Long list of school facility needs presented

CROSSVILLE Schools in Cumberland County have a long list of needs and wants when it comes to facility maintenance, upkeep and expansion. But as principals shared needs at individual schools with the facilities task force of the Cumberland County Board of Education last week, many were saying how thankful they were for what they did have.

"After listening to some of the others schools, I don't feel I should complain," said Pleasant Hill Principal Mary Ann Kotus. "We are in good shape, room wise, with the new addition and are just blessed."

Facility needs ranged from roof replacements to new playground equipment; from cameras and keypads to improve safety to replacing mortar between bricks; from new classroom wings to an auditorium at Cumberland County High School.

Individual school needs are:

Brown Elementary would like awnings over entryways and some sidewalks as well as a digital sign. All are considered capital outlay projects.

At Crab Orchard Elementary, discussions have been ongoing for a new classroom wing and new gymnasium to alleviate overcrowding and use of portable classrooms. The gymnasium is not handicap accessible and the playing area is small in size. Principal Becky Farley also said there is a need for a parking area and there continues to be confusion on if the access to the school is a driveway owned by the school system or a road owned by the county.

"We still don't know who owns the road, so I don't know that I have the authority to say who can and can't come through there," Farley said. In the afternoons, the street is made a one-way street to allow for bus traffic and parent pick-up, though Farley said it is not uncommon for motorists to ignore those signs.

Under maintenance issues, Farley said one playground was removed this past year due to age.

Her school is also experiencing leaks in the roof.

At CCHS, Principal Jon Hall said an auditorium had long been on a list of planned projects. In fact, an auditorium was part of the original school plans. It had also been proposed as part of the building program when Stone Memorial High School was constructed but was removed due to cost of the total project.

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Long list of school facility needs presented