Putnam BOE Happy With School Bond Approved By Commission

Members of the Putnam County Board of Education are happy with the county commission’s decision for a new school bond.

Commissioners on Monday approved a loan that includes some $44.7 million for a new K-8 school. School Board Member Dawn Fry said securing the building was needed to get ahead of the county’s growth.

“Our county is growing and every part of our county government has to work together to ensure that we are all going to have what we need for the future,” Fry said. “So the commission working with us that relationship is invaluable to us.”

The school is expected to replace Parkview Elementary and be located off Lee Seminary Road in Cookeville. School Board Member Kim Cravens said next spring is the initial time frame for when the project would go out for bid.

“We already got the plans started and so fourth,” Cravens said. “So, it’ll be now getting the architects to finalize those plans, so they’ll have some more in depth meetings with school personnel to fine tune what is in that school.”

Fry said she appreciates the commissioners approving the bond. Fry said with approval, the school system avoids having overcrowded schools.

“We worked with them and met and had work sessions together to discuss this,” Fry said. “We appreciate the commissioners listening to us and taking the time to meet with us and certainly and ultimately, deciding we did need this new school.”

Cravens said the healthy relationship between the board and commission played an important role during the process. Cravens said both bodies have the same mission of wisely spending tax payers money.

“If their is a distrust, which I have seen in the past, it definitely makes it harder for them to give money,” Cravens said. “Trust and honesty and just trying to be good stewards of the people’s money.”