News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Gainesboro Elementary was one of 14 schools identified in Governor Bill Lee’s State of the State Address that is severely susceptible to flood damage.
Lee proposed some $200 million dollars in funding contributions for communities that wish to relocate public schools from flood plains. Jackson County Director of Schools Kristy Brown said that they have had experience with flooding at the school.
“It is encouraging to hear that the governor is taking that into consideration,” Brown said. “That can be a substantial disruption in schools. And I’m happy to see that there is money budgeted for schools like Gainesboro Elementary School to possibly be located, that is significant.”
Brown said that with the proposal made last night, she is eager to know more details. She said that at minimum, she hopes that funding can be allocated to mitigate the issue. At most, she said that her biggest wish would be able to have an entirely new facility. She said it’s one of the county’s oldest schools, and the hope would be to get it out of that area.
“A few years ago it was flooding at least a couple or so times a school year,” Brown said. “And I’ve had people here in the night getting the water out and drying things out and it’s not good for school environment to have water in the building where it shouldn’t be. And then in the last couple of years we’ve put in a pump system and done a couple of things to help that situation, but any time a big rain or flooding occurs in the area, we are always checking on that school and making sure it’s dry and ready for students to come in the next day.”
Brown said that she wants parents and community stakeholders to know that they have mitigated this issue the best they can. She said that any opportunity that is out there that can benefit the county, the school system, and the students she will pursue with the least effect on the taxpayers as possible.
