Putnam Schools Approve Proposal Requests For Current Park View

The Putnam County School System will begin exploration of possible contractors and costs to renovate the current Park View Elementary School.

The School Board approved a request for proposals Thursday night to begin that process. The school system has discussed renovating the facility to be used as a centralized Pre-K Center for the elementary schools within Cookeville. Director Of Schools Corby King said getting a price would help in sitting down with County Mayor Randy Porter.

“If we select a firm that’s going to do the work over the course of the next several months, be able to sit down with Randy and talk about bond issue for that work, so that when those students are out of the building next summer, we’re ready to start work on renovating that facility in the next year, be ready to occupy it, and that work can be done within a year,” King said.

The move to a centralized center would add roughly two classrooms at each Cookeville school, helping with population growth expected at the elementary schools over the next five years. Pre-K students in Monterey and Baxter would remain at the current schools.

King said his team estimated the renovations would cost $8 to $10 million, money that would have to come through a county bond issuance.

“I really like the idea, I like the central location, I think that’s good,” School Board Member Lynn McHenry said.

King said issues would still need to be worked out, including the possibility of busing students to the Park View site. The school system can bus four year-olds, but state rules prohibit busing three year-old students. McHenry said busing would help with traffic flow at Park View.

The School System has already approved the replacement of the Park View roof, using ESSER funds to complete that project. The county has generally been responsible for roof work, but the school board moved ahead with this project, King said, in a “good faith” show for county commissioners.

The second floor of the new Park View School is currently taking shape, according to the contractor. Upland Design’s Kim Chamberlain said Thursday night things remain on schedule and the weather has cooperated.