governor for including Jackson in the pursuit to better the education of Tennessee students. He said that the potential help from the state to mitigate that issue could be huge.
“I think Waverly really had an impact on Governor Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn,” Heady said. “(…) We do have a school, Gainesboro Elementary that is out there on a flood plain, that is prone to flooding. I know it’s not been to the level of what Waverly’s school has been through, but it has been prone to a lot of flooding. Of course, they’ve done a lot of mitigation over there, but it is exciting to see this potential.”
